Electromagnetic Interference of an Implantable Loop Recorder by Commonly Encountered Electronic Devices

Abstract

Electromagnetic interference of pacemaker systems has been well established and can lead to an inappropriate function of these devices. Recently, an implantable loop recorder (ILR) (REVEAL, Medtronic Inc.) has been introduced to evaluate the possible arrhythmic etiology of patients with recurrent syncope. We evaluated the interference of this device in two patients with implantable ILR and in three nonimplanted ILRs with four electromagnetic sources: cellular phones (GSMs), electronic article surveillance systems (EASs), metal detector gates (MDGs), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The GSM did not affect appropriate function of the ILR whereas radiofrequency (RF) EAS could interfere with normal function in implanted and nonimplanted systems. The MDG had no influence on ILR function. The magnetic field induced by the MRI resulted in an irreversible error in one nonimplanted ILR. Therefore, although interference between electromagnetic sources and ILRs appears to be rare in our study, physicians should be aware of possible malfunctioning of these devices.

Efficacy of Implantable Loop Recorders in Establishing Symptom-Rhythm Correlation in Young Patients With Syncope and Palpitations

“…Electromagnetic interference is a potential source for device malfunction, but this was not encountered in this study. 15 …”

Risk of cellular phone interference with an implantable loop recorder

“…Artifacts occurring at the time of ringing of the cellular phone were present on manually activated ECG in 55 tests and, in 6 instances, on both the manually activated and the automatically stored events (Figs. [1][2][3][4]. The onset of recording of these artifacts, which varied in frequency and amplitude, began 2 to 4 s before the first audible ringing tone and lasted throughout the ringing phase.…”

“…While undersensing of cardiac, and oversensing of non-cardiac electrical activity have both been described [8], published reports pertaining to EMI have been few [2,3,9,10]. In a case report by Gimbel and Wilkoff, artifacts mimicking a tachycardia were recorded by an ILR during magnetic resonance imaging.…”

“…A single publication has evaluated the potential interference between an implantable loop recorder (ILR) and cellular telephones [2]. In that study, where the devices were separated by a distance of 20 cm, no effect was observed.…”

Generalized tonic-clonic seizures detected by implantable loop recorder devices: Diagnosing more than cardiac arrhythmias

“…[8][9][10] However, such artifacts lack the stereotypical tonic and then clonic phase progression that define generalized seizures. Implantable loop recorder detection of myopotentials produced by movement disorders (e.g., Parkinson disease) has, to our knowledge, never been reported.…”