Electromagnetic and radiation environment effects on pacemakers

Abstract

The increase, on one hand, of patients bearing pacemakers for cardiac deficiencies and on the other hand, of the number of cancer patients, increases the probability of several simultaneous therapy needs. Cancer radiation therapy involves specific damages to sensitive electronic devices such as pacemakers. Oncologists demand risk evaluation and rules for applying radiation therapy to cancer patients bearing pacemakers. Pacemaker manufacturers assess maximum radiation dose for secure running at 5 Gy level. Our experiments show that this security level must be lowered to 2 Gy.