QRN and pacemakers
 

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/13/health/13cell.html

Data Show How Electronics Mix With Medical Devices
By NICHOLAS BAKALAR

If a halogen lamp causes static on a nearby radio, the problem is
probably not serious. But what if the electronic antitheft device in
the department store makes a heart pacemaker malfunction, or a
cellphone used in a hospital interferes with a blood pressure monitor?

Two reports published in the March issue of The Mayo Clinic
Proceedings suggest that the dangers of radio wave interference with
implanted medical devices are real but modest, and that cellphones in
hospitals present no danger at all.

One study, both of whose authors have received research financing from
manufacturers of medical equipment, describes two cases in which
antitheft devices, sometimes called electronic article surveillance,
or E.A.S., systems, apparently caused medical devices to malfunction.

A 71-year-old man with an implanted defibrillator was shocked and
staggered by an electronic antitheft system, and a 76-year old woman
with a pacemaker collapsed while standing near one of the devices.
Seated leaning against the machine, she passed out and was revived
five times before store employees moved her away from the device.

Neither person was seriously harmed. The authors said both episodes
happened in spring 2006 at large retail stores, but did not identify
them.
[...]


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