FOREWORD

1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To this end and in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications, Technical Reports, Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) and Guides (hereafter referred to as "IEC Publication(s)"). Their preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested in the subject dealt with may participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-governmental organizations liaising with the IEC also participate in this preparation. IEC collaborates closely with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by agreement between the two organizations.
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IEC 61847 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 87: Ultrasonics. It is an International Standard.

This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 1998. This edition constitutes a technical revision.

This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:

a) The upper frequency covered by this document has been raised from 60 kHz to 120 kHz.
b) The hydrophone method of measuring ultrasound power is now normative. Because of difficulties in using the calorimetry method of measuring ultrasound power, it is no longer the primary approach.
c) It is recognised that some systems can have more than one mode of vibration under user control, and the measurement techniques and declarations have been updated to address this.
d) The high-frequency component, which relates to cavitation developed at the applicator tip and the vibration amplitude at which cavitation occurs is addressed.
e) Specific requirements for measurement at excursion levels where no cavitation is present, and extrapolation to maximum excursion level(s) are described.
f) Guidance is provided to adapt the methodology described to more complex designs and vibration patterns, excursion directions, and their output characteristics.
g) Guidance is provided with respect to measurement tank arrangements for different types of systems.
h) The list of ultrasound methods and systems not covered by this document was extended to incorporate recent developments.
i) Definitions for cavitation related terms were added.
j) Requirements for the measurement of directivity characteristics of the applicator tip were changed.
k) Annex A was modified and Figure A.1 was added.
l) New literature was added, and the references to other standards were updated.

The text of this document is based on the following documents:

Draft	Report on voting
87/894/FDIS	87/900/RVD

Full information on the voting for its approval can be found in the report on voting indicated in the above table.

The language used for the development of this document is English.

This document was drafted in accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2, and developed in accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1 and ISO/IEC Directives, IEC Supplement, available at www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs. The main document types developed by IEC are described in greater detail at www.iec.ch/publications.

In this document the following print types are used:

- Requirements: in roman type.
- Test specifications: in italic type.
- Notes: in small roman type.
- Words in bold in the text are defined in Clause 3.

The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the stability date indicated on the IEC website under webstore.iec.ch in the data related to the specific document. At this date, the document will be

• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn, or
• revised.

IEC 61847:2025

Ultrasonics. Surgical systems. Measurement and declaration of the basic output characteristics

Current

Published:

20 May 2025