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Damaging Effect of Therapeutic Radiation on Programmable Pacemakers
Author(s) -
ADAMEC R.,
HAEFLIGER J.M.,
KILLISCH J.P.,
NIEDERER J.,
JAQUET P.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
pacing and clinical electrophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.686
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1540-8159
pISSN - 0147-8389
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-8159.1982.tb02205.x
Subject(s) - medicine , radiation , pulse (music) , series (stratigraphy) , optics , computer science , telecommunications , paleontology , physics , detector , biology
Two series of present‐day pacemakers were tested in vitro with pulsed x‐ray radiation. The first series of 12 pacemakers consisted of 10 different types and models of demand pacemakers (VVI). The second series of 13 pacemakers had 9 different types and models of programmable pacemakers. Unlike the first series which showed only mild changes in frequency and pulse width, all but four of the programmable pacemakers presented sudden complete failure after different radiation doses. We conclude that direct pulse radiation at therapeutic levels of programmable pacemakers should be avoided. (PACE, Vol. 5, March‐April 1982)