ID Number		1495
Study Type		Engineering & Physics
Model		900 MHz (analoge, GSM, CDMA) mobile phone exposure to patients with pacemakers and analysis of pacing performance
Details		Patients (n = 29) single- or dual-chamber bipolar rate-adaptive permanent pacemakers (nine different models from 4 different manufacturers with different sensing lead configurations) were exposed to RF emissions from commercially available cellular phones and analyzed for performance. Mobile phones were linked to the network, and had maximal power outputs ranging from 0.6 to 2 W. Mobile phones were placed (1) above the pacemaker pocket, (2) the ear level ipsilateral to the pacemaker pocket, and (3) the contralateral ear level. The authors report interference in 74 of 2,418 (3.1%) episodes in eight of the patients from both analogue and digital mobile phones. The interference occurred only with the mobile phone positioned above the pacemaker pocket and consisted of inhibition of pacing output, rapid ventricular tracking in DDD(R) or VDD(R) mode, and asynchronous pacing. The unipolar atrial lead was most susceptible to coupling from the mobile phone RF. In all patients, reprogramming of the sensitivity level successfully prevented mobile phone interference.
Findings		Effects
Status		Completed With Publication
Principal Investigator		University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong
Funding Agency		Private/Instit.
Country		CHINA
References		Chen, WH et al. Clin. Cardiol., (1996) 19:881-886
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