Metal Detectors Not Affect Pacemakers

Security in public areas like airports make people have often examined using metal detectors. Initially there was concern in heart patients, the examination using a handheld metal detector that would interfere with the patient wearing a pacemaker and debrilator.

However, research conducted at the Medical Faculty of the Technische University Munich plant ensure cardiac patients with pacemakers or defibrillators will not be disrupted its function by metal detectors.

This is different to previous reports which mention the electromagnetic field generated by the security scanners can interfere with the work and functioning of medical devices, such as pacemakers and debrilator.

The study involved nearly 400 patients with pacemakers or implantable defibrillators for the past two handheld metal detectors are most commonly used. The 400 patients with pacemakers and implantable defibrillator was tested with a handheld metal detectors for 30 seconds, the time is longer than usual screening.

The result, the electromagnetic field generated by metal detectors security scanners can not interfere with the work and functioning of medical devices. The results of these studies have been published in the Annals of Internal Medicine 1 November 2011.

The researchers tested the study participants and obtained results include:

1. Found no interference in the way medical devices are in the works.
2. No changes were seen in the ability of the medical device to detect an abnormal heart rhythm or to maintain heart rhythm.
3. There is no need to reprogram each device after use of a metal detector.

From these results it can be concluded that, handheld metal detectors do not affect the function of pacemakers and implantable defibrillator in patients.

"Although the results of new research states that, in patients with a medical device implanted in the body has a low risk for impaired function of the medical device. But still required further study to confirm and strengthen the research. Since the entire world, there are millions of people who have used pacemakers and implantable defibrillators cardioverte, "said Dr.. Gregg Fonarow, professor of Cardiology, University of California, Los Angeles as quoted by MSNHealth, Tuesday (01/11/2011).

Concerns about the hand-held metal detectors interfere with pacemakers have made the United States Transportation Security Administration recommends travelers with a pacemaker to request checks manually compared to using hand-held metal detectors.