electromagnetic interference of pacemakers by mobile phones.
Irnich W, Batz L, Muller R, Tobisch R · 1996
View Original AbstractOne-third of pacemakers tested showed interference from mobile phones, but keeping devices 20 cm away completely prevented problems.
Plain English Summary
German researchers tested 231 pacemaker models from 20 manufacturers to see if mobile phones interfere with their function. They found that about one-third of pacemakers experienced interference from certain phone frequencies, but simple precautions like keeping phones 20 cm away from the chest completely prevented problems. The study concluded that while interference is possible, it's easily avoided and affects very few patients in real-world conditions.
Why This Matters
This 1996 study provides crucial evidence that EMF interference with medical devices is not just theoretical but measurable and significant. What makes this research particularly valuable is its comprehensive scope, testing hundreds of pacemaker models across multiple frequencies used by mobile networks at the time. The findings reveal that 34% of pacemakers tested showed interference with 900 MHz digital signals, affecting an estimated 27% of patients with those devices. The reality is that this interference occurs at very close distances, which explains why simple precautions work so effectively. This research demonstrates the importance of understanding EMF interactions with sensitive electronics, especially as we become increasingly surrounded by wireless devices. The study's practical guidance remains relevant today: distance is your friend when it comes to protecting sensitive medical equipment from electromagnetic interference.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. The study examined exposure from: 450 MHz, 900 MHz, 1,800 MHz
Study Details
It was the intention of our investigation to test as many pacemaker models as possible to determine whether incompatibility with mobile phones of different modes may exist, using an in vitro measuring setup.
We had access to 231 different models of 20 manufacturers. During the measurements, a pulse generato...
Out of 231 pulse generator models, 103 pieces corresponding to 44.6% were influenced either by C- or...
A risk analysis reveals that the portion of patients really suffering from mobile phones is about 1 out of 100,000. Nevertheless, it would be desirable in the future if implanting physicians would use only pacemakers with immunity against mobile phones as guaranteed by the manufacturers.
Show BibTeX
@article{w_1996_electromagnetic_interference_of_pacemakers_2232,
author = {Irnich W and Batz L and Muller R and Tobisch R},
title = {electromagnetic interference of pacemakers by mobile phones.},
year = {1996},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8904533/},
}