Risk of cellular phone interference with an implantable loop recorder.
Trigano A, Blandeau O, Dale C, Wong MF, Wiart J. · 2007
View Original AbstractCell phones caused false heart rhythm readings in 88% of tests when placed 1 cm from cardiac monitoring devices.
Plain English Summary
Researchers tested whether cell phones interfere with implantable loop recorders (ILRs), small heart monitoring devices that track irregular rhythms. When phones were placed just 1 cm away from the devices and calls were made, 88% of tests showed electrical interference that created false signals on heart rhythm recordings. While the interference didn't permanently damage the devices, it could potentially mask real heart problems or create false alarms.
Why This Matters
This study reveals a critical safety concern for the growing population of patients with implanted cardiac monitoring devices. The 88% interference rate at just 1 cm distance demonstrates how radiofrequency emissions from everyday devices can disrupt sensitive medical equipment. What makes this particularly concerning is that modern smartphones emit similar or higher power levels than the phones tested in 2007, and people routinely carry phones in chest pockets directly over implanted devices. The reality is that EMF interference with medical devices represents one of the most immediate and measurable health risks from wireless technology. Unlike debates over long-term cancer risks, device interference creates immediate, observable problems that can compromise medical care. Patients with implantable cardiac devices need clear guidance about maintaining distance from phones and other RF sources to ensure their life-saving equipment functions properly.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. The study examined exposure from: 900, 1800 MHz
Study Details
This study examined the risk of cellular phone ringing interference with implantable loop recorders (ILR).
To obviate the risk of dysfunction in recipients of implanted ILRs, the testing was performed with e...
Cellular phone ringing in close proximity to an externally applied ILR caused bursts of high-frequen...
Show BibTeX
@article{a_2007_risk_of_cellular_phone_2634,
author = {Trigano A and Blandeau O and Dale C and Wong MF and Wiart J.},
title = {Risk of cellular phone interference with an implantable loop recorder.},
year = {2007},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16839630/},
}