JWG 5 - TC 62/SC 62D/JWG 5

IEC 80601-2-71:2025 applies to the BASIC SAFETY and ESSENTIAL PERFORMANCE of FUNCTIONAL NIRS EQUIPMENT, as defined in 201.3.205, intended to be used by itself, or as a part of an ME SYSTEM hereinafter referred to as ME EQUIPMENT.
HAZARDS inherent in the intended physiological function of ME EQUIPMENT or ME SYSTEMS within the scope of this document are not covered by specific requirements in this document except in IEC 60601-1:2005, IEC 60601-1:2005/AMD1:2012 and IEC 60601-1:2005/AMD2:2020, 7.2.13 and 8.4.1.
This document is not applicable to
– equipment for the measurement of oxygen saturation of the haemoglobin in the micro vessels (capillaries, arterioles and venules), i.e. tissue oximeters;
– frequency-domain and time-domain equipment for functional near-infrared spectroscopy;
– equipment for the measurement of changes in the concentration of chromophores other than oxy- and deoxy-haemoglobin;
– equipment for the measurement of changes in the concentration of oxy- and deoxy-haemoglobin in tissues other than the brain.
This document does not specify the requirements for:
– cerebral tissue oximeter equipment, which are given in ISO 80601-2-85; and
– pulse oximeter equipment, which are given in ISO 80601-2-61.
IEC 80601-2-71:2025 cancels and replaces the first edition published in 2015. This edition constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
a) alignment with IEC 60601-1:2005, IEC 60601-1:2005/AMD1:2012, IEC 60601-1:2005/AMD2:2020, IEC 60601-1-8:2006, IEC 60601-1-8:2006/AMD1:2012, IEC 60601-1-8:2006/AMD2:2020, IEC 60601-1-2:2014, IEC 60601-1-2:2014/AMD1:2020, IEC 60601-1-6:2010, IEC 60601-1-6:2010/AMD1:2013 and IEC 60601-1-6:2010/AMD2:2020;
b) added requirements for ESSENTIAL PERFORMANCE;
c) added requirements for PRIMARY OPERATING FUNCTIONS;
d) added requirements for protection against excessive temperatures;
e) added requirements for the display legibility for OPERATORS wearing personal protective equipment;
f) harmonization with ISO 20417, where appropriate.

This document applies to basic safety and essential performance of cerebral tissue oximeter equipment, that employs light at multiple wavelengths to derive a quantitative measure of oxygen saturation of haemoglobin within the volume of tissue sampled under the probe attached to the head. The cerebral tissue oximeter equipment can be based on continuous light, frequency domain or time domain technologies. This document applies to ME equipment used in a hospital environment as well as when used outside the hospital environment, such as in ambulances and air transport. Additional standards may apply to ME equipment for those environments of use.
NOTE 1 Cerebral tissue oximeters are sometimes referred to as near infrared spectroscopy equipment in medical literature.
Not included within the scope of this document are:
- invasive tissue or vascular oximeters;
- oximeters that require a blood sample from the patient;
- equipment measuring dissolved oxygen;
- ME equipment, or part thereof, that measures path-length-dependent haemoglobin change. The requirements for functional near-infrared spectroscopy equipment are found in ISO 80601-2-71[4];
- ME equipment, or part thereof, that measures arterial saturation based on pulsatile changes in tissue optical properties (SpO2). The requirements for pulse oximeter equipment are found in ISO 80601‑2‑61[3];
- ME equipment, or any part thereof, that claims to monitor tissue in parts of the body other than the head.
This document also applies to cerebral tissue oximeter equipment, including cerebral tissue oximeter monitors, cerebral tissue oximeter probes and probe cable extenders, that have been remanufactured.
If a clause or subclause is specifically intended to be applicable to ME equipment only, or to ME systems only, the title and content of that clause or subclause will say so. If that is not the case, the clause or subclause applies both to ME equipment and to ME systems, as relevant.
Hazards inherent in the intended physiological function of ME equipment or ME systems within the scope of this document are not covered by specific requirements in this document except in 201.11 and in 201.7.2.13 and 201.8.4.1 of the general standard.
NOTE 2 See also 4.2 of the general standard.
This document can also be applied to ME equipment and their accessories used for compensation or alleviation of disease, injury or disability.
This document is not applicable to remote or slave (secondary) equipment that displays StO2 values that are located outside of the patient environment.
NOTE 3 ME equipment that provides selection between diagnostic and monitoring functions is expected to meet the requirements of the appropriate document when configured for that function.

