Applies to the basic safety and essential performance of ultrasonic diagnostic equipment.

The approach and philosophy used in drafting this particular standard for safety of ultrasonic diagnostic equipment are consistent with those in standards of the IEC 60601 2 xx series that apply to other diagnostic modalities, such as X-ray equipment and magnetic resonance systems.

In each case, the safety standard is intended to require increasing sophistication of output display indicators and/or controls with increasing energy levels in the interrogating field of diagnosis. Thus, for all such diagnostic modalities, it is the responsibility of the operator to understand the risk of the output of the ultrasonic diagnostic equipment, and to act appropriately in order to obtain the needed diagnostic information with the minimum risk to the patient.

This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 2001 and its Amendment 1 (2004) and Amendment 2 (2005). This edition combines the previous edition and its amendments into a form compatible with the parent IEC 60601-1:2005.