gms | German Medical Science

33. Internationale Konferenz für Elektrokardiographie

Internationale Konferenz für Elektrokardiographie

Third generation mobile phones (UMTS) do not interfere with permanent implanted pacemakers

Meeting Abstract

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  • corresponding author presenting/speaker K. Hekmat - University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
  • G. Bennink - University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
  • T. Wahlers - University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

33rd International Congress on Electrocardiology. Cologne, 28.06.-01.07.2006. Düsseldorf, Köln: German Medical Science; 2007. Doc06ice096

Die elektronische Version dieses Artikels ist vollständig und ist verfügbar unter: http://www.egms.de/de/meetings/ice2006/06ice096.shtml

Veröffentlicht: 8. Februar 2007

© 2007 Hekmat et al.
Dieser Artikel ist ein Open Access-Artikel und steht unter den Creative Commons Lizenzbedingungen (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.de). Er darf vervielfältigt, verbreitet und öffentlich zugänglich gemacht werden, vorausgesetzt dass Autor und Quelle genannt werden.


Gliederung

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Objective: Third generation mobile phones (UMTS) were recently introduced in Europe. The safety of these devices with regard to their interference with implanted pacemakers is as yet unknown.

Methods: The study comprised 100 patients with permanent pacemaker implantation between November 2004 and June 2005. Two UMTS cellular phones (T-Mobile, Vodafone) were tested in the standby, dialing and operating mode with 22 single-chamber and 78 dual-chamber pacemakers. Continuous surface electrocardiograms, intracardiac electrograms, and marker channels were recorded when calls were made by a stationary phone to the cellular phones. All pacemakers were tested under a “worst-case scenario”, which includes a programming of the pacemaker to unipolar sensing and pacing modes and inducing of a maximum sensitivity setting during continuous pacing of the patient.

Results: Patients had pacemaker implantation between January 1997 and March 2005. The mean age was 70.6±13.2 years. Regardless of atrial and ventricular sensitivity settings all tested pacemakers did not show any interference with both UMTS mobile phones (Nokia 6650 and Motorola A835). In addition, there was also no interference of the marker channels and the intracardiac ECGs with both cellular phones.

Conclusion: Third generation mobile phones are safe for patients with permanent pacemakers. This is due to the high frequency band for this system (1800 – 2200 MHz) and the low power output between 0.01 W and 0.25 W.