The mushrooming proliferation of wireless computer networks poses no clinically significantly threat to pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator users.
A cardiac surgeon at the University of Bonn (Germany), placed 25 pacemakers and 22 implantable cardioverter defibrillators made by all of the major device manufacturers at varying distances from wireless local area network (WLAN) transmitting antennas in order to study the potential for electromagnetic interference with device function. He subjected the cardiac devices to WLAN transmitting powers of both 100 Mw, the upper limit in Europe, and 1,000 Mw, the maximum output power permitted by the US Federal Communication Commission.
The good news: A1 key device programming and telemetry capabilities proved completely immune to interference from WLAN transmissions in his study, which was conducted free of commercial funding. Electrodense shielding, protection algorithms, and sophisticated programming protocols effectively immunize modern devices against Wi-Fi interference. No patients must be fearful when using Wi-Fi in public or a hotel.
Howerver, they found that the high-output WLAN permitted in the United States can interfere with certain noncritical pacemaker programming functions, including emergency VVI pacing, when the Wi-Fi antenna is situated less than 10 cm from the device. That’s an unlikely scenario, but we recommend, to be on safe side, that high-output antenna and Wi-Fi access points not be located in or adjacent to outpatient pacemaker clinics.