magnet rate

How strong of a magnet is needed to make the pacemaker enter magnet mode? Are we talking like ice box magnets or what?

3 Comments

The one in the hospital

by vbpoppy18 - 2014-09-27 02:09:45

What about the one they use in the hospital the little circle one, what type of magnet is that

Another "how long is a...

by donr - 2014-09-27 08:09:43

...piece of string?" question.

Go here to read AN answer: http://www.kjmagnetics.com/blog.asp?p=pacemaker-safety

Fridge magnets come in all sizes & strengths. It is NOT the magnet itself that counts, it's the magnet & how close your device gets to it. The measure of magnetic strength is in units called the "Gauss." (Gauss was a German mathematician who lived during the 1700's) You cannot sense a "Gauss," any way but w/ a fancy meter & one "Gauss" is not very strong. Depending on which PM mfrg you talk to, you get a different answer. Medtronic says 5 of them (Gauss) will affect one of their PM/ICD's. Others say 10 Gauss.

The most frustrating part of magnetic strength is that the human senses cannot detect it in any way. It is unlike the "Volt," (The measure of electric field force, named after a French scientist of about the 1700's). We all have received an electric shock & know what 110 Volts or 240 Volts feels like. We also know that we cannot get an electric shock from a 1-1/2 Volt battery, or for that matter, even a 9 Volt battery. Same is not true for magnetic phenomena.

Fridge magnets come in all sizes, shapes & strengths - as do the "Super magnets" used to hold jewelry chains together. All we can do is respect their capabilities & not slap any of them over our devices in a haphazard fashion w/o expecting something weird to happen. Fortunately, that weird event is reversible if we take the magnet away.

There are just so many variables affecting a magnet's strength at a distance from the magnet that the question is not answerable w/ a straightforward, unequivocal reply.

Donr

Magnet !!

by donb - 2014-09-27 11:09:07

Hi, Just sitting here I have my old "doughnut" magnet 12" from from keyboard which is from my older Phone call-in pacemaker check-up days. The magnetic energy pattern is concentraded in the dead center of this magnet & is very strong. While using this doughnut magnet with my older pacemakers I had to have this magnet exactly centered over my implant to get into the test mode & keep it there with no movement.
Some of the tiny super magnets used on handbags & jewelry fasteners might have enough Gauss (strength) to operate an internal mode switch but again the Titanium housing of our pacemakers shield most external energy fields.
My experience with 6 pacemakers in the 22 years & working with magnetics & electrical fields have never had any pacemaker go into test mode. Yes, I know how it feels when I have had to do the magnet test. I have never felt uncomfortable, but a noticeable HR increase with a pleasant warmth feeling because of more blood circulation.
I now have a Medtronic Carelink monitor which downloads data from my pacemaker giving much more usefull history of my pacemaker's workings.
DonB

You know you're wired when...

Your old device becomes a paper weight for your desk.

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