Environmental and Medical Therapy Hazards
•
Avoid electromagnetic interference (EMI).
Advise patients to avoid sources of EMI because EMI may
cause the pulse generator to deliver inappropriate therapy or inhibit appropriate therapy.
Moving away from the source of the EMI or turning off the source usually allows the pulse generator
to return to normal operation.
Examples of potential EMI sources are:
•
Electrical power sources, arc welding or resistance welding equipment, and robotic jacks
•
High voltage power distribution lines
•
Electrical smelting furnaces
•
Large RF transmitters such as radar
•
Radio transmitters, including those used to control toys
•
Electronic surveillance (antitheft) devices
•
An alternator on a car that is running
•
Medical treatments and diagnostic tests in which an electrical current is passed through the body,
such as TENS, electrocautery, electrolysis/thermolysis, electrodiagnostic testing, electromyography,
or nerve conduction studies
•
Any externally applied device that uses an automatic lead detection alarm system (e.g., an EKG
machine)
•
Wireless ECG.
Wireless ECG is susceptible to RF interference, and may have an intermittent or lost
signal. If interference is present, especially during diagnostic testing, consider using a surface ECG
instead.
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