Interference of implanted cardiac pacemakers with TASER X26 dart mode application

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Electrophysiology
• Public Safety Technology

Background:

• Increasing prevalence of cardiac pacemakers and conducted energy devices (CEDs).
• Growing concern regarding the safety of pacemaker patients exposed to CEDs.
• Planned widespread use of CEDs in Europe necessitates risk assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the risk to cardiac pacemaker patients from CEDs.
• To assess induced interference voltages in pacemakers due to CED use.
• To determine if pacemaker function can be affected by CEDs.

Main Methods:

• Numerical simulations using detailed anatomical models of pacemaker patients.
• Analysis of pacemakers implanted in left pectoral, right pectoral, and abdominal positions.
• Assessment of induced voltages from TASER X26 device application.

Main Results:

• Interference voltages were highest with abdominal pacemaker implantation.
• Pectoral implantation sites showed approximately 20% lower interference voltages.
• Induced voltages, though below immunity thresholds, were sufficient to potentially capture pacemaker function.

Conclusions:

• Cardiac pacemaker patients may be at risk from CEDs, particularly with abdominal implants.
• CED use could lead to pacemaker interference and altered function, even if not causing permanent damage.
• Further consideration of pacemaker patient safety is warranted with increasing CED prevalence.