Impact of Electromagnetic Fields in Transport on Active Implantable Medical Devices

This paper details numerical computation of induced interference voltage within a pacemaker due to exposure to electromagnetic (EM) fields present in a train. The goal is to verify whether electromagnetic field sources pose a potential threat to passengers with an implanted pacemaker. A simplified human body model with a bipolar lead configuration pacemaker was positioned in the vicinity of an electric distribution box - the source of an 50 Hz electric field influencing the pacemaker. Two positions were investigated, each placed in two different distances from the source of the electromagnetic (EM) field. The maximum calculated interference voltage in all simulated cases is within the 0,29 V/m range. This value corresponds to the input filter attenuation band and represents a safe value for train passengers with an implanted pacemaker, subject to undamaged distribution box and is in compliance with security requirements. (C) 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.