Magnetic fields and pacemakers

[Andrew1966]

Hi, I looking to get back to work in an engineering workshop having had a pacemaker fitted 8 weeks ago, we have a 600kg magnet for lifting and big motors on the machines, has anyone any experience how this may affect a pacemaker? also any other info as it seem to me that a short contact with magnetic fields is not critical

[stevejb1810]

I know there are issues with powerful magnets - nmr machines for example. Have. Look at the attached heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditio...

It’s a US heart org site and the info is pretty general. Ultimately I think you need to talk to your GP and cardiologist.

[Andrew1966 in reply to stevejb1810]

Hi Steve, thanks for your reply, I think I've been on heart.org. from what the person doing the pacemaker check today said if it does come in contact it just paces at 100 BPM which is not good long term but not life fretting

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Do you have a data sheet for the magnet. The figure that you need to look for is the magnetic field strength in Gauss. The guideline given by Medtronic seems to suggest a maximum field of 5 Gauss for implantable devices. Also talk with your GP and/or cardiologist.

[Andrew1966 in reply to MichaelJH]

Hi Michael, thanks for your reply, I also came across 5 Gauss as safe and 10 Gauss max, I did speak to the person who did the pacemaker check today but the medical people don't understand the environment I work in (which is fair enough), the lifting mag may be able to find out the strength but we have large motors on the machines which would have mag fields and induction furnaces to melt the pig iron, I know you can get Gauss meters from wellington welding (the ones on ebay don't go up strong enough). I have to have another check in three months and think if I don't go to close for long I should be ok, I should be ok to avoid the furnaces, and if the reading are on the lines of now then its not been affected.

[FiftyRoy]

This opens a can of worms, I work for a airport and worked in the baggage hall maint. which there are hundreds of motors, linear motors etc. After my unplanned pacemaker implant they were paranoid about magnetic radiation and had surveys done, contacted Boston Scientific (pacemaker manufacturer) and resulted in me not being able to go back to my job. Other engineering jobs were problematic, going into plant rooms with HVAC motors, switch gear that may be old and not assessed. Ultimately I have had to take a temporary less hands on job and get frustrated not being able to do the core trade I've done from leaving school.

I still think some of this is overkill but a large responsible company is going to play extra safe, what happens with smaller set ups I wouldn't like to second guess. Keep us in the loop how things go.

[Andrew1966 in reply to FiftyRoy]

Hi Roy, Well been back at work some time, they are not interested about my pacemaker just said I best keep away from the induction furnaces, I have a small cheap pocket compass which I checked against a mobile phone to compare with like the lifting magnetic and things to see how far the mag fields are (about 1.5m with 600kg lighting mag and about 1/2 with my 300kg mag) I've been fine with the mags and around transformers and motors, interesting that on the Medtronic pacemaker site (I have a bitronic) it says about if you go into a mag field it goes into a factory setting and reverts to your setting when you com out of it, both the sites I mention give a list of things that affect them, fork lift trucks for one and there all over our works, mag names badges is another, there is so much cordless phones the list goes on but I don't know anyone affect by it! if all the things that affect them cause great problems for use we would be all falling over because there is so much that most people are unaware of, good luck. (web, EMC-ChartforMedtronicPacersAndICDs)

[Emily_BHF]

Whilst most things shouldn’t affect how your pacemaker or ICD works, you should be cautious and keep anything with a magnetic field and certain electrical equipment, at least six inches away from your device. However with this example I would recommend you discuss it with your specialist who will be able to advise specifically about your device.

If they are not able to help, also contact the manufacturer of your device directly (which could be Medtronic, St Jude's Medical among others).

Take care,

Emily

[Andrew1966]

Thank you Emily for your reply