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TR3900-OS3900 OPHTHALMIC DIATHERMY SYSTEM - PRICE LIST EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 1979

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Medical Instrument Research Associates, Inc. · 1979

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Medical diathermy systems from 1979 exposed patients and staff to high RF levels with minimal safety oversight.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

This 1979 technical document from MIRA Inc. presents a price list for ophthalmic diathermy systems used in eye surgery. These medical devices use radiofrequency energy to cut tissue and control bleeding during delicate intraocular procedures. While focused on commercial pricing rather than safety research, it represents early documentation of RF medical equipment that exposed both patients and medical staff to electromagnetic fields.

Why This Matters

This pricing document offers a window into the medical RF landscape of 1979, when electromagnetic safety protocols were far less developed than today. Ophthalmic diathermy systems generate substantial radiofrequency energy to perform precise surgical cuts near the eye, creating exposure scenarios for both patients and operating room staff. The reality is that medical RF devices often produce much higher field strengths than consumer electronics, yet they receive less public scrutiny because the benefits are immediate and obvious. What this means for you is understanding that medical RF exposure has been part of healthcare for decades, but the cumulative effects on medical professionals using these devices daily remained largely unstudied during this era. The science demonstrates that occupational RF exposure in medical settings deserves the same careful evaluation we now apply to consumer devices.

Exposure Information

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Cite This Study
Medical Instrument Research Associates, Inc. (1979). TR3900-OS3900 OPHTHALMIC DIATHERMY SYSTEM - PRICE LIST EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 1979.
Show BibTeX
@article{tr3900_os3900_ophthalmic_diathermy_system_price_list_effective_january_1_1979_g5253,
  author = {Medical Instrument Research Associates and Inc.},
  title = {TR3900-OS3900 OPHTHALMIC DIATHERMY SYSTEM - PRICE LIST EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 1979},
  year = {1979},
  
  
}

Quick Questions About This Study

Ophthalmic diathermy uses radiofrequency energy to cut tissue and seal blood vessels during delicate eye surgeries. The RF current creates precise thermal effects that allow surgeons to operate on sensitive intraocular structures while controlling bleeding.
Diathermy systems can generate RF fields hundreds of times stronger than cell phones, with surgeons' hands often within inches of the active electrode. In 1979, occupational exposure limits for medical RF equipment were poorly defined compared to today's standards.
RF safety standards for medical devices were rudimentary in 1979, focusing mainly on preventing electrical burns rather than long-term biological effects. Comprehensive electromagnetic compatibility and safety guidelines for medical equipment didn't emerge until the 1980s and 1990s.
Today's systems incorporate better shielding, lower power requirements, and refined electrode designs that reduce stray RF emissions. However, the fundamental RF exposure to surgical staff during procedures remains an occupational consideration requiring proper safety protocols.
Medical diathermy equipment typically operates between 400 kHz and 4 MHz, frequencies chosen to minimize nerve and muscle stimulation while effectively heating tissue. These frequencies are much lower than cell phone bands but still capable of significant biological heating effects.