ICD AND PACEMAKER RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO CELLULAR PHONES

Many pacemakers and defibrillators are engineered specifically to resist interference from cellular phones. However, cellular technology is continually changing. To avoid any potential interference, individuals using cellular phones are advised not to hold these phones directly over their pacemaker or defibrillator.

When certain cellular phones are held too close (within 6 inches or 15 centimeters) to some implanted medical devices, studies indicate that there may be some temporary effects on the settings of the device due to interference from the radio frequency signal of the phone. Any effect would be temporary, and simply moving the phone away will return the pacemaker or defibrillator to its previous state of operation.

Because cellular phone technology continues to evolve, and because of the great variety of cellular phones, pacemakers and defibrillators, an absolute recommendation cannot be made to cover every phone and patient. Therefore, to ensure no adverse effects are encountered, the following guidelines have been developed:

• Maintain a distance of 6 inches (15 centimeters) between a hand-held personal cellular phone and the implanted device. For phones transmitting above three watts (such as some portable and mobile cellular phones), a distance of 12 inches (30 centimeters) between the antenna and the implanted device is advised.
  
  
• Hold the phone to the ear opposite the side of the implanted device.
  
  
• Do not carry the phone in a breast pocket or on a belt over or within 6 inches (15 centimeters) of the implanted device, as some phones emit signals when they are turned on, but not in use (such as in the stand-by mode). Storing the phone in a location opposite the side of the implant is recommended.