The interference threshold of cardiac pacemakers in electric 50 Hz fields

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine a 'worst-case' and a 'real-case' interference threshold for implanted cardiac pacemakers (CPM) in electric 50 Hz fields as they appear in highvoltage plants, e.g. beneath high voltage overhead lines. For this purpose the resulting electrical potential distribution within the thorax area of volunteers from an external homogeneous electrical 50 Hz field was measured. Different factors such as different body geometries as well as inspiration and expiration of the lung were considered. Measurements showed that 1 per 1 kV m^-1