Medical electrical equipment - Part 2-10: Particular requirements for the basic safety and essential performance of nerve and muscle stimulators

Scope, object and related standards Clause 1 of the general standard1) applies, except as follows:

201.1.1 * Scope

Replacement:

This International Standard specifies the requirements for the safety of nerve and muscle STIMULATORS, defined in subclause 201.3.204, for use in the practice of physical medicine, hereinafter referred to as ME EQUIPMENT. This includes transcutaneous electrical nerve STIMULATORS (TENS) and electrical muscle STIMULATORS (EMS).

NOTE A muscle STIMULATOR may also be known as a neuromuscular STIMULATOR.

The following ME EQUIPMENT is excluded:

- ME EQUIPMENT intended to be implanted or to be connected to implanted electrodes;

- ME EQUIPMENT intended for the stimulation of the brain (e.g. electroconvulsive therapy ME EQUIPMENT);

- ME EQUIPMENT intended for neurological research;

- external cardiac pacemakers (see IEC 60601-2-31);

- ME EQUIPMENT intended for averaged evoked potential diagnosis (see IEC 60601-2-40);

- ME EQUIPMENT intended for electromyography (see IEC 60601-2-40);

- ME EQUIPMENT intended for cardiac defibrillation (see IEC 60601-2-4).

201.1.2 Object

Replacement:

The object of this particular standard is to establish particular BASIC SAFETY and ESSENTIAL PERFORMANCE requirements for nerve and muscle STIMULATORS as defined in 201.3.204.

201.1.3 Collateral standards

Addition:

This particular standard refers to those applicable collateral standards that are listed in Clause 2 of the general standard and Clause 201.2 of this particular standard.

IEC 60601-1-2:2007 applies as modified in Clause 202. IEC 60601-1-3 does not apply. All other published collateral standards in the IEC 60601-1 series apply as published.

201.1.4 Particular standards

Replacement:

In the IEC 60601 series, particular standards may modify, replace or delete requirements contained in the general standard and collateral standards as appropriate for the particular ME EQUIPMENT under consideration, and may add other BASIC SAFETY and ESSENTIAL PERFORMANCE requirements.

A requirement of a particular standard takes priority over the general standard.

For brevity, IEC 60601-1 is referred to in this particular standard as the general standard. Collateral standards are referred to by their document number.

The numbering of clauses and subclauses of this particular standard corresponds to that of the general standard with the prefix "201" (e.g. 201.1 in this standard addresses the content of Clause 1 of the general standard) or applicable collateral standard with the prefix "20x" where x is the final digit(s) of the collateral standard document number (e.g. 202.4 in this particular standard addresses the content of Clause 4 of the IEC 60601-1-2 collateral standard, 203.4 in this particular standard addresses the content of Clause 4 of the IEC 60601-1-3 collateral standard, etc.). The changes to the text of the general standard are specified by the use of the following words:

"Replacement" means that the clause or subclause of the general standard or applicable collateral standard is replaced completely by the text of this particular standard.

"Addition" means that the text of this particular standard is additional to the requirements of the general standard or applicable collateral standard.

"Amendment" means that the clause or subclause of the general standard or applicable collateral standard is amended as indicated by the text of this particular standard.

Subclauses, figures or tables which are additional to those of the general standard are numbered starting from 201.101. However due to the fact that definitions in the general standard are numbered 3.1 through 3.139, additional definitions in this standard are numbered beginning from 201.3.201. Additional annexes are lettered AA, BB, etc., and additional items aa), bb), etc.

Subclauses, figures or tables which are additional to those of a collateral standard are numbered starting from 20x, where "x" is the number of the collateral standard, e.g. 202 for IEC 60601-1-2, 203 for IEC 60601-1-3, etc.

The term "this standard" is used to make reference to the general standard, any applicable collateral standards and this particular standard taken together.

Where there is no corresponding clause or subclause in this particular standard, the clause or subclause of the general standard or applicable collateral standard, although possibly not relevant, applies without modification; where it is intended that any part of the general standard or applicable collateral standard, although possibly relevant, is not to be applied, a statement to that effect is given in this particular standard