The standards EN 50061 /EN 45502-2-1 are dealing with the immunity of pace makers.
Immunity is tested in a torso simulator and a specific antenna to transmit close to water at the right frequency. The problem is not the pacemaker itself, it is the fact that the sensors provide a good antenna. Beside this modern pace makers additionally have a mode of operation they go into if they got interference with a certain level above the normal interference they have. They don’t sense anymore and got to a fixed rhythm. Even with that relatively high level of immunity there are devices people with pace makers have to stay away like high power transformers and all devices creating a high magnetic field (MRT). Electric shavers, hairdryers and tolls like electric drills also have a potential to disturb the function if used close to the pace maker. Lothar Schmidt Technical Manager EMC, SAR, Antenna testing and BQB CETECOM Inc. 411 Dixon Landing Road Milpitas, CA 95035 Phone +1 408 586 6214 Fax +1 408 586 6299 This e-mail may contain proprietary, privileged and confidential information for the sole use of the named intended recipient. Any review or distribution of this e-mail by any party other than the intended recipient or that person's agent is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please delete all copies and immediately Contact the sender. You must not, directly or indirectly, use, disclose, distribute, print, or copy any part of this message if you are not the intended recipient. Thank you. _____ From: owner-emc-p...@listserv.ieee.org mailto:owner-emc-p...@listserv.ieee.org] On Behalf Of Barker, Neil Sent: Friday, November 19, 2004 8:20 AM To: 'drcuthb...@micron.com'; israe...@oms-it.co.il; emc-p...@ieee.org Subject: RE: Heart pacemakers - Vulnerability to EM I am no expert in this subject, and some of what I am about to say is hearsay, but here it is for what it's worth. Safety levels are generally based not on field strength, but on power density. However, these levels are set for the power absorption of the body (in W/kg) based on the heating effect. For comparison purposes consider the acceptance levels applied to SAR testing. On this basis, I suspect that Dave's amateur rig probably doesn't meet SAR acceptance levels, and should probably have an exclusion zone around the antenna! The original message was concerned with the effect on a pacemaker rather than directly on the body itself. Clearly, if you disrupt a pacemaker then it is the pacemaker that has an effect on the body. I believe that the susceptibility depends greatly on whether they are external pacemakers or implanted pacemakers. The implanted devices are much less susceptible as they are completely surrounded by soft body tissue, which is largely water in any case. External devices are much more susceptible, due largely to the relatively long electrode wire. being long, this is generally susceptible at fairly low frequencies, and I have heard that they can be affected by the magnetic loops used in store doorways for security (merchandise protection) purposes. I have no knowledge of their susceptibility to E fields. Best regards, Neil R. Barker C.Eng. MIEE FSEE MIEEE Manager Compliance Engineering e2v technologies (uk) ltd 106 Waterhouse Lane Chelmsford Essex CM1 2QU UK Tel: +44 (0)1245 453616 Fax: +44 (0)1245 453410 e-mail: neil.bar...@e2v.com Web: http://www.e2v.com <http://www.e2v.com/> From: drcuthb...@micron.com [mailto:drcuthb...@micron.com] Sent: 19 November 2004 14:47 To: israe...@oms-it.co.il; emc-p...@ieee.org Subject: RE: Heart pacemakers - Vulnerability to EM I don't know what the standards call for but it is quite possible for a person to be subjected to an E-field exceeding 500 V/m very near to an amateur radio station. This is the field at my operating position when I am transmitting at 1.8 MHz. A cell phone held close to the body will cause a field, at the body, of over 30 V/m. Dave Cuthbert From: owner-emc-p...@listserv.ieee.org mailto:owner-emc-p...@listserv.ieee.org] On Behalf Of Israel Sent: Thursday, November 18, 2004 4:55 PM To: emc-p...@ieee.org Subject: Heart pacemakers - Vulnerability to EM Hi all Heart pacemakers may be vulnerable to Electro Magnetic energy. Has anyone idea about safe immunity levels ? about relevant standards regarding this matter ? Thanks ! ---------------------------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society emc-pstc discussion list. Website: http://www.ieee-pses.org/ To post a message to the list, send your e-mail to emc-p...@ieee.org Instructions: http://listserv.ieee.org/listserv/request/user-guide.html List rules: http://www.ieee-pses.org/listrules.html For help, send mail to the list administrators: Ron Pickard: emc-p...@hypercom.com Scott Douglas emcp...@ptcnh.net For policy questions, send mail to: Richard Nute: ri...@ieee.org Jim Bacher: j.bac...@ieee.org All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: http://www.ieeecommunities.org/emc-pstc ---------------------------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society emc-pstc discussion list. Website: http://www.ieee-pses.org/ To post a message to the list, send your e-mail to emc-p...@ieee.org Instructions: http://listserv.ieee.org/listserv/request/user-guide.html List rules: http://www.ieee-pses.org/listrules.html For help, send mail to the list administrators: Ron Pickard: emc-p...@hypercom.com Scott Douglas emcp...@ptcnh.net For policy questions, send mail to: Richard Nute: ri...@ieee.org Jim Bacher: j.bac...@ieee.org All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: http://www.ieeecommunities.org/emc-pstc
