Characteristics of telemetry interference with pacemakers caused by digital media players.

Background: Contemporary implantable heart rhythm devices communicate multiple complex data simultaneously using radiofrequency telemetry. Interference in communication can expose them to the risk of potential corruption, leading to adverse clinical consequences.

Methods & Results: We studied the characteristics of interference with uplink (real time intracardiac electrograms, marker channel, and stored histograms) and downlink (attempt to program a change in the lower rate limit, the pacing mode, and the ventricular lead configuration) data transmission between the wand and the pacemaker caused by digital media players (iPods--Photo and 3G) in 50 patients.

Do media players cause interference with pacemakers?

Background: Electrical devices generate electromagnetic fields that may interfere with pacemakers. Media players cause telemetry interference with pacemakers, but it is not known whether they cause direct interference with pacemakers. The purpose of this study was to examine the interaction between pacemakers and 3 different media players.

A media player causes clinically significant telemetry interference with implantable loop recorders.

Background: The implantable loop recorder is a useful diagnostic tool for intermittent cardiovascular symptoms because it can automatically record arrhythmias as well as a patient-triggered ECG. Media players have been shown to cause telemetry interference with pacemakers. Telemetry interference may be important in patients with implantable loop recorders because capturing a patient-triggered ECG requires a telemetry link between a hand-held activator and the implanted device.

Electromagnetic interference in an implantable loop recorder caused by a portable digital media player.

The implantable loop recorder has been shown to be a cost-effective tool for diagnosis of intermittent cardiovascular symptoms such as syncope and palpitations. Electromagnetic interference in these recorders may be caused by commonly encountered electronic devices such as antitheft electronic surveillance systems and magnetic resonance imaging cameras. In this report, we describe interference in two patients with implantable loop recorders from a portable digital media player.

Electromagnetic interference with pacemakers caused by portable media players.

Background: Electromagnetic fields generated by electrical devices may cause interference with permanent pacemakers. Media players are becoming a common mode of portable entertainment. The most common media players used worldwide are iPods.