Research Groups Support Foundation’s Plea for More Medical Spectrum
A proposal by the Alfred Mann Foundation (AMF) that the FCC allocate spectrum beyond the 5 MHz planned for a new MedRadio band was supported by other medical institutions in comments filed at the agency. In July, the FCC proposed a new service for medical devices in the 401-406 MHz band, adding 2 MHz to that already allotted to the medical implant communications service (MICS) band. AMF said more spectrum would help stroke and other patients gain the benefits wireless wideband microstimulator systems designed to work as an artificial nervous system (CD Nov 3 p5).
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“It does have a lot of credibility. Those kinds of letters are important,” said a regulatory lawyer who has followed the issue. “There are a lot of really promising applications discussed in that proceeding.”
“I am a biomedical engineer with 30 years of experience in the development of neuro-prosthetic devices, and AMF’s system design is the only one to show true promise and results as a way to actually restore mobility to thousands of stroke and spinal cord injury victims,” said Cedric Walker of Tulane U. “The need for this type of very short range intracorporeal communication system was not anticipated when the current rules were promulgated, and the proposal for this new allocation is well engineered and conservative of spectrum.”
Jack Judy, a researcher at UCLA, said the need for wireless devices to restore the functioning of paralyzed limbs and organs is “tremendous and long-standing” and the subject of extensive research. “My research on wireless neural devices has been hampered by the lack of a dedicated frequency band for such devices,” Judy said.
“The Commission’s rules currently do not provide any spectrum to permit operation of new wireless wideband microstimulator devices,” said Richard Weir, a researcher at Northwestern U. “Without adequate spectrum and service rules to support the operation of these innovative devices, millions of Americans will be deprived of a safe and effective medical treatment for their debilitating health conditions.”