Effects of an increased air gap on the in vitro interaction of wireless phones with cardiac pacemakers.
Grant FH, Schlegel RE, · 2000
View Original AbstractMoving a wireless phone just 2 cm further from a pacemaker eliminates half of electromagnetic interference problems.
Plain English Summary
Researchers tested how wireless phones interfere with cardiac pacemakers at different distances, using laboratory conditions that mimicked the human torso. They found that even small increases in distance dramatically reduced interference - when phones were moved from 1 cm to 2 cm away from the pacemaker, half of the problematic interactions disappeared. The study revealed that keeping phones just 8.6 cm away perpendicular to the chest provides much better protection than the standard 15 cm recommendation measured horizontally.
Why This Matters
This research provides crucial practical guidance for the millions of Americans with pacemakers who rely on wireless phones daily. The science demonstrates that electromagnetic interference between phones and pacemakers follows predictable patterns based on distance and positioning - knowledge that can literally be life-saving. What makes this study particularly valuable is its real-world applicability: it tested multiple phone technologies under worst-case laboratory conditions, giving us confidence in the safety margins. The finding that perpendicular distance matters more than horizontal distance challenges current safety guidelines and suggests that pacemaker patients may have been given overly restrictive advice. Put simply, understanding the physics of electromagnetic coupling allows for more precise, practical recommendations that don't unnecessarily limit patients' communication options while still ensuring their safety.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. The study examined exposure from: TDMA-11 Hz, TDMA-22 Hz, TDMA-50 Hz, and TDMA-217 Hz
Study Details
The aim of this study is to investigate Effects of an increased air gap on the in vitro interaction of wireless phones with cardiac pacemakers.
Twenty pacemaker-phone combinations involving 6 pacemakers and 9 phones were evaluated in vitro unde...
Small increases in the perpendicular air gap between the phone and the saline surface resulted in a ...
The results have implications for those making recommendations to pacemaker patients who may be unaware of this distinction
Show BibTeX
@article{fh_2000_effects_of_an_increased_2122,
author = {Grant FH and Schlegel RE and},
title = {Effects of an increased air gap on the in vitro interaction of wireless phones with cardiac pacemakers.},
year = {2000},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11015112/},
}