Radio Scanners and Pacemaker

Based upon research so far

by Theknotguy - 2015-09-05 02:09:49

Based upon the research I've done so far, it appears the "radio" / WIFI / communications part of the PM is turned off unless they are using the donut shaped magnet they use during the reading of the PM. I say "appears" because I haven't been able to find any documentation that says one way or the other.

I saw a Youtube video that showed someone taking apart an older PM. He remarked there was a reed switch - an actual physical reed switch - that turned on the external communication when a magnet was placed over it. Being a little bit of an electronics person, I would logically assume, even with electronic advances, they are still using a similar device (albeit miniaturized) in the newer PM's. Otherwise there would be no need to drop the donut sized magnet over the PM in order to start a reading. That would indicate the communications part of the PM was "off" and is only "on" when the donut magnet is in place. When they're done reading your PM they take away the donut magnet and the communications is "off".

Because the communications part of the PM is "off" that means it's similar to a radio being turned off during an electrical storm. Although extreme radio signals are being generated by lighting, the radio isn't impacted because it's "off". You need a nearby strike with a large surge being transmitted through the electrical lines in order for anything to happen. Everything I've seen is the only things impacted are electronic devices that are turned on during a storm. Direct lighting strikes don't count as you have millions of volts doing all sorts of weird things.

This long dissertation boils down to yes, it's OK to use a radio scanner. OK to use a shortwave, CB, or other radio transmission/reception device. Unless you have the donut magnet on your PM and are tuned to the right frequency, it isn't going to bother your PM.

We have had amateur radio enthusiasts ask similar questions in the past. None have reported having any problems. (Usually we get a question from them, then never hear anything.) Also haven't heard any news reports that said an amateur radio enthusiast was hurt or killed while using their radio system. So that would indicate people with PM's aren't having problems with radio reception or transmissions.

A study by the University of Michigan indicated they could affect an external PM from about 10 feet. They needed to be two inches away from an internal PM in order to have an effect. They didn't say how strong the transmission had to be in order to have an effect but I'm guessing it had to be a strong transmission. At the moment, the only external PM's being used (of which I am aware) are the ones used in a hospital setting. So that means you'd have to have a very strong signal being transmitted two inches away from your internal PM in order for it to possibly have an effect. Most home transmission devices aren't anywhere powerful enough to have an impact on an internal PM.

These are pretty amazing machines we have. The bright spot is, with advances in electronics, computer technology, and medical science, things are only going to get better.

Hope you enjoy your scanning device.