Tim: I used to test pacemakers, and they could regularly withstand pulsed fields of several hundred volts per meter. What type of fields do these antitheft systems create? Do they have an unusually strong magnetic field?
Could your friend possibly have a defective implant? I suppose you could arrange for an immunity test for him. Don't forget to have emergency medical support on hand, and also a well-worded waiver of liability. Ed > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] [SMTP:[email protected]] > Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2000 12:45 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: EN standard for pacemaker immunity > > > Hi everyone, > > Except for "official" certification - it is not the standard that is > the most important. > > Consider the field strengths that the person (hence pacemaker) will be > exposed to. Are the standards realistic or were they created to give a > MINIMUM level of confidence to some authority? > > What are the failure modes of the device and what form of harm would a > failure cause? > > What are the product liability issues of an EMC induced failure? > > I have a friend with a pacemaker / defibrillator. He was told that > this new device would give him a better quality of life than the old > type. > > (No - I will not mention makes) > > However, the antitheft devices at the shop doors (here in the UK) > cause him to be defibrillated! He has not been able to go shopping at > the local center since his heart attack two years ago. > > The makers of the device say that it meets all the standards. His > surgeon will change it to a different make but requires payment for > the operation and the device. Nobody will tell him that any new device > will be able to withstand the fields generated by the antitheft > systems. > > B.T.W. The antitheft systems meet their requirements. > > My friend is wondering if he can go to litigation over this issue. > > Just a thought for the melting pot. > > All the above is a strictly personal view. > > Regards > Tim > > :-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-) Ed Price [email protected] Electromagnetic Compatibility Lab Cubic Defense Systems San Diego, CA. USA 858-505-2780 (Voice) 858-505-1583 (Fax) Military & Avionics EMC Services Is Our Specialty Shake-Bake-Shock - Metrology - Reliability Analysis :-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-) ------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE EMC Society Product Safety Technical Committee emc-pstc discussion list. To cancel your subscription, send mail to: [email protected] with the single line: unsubscribe emc-pstc For help, send mail to the list administrators: Jim Bacher: [email protected] Michael Garretson: [email protected] For policy questions, send mail to: Richard Nute: [email protected]
