EVS-EN 60601-1-6:2010

IEC 60601-1-6 specifies a process for a manufacturer to analyse, specify, design, verify and validate usability, as it relates to basic safety and essential performance of medical electrical equipment. Medical practice increasingly uses medical electrical equipment to observe and treat patients. Use errors caused by inadequate medical electrical equipment usability have become an increasing cause for concern. This usability engineering process assesses and mitigates risks caused by usability problems associated with correct use and use errors.

IEC 60601-1-6 can be used to identify but does not assess or mitigate risks associated with abnormal use. Much of ME equipment developed without applying a usability engineering process is non-intuitive and difficult to learn and use. As healthcare evolves, less skilled operators including patients are now using medical electrical equipment while the equipment itself is becoming more complicated.

The usability engineering process is intended to achieve reasonable usability, which in turn is intended to minimise use errors and use-associated risks. IEC 60601-1-6:2010/A1:2013 is intended to clarify the elements of the usability engineering process that are required for compliance with the IEC 60601 series.

The text of IEC 60601-1-6:2010 has been approved in Europe as EN 60601-1-6:2010 without any changes.