G'Day Bill
By trade I am an Electronics Technician who started my working life with a company called Telectronics P/L in the late 70's. They were part of the Cochlea (Implant) group, which was in its infancy back then. This company manufactured pacemakers. I was employed there to do a number of different duties over the 5 or so years that I was there, which included assembly, quality control, quality assurance, testing modules at various stages of manufacture and equipment calibration to test these sensitive devices. I do remember that they had what was called an Interference Reversion Period (IRP) which was in the vicinity of 120mS +/- 20mS. This, to my knowledge, allowed the device to 'reset itself' after this period of time, if there was a significant level of interference encountered by the device. If you are totally dependent on the pacemaker for electrical stimulus to your heart, I would be very careful around detectors. Technology would have improved some what since the early 80's, but you would have received information from the medical staff when the pacemaker was fitted. The field of radiation emitted by the detectors is usually diagrammatically indicated to show how it penetrates the ground, with no inclusion on the diagram showing what radiation pattern is emitted above the coil. Best advice would be to keep the coil away from your chest area (not that I think you would rest it on your chest for some reason) and use the detector as the manufacturer recommends.
Metal detectors for security: Interactions with metal detectors are unlikely to cause clinically significant symptoms in most patients. However, the American Heart Association recommends that you:
Don't stay near the metal detector longer than is necessary.
Don't lean against the system.
If scanning with a hand-held metal detector is necessary, tell the security personnel that you have a pacemaker. Ask them not to hold the metal detector near the device any longer than is absolutely necessary. Or ask for an alternative form of personal search.
Contrary to popular belief, modern home appliances - including microwave ovens - do not interfere with pacemakers and should not cause any concern whatsoever. With other devices, there are only a few special precautions you will need to take. They include:
Cellular telephones. Cell phones, if held close to the pacemaker (which may happen if the phone is kept in a breast pocket) can potentially affect the function of a pacemaker. But as long as the phone is kept six inches or more away from the pacemaker there should not be a problem.
Magnets. Similar to cell phones, magnets can affect a pacemaker if they are brought to within six inches or so. Simply keep magnets away from your pacemaker.
Anti-theft detectors. The walk-through, anti-theft detectors in stores work by generating electromagnetic waves, which can momentarily interfere with the function of a pacemaker. However, as long as you walk through the detector normally (and don't stop or pause inside of it), you should not experience any problems. So, when you encounter one of these devices, just keep moving right through it.
I hope this info helps.
Cheers Monty
