Key result
Exposure of 5 different ICD devices in a human-shaped phantom to high magnetic fields (>600µT and >1000µT) at a 400 kV substation resulted in no observed ICD disturbances.
Why the study?
Does exposure to high magnetic fields at a 400 kV substation cause disturbances in ICD function?
Does exposure to high magnetic fields at a 400 kV substation cause disturbances in ICD function?
Exposure to high magnetic fields at a 400 kV substation did not cause disturbances in a small sample of ICDs tested in a human-shaped phantom, suggesting the risk of interference may not be high.
Abstract—Workers using an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) are classified by European Directive 2013/35/EU as being at particular risk because of the potential interference between implanted medical devices and electromagnetic fields. The aim of the study was to investigate ICD function using a human-shaped phantom in high magnetic fields of a shunt reactor at a 400 kV substation. We used the phantom in the following experiment periods: isolated from the ground, grounded by a foot, or grounded by a hand. We performed five ICD tests using five different ICD devices. In experiment place A, the magnetic field was over 1000µT, and in experiment place B, the exposure was over 600µT. We did not find any disturbances in the ICDs. However, we conducted only 5 ICD experiments in real exposure situations at 400 kV substations. Although it is not possible to draw a strong conclusion regarding risk level, the risk of such ICD disturbances from magnetic field exposure at 400 kV substations does not appear to be high. 1.
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Korpinen et al. (2014) studied Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) function (n=5). High magnetic fields at a 400 kV substation was evaluated on ICD disturbances. Exposure of 5 different ICD devices in a human-shaped phantom to high magnetic fields (>600µT and >1000µT) at a 400 kV substation resulted in no observed ICD disturbances.
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