This is a quick update from previous blogs on manufacturers of Bluetooth (or like) accessories and the specs for Pacemakers. As I have written in the past, we as a profession have many issues to watch, and this one is of personal interest to me. We need to monitor how things interact on our clients (patients) and sometimes we do not realize until there are consequences (even small in nature). We just need to reach out to each other on what we learn to stay ahead of the curve as an industry.
Siemens has run testing and released this statement to me from Pam Burton (thank you very much, Pam for helping educate us all!):
“For Siemens hearing instruments and accessories, the claim “pacemaker friendly” refers to implantable devices (most commonly pacemakers or defibrillators, but could include things like implantable insulin pumps) that comply with the ANSI/AAMI/ISO 14117:2012 electromagnetic compatibility standard for human implants. All patients that have implants should have a card or manual that tells them the standard to which it is compliant. From what we understand, implants that comply with this standard are those that have been manufactured in the past 10-12 years. So, it is very possible that you will have patients with older implants that do not comply with this standard because they were implanted quite a while ago. For those patients, it does not mean that there is a risk; however it will be recommended in the user manual to consult the manufacturer of their device to ask about the risk of disturbance. The specifications for easyTek are in the manual, so they could provide this information to their device manufacturer for advisement. As you are well aware, many consumer electronic devices have very similar warnings or statements regarding their use with implantable devices, so this is really no different.”
As items are developed and released, we will pass along information. I welcome any manufacturer’s specs and will publish to reach some that may not be familiar with product.
Here is information on easyTek for those with active implants.
