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Do induction cooktops interfere with cardiac pacemakers?
Werner Irnich1, Alan D Bernstein
1University Hospital, Friedrichstr. 18, 35392 Giessen, Germany. werner@irni.ch
Summary
Induction cooktops can pose a risk to unipolar pacemaker patients due to induced voltages, especially with eccentric pot placement. Maintaining a safe distance and ensuring proper pacemaker function can mitigate interference risks.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Electromagnetic Compatibility
Background:
- Induction cooktops generate magnetic fields that heat cookware.
- Potential for electromagnetic interference with cardiac pacemakers exists.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the risk of induction cooktop interference with pacemaker sensing.
- To quantify induced voltages in a worst-case pacemaker-patient model.
Main Methods:
- Tested 11 European induction cooktops using a unipolar pacemaker-patient model.
- Measured induced voltages and simulated leakage currents.
- Investigated sensitivity of 244 pacemaker devices to modulated voltages.
Main Results:
- Induced voltages varied, reaching up to 800 mV with eccentric pot placement.
- Voltages exceeding 100 mV were observed, with some pacemakers reacting at 90.5 mV.
- Leakage currents caused ~2% of pot-to-ground voltage across the pacemaker sensing input.
Conclusions:
- Risk is highest for unipolar, left-sided implants with close proximity and non-concentric pot placement.
- Interference can occur via leakage currents during prolonged contact.
- Non-pacemaker-dependent patients with unipolar pacemakers are most at risk.