BiotroniK EVIA no interference with following...

Hi

I'm a new PM recipient and a active person who works as a mountain guide. I have had lots of questions about what will interfere with my PM as I am in the outdoors a lot and using electronic devices for safety and navigation. At the time of writing this I am 8 weeks since my Aortic Valve replacement surgery and 7 weeks from PM implant surgery. I am very glad to have found this site!

Below is taken from an email I got from Biotronik regarding questions I had about interference with the following things: Avalanche Transceiver, High Voltage Transmission lines, and Wrist Watch Heart Rate Monitors... I hope this puts some of your concerns or fears at ease.

My email
Hello

I have been implanted with the Evia DR-T device, on May 24 2011.
I have a few questions about devices that can be used around me...

Can I wear an Avalanche Transceiver (on the opposite side of my body from my Pacemaker... not over the PM) while skiing?

Is it acceptable to cross under high voltage transmission lines very quickly? (such as hiking on a trail that crosses under such things)

Can you recommend a heart rate monitor (wrist watch model) that will work with my Pacemaker device? I would like to use one during my cardio-training.

Kind regards

Wayne Robinson
ACMG Hiking Guide
Canadian Mountain Adventure
www.canadianmountainadventure.com
PO Box 1783
Lillooet, BC.
Canada
V0K 1V0

Message from Biotronik

Dear Wayne,

in the manual of the avalanche transceiver I found the following instruction:
"metal objects, radios and mobile phones influence both the transmitting and receiving range. Such objects should never be worn directly next to each other and we recommend a distance of at least 30cm from your transceiver."
http://www.avalanche-center.org/store/manuals/ortovox-m2.pdf
This distance will keep both devices from interfering with each other, for pacemaker safety a smaller distance, 15 cm, would be ok, this is the recommendation for the distance between mobile phones and pacemakers. The 30 cm are recommended so that the transceiver would not be disturbed by the pacemaker.

Interference from high voltage lines is very unllikely because the electric and magnetic field strength is very low at publicly accessable points. There is a maximum field strength allowed to the public and to which our pacemakers comply. A worst case scenario (high sensitivity of a - unipolar - pacemaker/ strong electric and magnetic field) could lead to an inappropriate pacemaker reaction, like pacing inhibition. These interferences however would last only as long as the pacemaker is exposed to a strong field. You can ask your physician concerning your individual pacemaker settings.

You can use any heart rate monitor - these will not interfere with your pacemaker. If your pacemaker is set to unipolar it might be possible that it influences the heart rate monitor. You can probably have this tested at your physicians taking an ECG while exercising carrying the monitor.

kind regards

Andrea
---------------------------
Andrea Jabel
Global Technical Service
Cardiac Rhythm Management


BIOTRONIK SE & Co. KG
Woermannkehre 1
12359 Berlin, Germany
Tel.: +49 (0) 30 68905-1611
Fax: +49 (0) 30 68905-1960
Mail: andrea.jabel@biotronik.com
Global Hotline CRM:+49 (0)30 68905-1133

5 Comments

Good Info

by ElectricFrank - 2011-07-10 01:07:50

It's great to see information that makes electronic sense, and makes it all the more important to get it from the pacemaker manufacturer. Cardiologists, and often even E.P.'s while knowledgeable on the heart aren't electronically savvy.

Thanks for posting it.

Glad you are able to enjoy the outdoor activity. I've heard you have some beautiful mountains over there.

frank

my experiences

by wjhughes420384 - 2011-07-10 08:07:25

I have had two pms, the first one (2006)was to deal with an av block, the second is for CHF and has a defibrillator . With the first one I had a strong reaction twice, once when I got close to an IED jammer, and the other when I was in the transmitter room for a cell phone system and was standing next to the antenna output (didn't realize that until i felt the pounding in my chest.) once I got about 10 feet away everything seemed okay. Once when I was accidentally leaning on one of those security pads they use in stores to remove the security I felt a disturbance in my chest. I have also felt something when i stood real close to an xray machine in an airport(they have very large magnets in them) . The last thing i can remember is that some microwave ovens in 7 eleven would bother me if I was standing right in front of it. 5 feet seemed to eliminate it. I have done some testing under high voltage power lines. They do raise the noise floor immediately under them to about 95dbm. That is still a fairly weak signal. Unlikely to cause a problem. My first PM did not have a transmitter and receiver in it , so it appears that only really strong signals, or very close proximity could impact it. My new PM(2010) has a transmitter/receiver(413 MHZ i believe). Because of this I believe it should be more vulnerable to certain signals. to be honest though, I have not had any incidents yet, although I have not tested the jammers or high powered transmitters(and I don't think I will).
There are two modes of interference with the PM, RF and magnetic. You have to get real close to a magnetic source(that's what the security pad in stores creates). the RF vulnerability is logically going to vary widely from device to device and person to person. A device without and transmitter/receiver or a defibrillator should be less vulnerable than one with it. The wires coming out of the PM provide an antenna, but so does the body they are connected to. The impedance of the connection, along with how good an antenna you turn out to be(how well hydrated you are for instance can drastically affect this for instance, you size, the clothes you are wearing, and a host of other things all affect how well you act as an antenna.) As I understand it all PMs have a reset and failsafe mode and if you have some serious reaction, it should go to the failsafe mode and then do a reset. So as long as you don't remain in the environment that caused the issue, you should easily return to normal.

Horseback

by Moni - 2011-07-10 08:07:58

Hi,
Have any women found a good support type bra that will keep your pacemaker from bouncing painfully in the chest if you horseback ride?? I have even worn two sport's bras together.

Polar heart rate monitor not PM compatible

by Robparsons - 2011-09-24 03:09:30

Blessed with the Cylos DR-T PM by BIOTRONIK SE & Co. KG on 13 September 2011, due to a 26 BPM issue.

Do Schwinn Evolution Comp, stationary bike, to keep my legs strong and in two more weeks will use it for upper body strength and endurance.

Avid triathlete, until 12 September 2011, but plan to get with it again. In addition, some favorite training regimes are CrossFit and PX90.

Goal: Start and finish the Transmountain Marathon, El Paso, Texas Spring 2012.

1) Due foresee issues with these exercise regimes?

2) Is there some type of heart monitor, for exercise, the Biotronik PM's will not interfere with?

3) Can you suggest a link or PM exercise website considered safe for PM patients?

Rob Parsons

HR Monitor

by Lyndal - 2011-10-11 10:10:26

Had a Biotronik Evia implanted on 22 September. I think that my Garmin 310xt is working fine. I'm also an avid triathlete and hoping to get back to it soon! Have just started some "one arm fin swim" so that I can at least be back in the water. Also been on the stationary bike trainer. Unfortunately still having some exercise induced heart block issues so hope to have my pacemaker "tweaked" this week. I have found the "Cardiac Athletes" website to be very informative on exercise and pacemaker settings.
Good luck to you!

Lyndal.

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