ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE ON MEDICAL DEVICES: A CASE STUDY OF IMPROPER IMPLANTABLE CARDIOVETER DEFIBRILLATOR (ICD)
Keywords:
Electromagnetic Interference; Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator; Unipolar sensing; Bipolar sensingAbstract
Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) is one of the major issues that affect the proper functioning of various
electronic devices. In this research, a case where EMI in the form of leakage current from an unearthed refrigerator
resulted in the inappropriate delivery of an electric shock from an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) to the
heart because it mistook it to be a sensed cardiac signal (in this case ventricular fibrillation) was considered. A
description of the EMI coupling mechanism, estimation of the associated EMI and possible ways preventing EMI entry
into ICDs was also included in this research.