Cell Phone Over Pacemaker?

I accidentally (okay I did it forgetting about my device) on top of my pacemaker while I was exercising. Does anyone know what the reprocussions are if any? I have a Micra TPS for AVBlock 2/2.

Thanks!

4 Comments

Did you sense anything?

by donr - 2015-09-03 02:09:15

If not, I'd say there are no repercussions to sticking it into your gym suit over the device. At least not for you at that time.

RF devices can affect a PM, but there is no guarantee that they will, & what they do is unpredictable.

It takes a pretty hefty RF field to affect a PM, & yours is leadless, so you do not have the problem of leads acting as an antenna to channel noise into the system.

Generally not a good practice to place your phone that close to the PM.

Donr

Not a problem

by Theknotguy - 2015-09-03 02:09:56

Your cell phone doesn't have a large enough magnet nor enough power to bother your PM.

Question is if the RF function of the PM is working unless the large magnet they use for reading it is being used. If the RF function isn't active, the PM can't be affected. Kind of like a radio that has been turned off during a lightning storm. Millions of volts are discharged in a lighting strike, but a radio that has been turned off isn't affected.

University of Michigan tests indicated they could affect an external PM at or about 10 feet. The internal could only be affected at two inches. They didn't indicate how strong the signal had to be before the PM would be affected but it had to be considerable. Except in hospital settings I don't know of any external PM's being used.

Nevertheless, your cell phone isn't powerful enough to affect your PM.

Hope your exercise goes well.

Thank you!!

by Runningmama - 2015-09-03 05:09:15

Thanks Team~!! I'm still new and do "things I should know better than sometimes".....

Inga, you don't want to know how I got it there LOL, let's just say I don't think anything is worth all those power lifts and squats I do LOL

thanks!!!!

No interference

by golden_snitch - 2015-09-03 05:09:37

There was a study published recently that showed interference only in 1 out of more than 300 patients, and only if the phone was placed directly over the device; 3 cm away and no interference occured at all.

Since you have the leadless pacemaker that is placed in the bottom of your right ventricle and you're a woman, I don't see how you should be able to place a smartphone directly over your device. There is breast tissue, muscles and the ribcage between your phone and the pacemaker. Patients who have their pacemaker in a subcutaneous pocket can place the phone directly over the device, but with a leadless, endocardial pacemaker - no way.

Best wishes!

You know you're wired when...

Your pacemaker receives radio frequencies.

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