Metal Detectors vs Pacemakers

I just found this article and posting from 2005 and wondered if there has been any more recent data to support or refute the data on airport security metal detectors?

Posted by MSPACER on 2005-03-28 19:23

I know there have been many questions on whether Airport metal detectors are safe for pacemakers. I found this article published in Journal Watch Cardiology.

Physician-authored summaries and commentary…
…from the publishers of The New England Journal of Medicine


Summary and Comment

Airport Metal Detectors Are Safe for Pacemakers and ICDs

Pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) may be susceptible to electromagnetic interference from other devices (e.g., cellular telephones, electronic surveillance systems). Airport metal-detector gates (AMDGs) use alternating current to produce a primary magnetic flux within one or more coils. To determine whether AMDGs might interfere with pacemaker and ICD function, researchers in Germany set up a standard AMDG in their office to test its effect on 348 consecutive patients (200 with pacemakers, 148 with ICDs) who were undergoing routine device checks.

The researchers assessed pacemaker and ICD function by recording ECGs and interrogating devices before, during, and after exposure to the AMDG. While pacemakers and ICDs were in a pacing mode, patients walked back and forth through the AMDG, remained for 20 seconds within the AMDG, turned 360 degrees, and placed their devices (their chests) as close as possible to the AMDG transmitter -- a simulated worst-case scenario. None of the 348 devices showed pacing, sensing, or other interference.

Comment: These findings show that airport metal-detector gates do not interfere with pacemaker and ICD function. Given the growing number of patients with these devices, the results are reassuring.

— Hugh Calkins, MD

Published in Journal Watch Cardiology July 25, 2003

2 Comments

Doctors are not Electronics Engineers

by gldoble - 2008-01-11 01:01:39

Not to belittle thier capabilties or the help they have gievn to us, however....Doc's aren't Electronics Engineers and I am. Have been for over 30 years.

The reason that you really, do not want to be scanned by a Metal Detector either Wand or Booth, is becuase the magnetisim can and will affect the clock rate of the CPU that runs your e-bunny. It could cause the clocking signals to either shift or re-set. Something you really don't want to have happen. This holds true even though the electronics are encased they are still suseptable to EMI, (Electro Magnetic Interference).

Its not that they are specifically dangerous to you, I really don't think you want to see your implant reset when it doesn't need to be. It would probably be like having a light switch turned off then on rather quickly.

As to a shift in the clocking signals, this can be best demostraed by holding a magnet over a watch. The Sweep had will move, unless the magent is very strong, however you will see a jitter. This jitter is what would happen to the timing circuitry of your implant.

Since I've had mine, I have been on two trips to various parts of China, Canada and Japan. You better believe I will use my Med Card to bypass the scanners.

In electronics we have a saying: Murphy -Always- shows up. No matter how good or how bad something is Murphays law states "Anything that can go wrong eventially will go wrong".

So on that happy note, I suggest you you your Med Card while traveling.

Greg

Nonsense

by ridera - 2008-01-11 12:01:20

Greg:

You need to refresh your knowledge about piezo-based oscillator, CMOS, clock circuits. They are immune to magnetic fields, except for extremes which are not found anywhere except in physics labs.

The watch experiment you cite is not pertinent because your watch uses a simple motor to move the hands. You are seeing the motor disturbed.

Anyone who wants additional info should call their PM's customer support 800 number and get the facts.

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