title: Electromagnetic compatibility of implantable neurostimulators to RFID emitters.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study is to investigate electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of implantable neurostimulators with the emissions from radio frequency identification (RFID) emitters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six active implantable neurostimulators with lead systems were tested for susceptibility to electromagnetic fields generated by 22 RFID emitters. These medical devices have been approved for marketing in the U.S. for a number of intended uses that include: epilepsy, depression, incontinence, Parkinsonian tremor and pain relief. Each RFID emitter had one of the following carrier frequencies: 125 kHz, 134 kHz, 13.56 MHz, 433 MHz, 915 MHz and 2.45 GHz.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The test results showed the output of one of the implantable neurostimulators was inhibited by 134 kHz RFID emitter at separation distances of 10 cm or less. The output of the same implantable neurostimulator was also inhibited by another 134 kHz RFID emitter at separation distances of 10 cm or less and also showed inconsistent pulsing rate at a separation distance of 15 cm. Both effects occurred during and lasted through out the duration of the exposure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The clinical significance of the effects was assessed by a clinician at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The effects were determined to be clinically significant only if they occurred for extended period of time. There were no observed effects from the other 5 implantable neurostimulators or during exposures from other RFID emitters.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA. Oxana.S.Pantchenko@gmail.com
authors.forename: Oxana S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Pantchenko
authors.forename: Seth J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Seidman
authors.forename: Joshua W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Guag
authors.forename: Donald M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Witters
authors.forename: Curt L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Sponberg
mesh_terms: D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D055590:Electromagnetic Phenomena; D006801:Humans; D058542:Implantable Neurostimulators; D057233:Radio Frequency Identification Device / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration