Electromagnetic field simulation around implantable cardiac pacemakers caused by EAS system [electronic article surveillance]

One of the recent problems for pacemaker (PM) patients is an anti-shoplifting system which is called the electronic article surveillance (EAS) system. Electromagnetic field patterns of the two types of EAS system, radio frequency (RF) and electromagnetic (EM) systems, are simulated with in Irnich model which consists of saline and a pacemaker. The voltage differences induced between a PM casing main body and the tips of pacing leads and those between both leads (ventricular and atrium) are estimated. The voltages induced between PM body and the ventricular lead are about 300 mV and 1 mV by RF and EM systems, respectively. Considering the input characteristics of the PM circuit, these voltages will not bring about serious errors in the PM system if the patient goes through the EAS gate at a normal pace. Acousto-magnetic EAS systems which use lower frequencies may be more harmful to the PM system.