TECHNICAL NOTE 73

24/10/2019
Electromagnetic disturbance Troubleshooting help

Table of contents
1. BACKGROUND....................................................................................................... 3
2. DEFINITIONS & ACRONYMS ................................................................................. 3
3. SOLUTION ............................................................................................................ 3
4. IN WHICH CASE YOU NEED TO USE THIS PROCEDURE.......................................... 3
5. PREREQUISITES ................................................................................................... 3
6. TOOLS AND PARTS NEEDED .................................................................................. 3
7. ELECTROMAGNETIC DISTURBANCE SOURCE INVESTIGATION .............................. 4
7.1. SEARCH OF THE SOURCE OF DISTURBANCE....................................................... 4
7.2. FIBROSCAN OR PROBE DEFECT DETECTION ...................................................... 6
8. SOME POSSIBLE WAYS TO REDUCE EM DISTURBANCE ......................................... 6

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Electromagnetic disturbance Troubleshooting help

1. BACKGROUND

This document can be used to help detecting, solving or improving external source(s) of
electromagnetic disturbance with FibroScan devices.

Figure 1 : Example of message or logo that signal electromagnetic disturbances

2. DEFINITIONS & ACRONYMS

Name Definition

FS FibroScan

RF Radio Frequency

Time Motion type of ultrasound image representation used on FibroScan

TM
devices
Trace of ultrasound level versus depth representation used on FibroScan
A mode
devices – See Figure 3.

EM Electromagnetic

US Ultrasound
Table 1: Definitions

3. SOLUTION

 Detect the source of EM disturbances

 Reduce them

4. IN WHICH CASE YOU NEED TO USE THIS PROCEDURE

This procedure can be used by anybody, including customers.

5. PREREQUISITES

 None

6. TOOLS AND PARTS NEEDED

 None

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7. ELECTROMAGNETIC DISTURBANCE SOURCE INVESTIGATION

7.1. SEARCH OF THE SOURCE OF DISTURBANCE

Steps:
1) Clean the transducer of the FibroScan probe with water (to remove the gel)
2) Dry it with soft tissues (make sure that there is no gel or water left, as this could create a
reverberation of the acoustic signal) (See Figure 3)
3) Connect the probe to the FibroScan and launch an exam.
4) To see the A-mode ultrasound, you must apply pressure to the probe spring. However, do
so without touching the transducer as you could induce the propagation of an ultrasonic
signal. Do this by pinching the transducer assembly by the sides. (See Figure 2)
5) A signal undisturbed by the electromagnetic waves will be wedged very close to the left side.
It will not show significant peaks to the right. (Except at the very proximal depth field area
(top of the graph)). (See Figure 3)
6) Move the transducer closer to potential sources of electromagnetic waves in the room. If
closer to the source, the signal will move to the right (See Figure 5) and, if there are
disturbances spikes, they will have their amplitudes grow. (See Figure 4)

Figure 2 : Example of applying a pressure on the spring without touching the transducer
(On right: Checking if a cable is the source of the EM disturbances)

Figure 3: Normal ultrasound signal without electromagnetic disturbances

(Left: no gel on transducer – Right: example with some remaining gel)

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Figure 4: From left to right, A-mode ultrasound with probe closer to the source of disturbances
(Real case of LAN cable disturbance from a Wi-Fi box)

Figure 5 : From left to right, A-mode ultrasound with probe closer to the source of disturbances
(Real case of continuous RF wave disturbance)

Examples of potential sources of electromagnetic waves:

 Case of electrical equipment: Other electro-medical devices, Computers, Phones, Printers/Scanners,
Screens, Wi-Fi box, Electrical bed …
 Communications cables
 Power cords
 Damaged shielding (See Figure 6)

Figure 6: Example of communication cable with damaged shielding

Notes:
 The human body presence may modify the electromagnetic field of the room. Your body or the
patient body may act like a reception antenna. You can observe the effect of your body by changing
the way you hold the probe.
 Turn off the other equipment one by one is another way to find the EM source. The turned off one

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that make the A-mode look like in Figure 3 would be the source.
 Some EM disturbances will not generate spikes on the A-mode but just raise the level on the right of
the graph. (See Figure 5)

7.2. FIBROSCAN OR PROBE DEFECT DETECTION

A failure of the FibroScan could end up creating EM disturbance.

Causes could be:
 A damaged transducer assembly
 A damaged probe cord
 A damaged connection between Probe and FibroScan
 An electrical failure of RF emission/reception board
If we see spikes that are steady in depth position (vertical axis in A-mode display), the source
of the EM perturbation is probably the FibroScan or the transducer (Remaining gel or damaged
transducer for example)
If we see spikes that are moving of depths, the source could be any electrical equipment
including the FibroScan.
In case of doubt:
 Try in another room as far as possible from the exam room. If the A-Mode have the same
level or spikes have same amplitude, the source of the EM disturbance is probably the
FibroScan or its probe. (Compare with the other port or with another probe)
 Compare A-mode signal with another probe. If you do so, be sure the positions and states
of electrical equipment and peoples are unchanged.
 Compare A-mode signal with another FibroScan device. If you do so, be sure the positions
and states of electrical equipment and peoples are unchanged.

8. SOME POSSIBLE WAYS TO REDUCE EM DISTURBANCE

 Check or replace the probe connection with the FibroScan (Compare with the other port
or with another probe)
 Increase the distance between the FibroScan and the source of the EM disturbances.
 Plug the FibroScan on a power outlet as far as possible from the one used for the source
of EM disturbances.
 Reorganize the path of cables. Try to separate the EM source cable from other cables.
Reduce their length. Make loops. Replace cables. Use of shielded cables.
 Improve the connection to earth of both equipment.
 You may try to interconnect the FibroScan earth with the earth of the EM source
equipment (This can worsen or improve the situation)
 Connect the patient bed to earth
 Connect the patient to earth of the FibroScan (See Figure 7)
 Add a shield connected to earth around the cable that is source of EM emission.
 Add an EM filter or a ferrite on the EM source cable.
 For FibroScan with battery, try disconnect the power supply during measurements
 Disconnect the EM source equipment while the FibroScan is used.

Figure 7: Single use ECG electrode – Equipotential connector on some FibroScan devices

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