ISO 80601-2-61:2017 applies to the basic safety and essential performance of pulse oximeter equipment intended for use on humans, hereafter referred to as me equipment. This includes any part necessary for normal use, including the pulse oximeter monitor, pulse oximeter probe, and probe cable extender.
These requirements also apply to pulse oximeter equipment, including pulse oximeter monitors, pulse oximeter probes and probe cable extenders, which have been reprocessed.
The intended use of pulse oximeter equipment includes, but is not limited to, the estimation of arterial oxygen haemoglobin saturation and pulse rate of patients in professional healthcare institutions as well as patients in the home healthcare environment and the emergency medical services environment.
ISO 80601-2-61:2017 is not applicable to pulse oximeter equipment intended for use in laboratory research applications nor to oximeters that require a blood sample from the patient.
If a clause or subclause is specifically intended to be applicable to me equipment only, or to me systems only, the title and content of that clause or subclause will say so. If that is not the case, the clause or subclause applies both to me equipment and to me systems, as relevant.
Hazards inherent in the intended physiological function of me equipment or me systems within the scope of this document are not covered by specific requirements in this document except in 201.11 and in 7.2.13 and 8.4.1 of the general standard.
NOTE 1 See also 4.2 of the general standard. "The general standard" is IEC 60601-1:2005+AMD1:2012, Medical electrical equipment ? Part 1: General requirements for basic safety and essential performance.
ISO 80601-2-61:2017 can also be applied to me equipment and their accessories used for compensation or alleviation of disease, injury or disability.
ISO 80601-2-61:2017 is not applicable to pulse oximeter equipment intended solely for foetal use.
ISO 80601-2-61:2017 is not applicable to remote or slave (secondary) equipment that displays SpO2 values that are located outside of the patient environment.
NOTE 2 Me equipment that provides selection between diagnostic and monitoring functions is expected to meet the requirements of the appropriate document when configured for that function.
ISO 80601-2-61:2017 is applicable to pulse oximeter equipment intended for use under extreme or uncontrolled environmental conditions outside the hospital environment or physician's office, such as in ambulances and air transport. Additional standards can apply pulse oximeter equipment for those environments of use.
ISO 80601-2-61:2017 is a particular standard in the IEC 60601-1 and ISO/IEC 80601 series of standards.

IEC 80601-2-71:2015 applies to the basic safety and essential performance of functional NIRS equipment intended to be used by themselves, or as a part of an ME system, for the production of functional NIRS equipment output for adjunctive diagnostic purposes, hereinafter referred to as ME equipment.

ISO 80601-2-61:2011 applies to the basic safety and essential performance of pulse oximeter equipment intended for use on humans, hereafter referred to as ME equipment. This includes any part necessary for normal use, including the pulse oximeter monitor, pulse oximeter probe, and probe cable extender. These requirements also apply to pulse oximeter equipment, including pulse oximeter monitors, pulse oximeter probes and probe cable extenders, which have been reprocessed. The intended use of pulse oximeter equipment includes, but is not limited to, the estimation of arterial oxygen haemoglobin saturation and pulse rate of patients in professional healthcare institutions as well as patients in the home healthcare environment. ISO 80601-2-61:2011 is not applicable to pulse oximeter equipment intended for use in laboratory research applications nor to oximeters that require a blood sample from the patient. ISO 80601-2-61:2011 can also be applied to pulse oximeter equipment and their accessories used for compensation or alleviation of disease, injury or disability. ISO 80601-2-61:2011 is not applicable to pulse oximeter equipment intended solely for foetal use. ISO 80601-2-61:2011 is not applicable to remote or slave (secondary) devices that display SpO2 values that are located outside of the patient environment.