Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers (전자공학회논문지)

The Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers (대한전자공학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Effects of Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields Emitted by WCDMA Mobile Phones on Pacemakers and ICDs

WCDMA 휴대전화 전자파가 인공심장 박동기 및 이식형 제세동기에 미치는 영향

  • Chung, Jai Won (Graduate Program in Biomedical Engineering, Yonsei University) ;
  • Choi, Soo Beom (Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University) ;
  • Park, Jee Soo (Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Yonsei University) ;
  • Kim, Deok Won (Department of Medical Engineering, College of Medicine, Yonsei University)
  • 정재원 (연세대학교 생체공학협동과정) ;
  • 최수범 (연세대학교 의과대학 의과학과) ;
  • 박지수 (연세대학교 의과대학 의학과) ;
  • 김덕원 (연세대학교 의과대학 의학공학교실)
  • Received : 2014.11.04
  • Accepted : 2015.01.06
  • Published : 2015.01.25
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Reports show that global system for mobile communication (GSM) mobile phones, or two-generation (2G) mobile phones, could affect functions of pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). In this study, we evaluated the effects of radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) emitted by wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) mobile phones, which were third-generation (3G) mobile phones, on pacemakers and ICDs. Five pacemakers and three ICDs were subjected to in-vitro test using a ECG simulator. We used a WCDMA module (average power : 0.25 W, frequency band : 1950 MHz) instead of a real WCDMA mobile phone. To assess the effects of the WCDMA module on pacemakers and ICDs, each implantable device was placed in close proximity (within 3 mm) to the WCDMA module for 5 min. As a result, no effects were observed on the five pacemakers and three ICDs for the RF-EMFs emitted by the WCDMA module. Because WCDMA mobile phones have the higher frequency band (1800-2200 MHz) and lower power output (0.01-0.25 W) than GSM moboile phone, the RF-EMFs emitted by WCDMA mobile phones do not affect patients with pacemaker or ICD.

제 2세대 (2G) 휴대전화인 GSM (global system for mobile communication) 휴대전화는 pacemaker 및 ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator)의 기능에 영향을 미칠 수 있다고 보고가 되어 왔다. 이에 본 연구에서는 제 3세대 (3G) 휴대전화인 WCDMA (wideband code division multiple access) 휴대전화에서 방출되는 전자파가 pacemaker 및 ICD에 미치는 영향에 대해 알아보았다. 총 5개의 pacemaker 및 3개의 ICD를 대상으로 ECG simulator를 이용한 in-vitro 실험으로 진행하였다. 실제 WCDMA 휴대전화 대신 WCDMA 모듈 (평균 출력 : 0.25 W, 주파수 대역 : 1950 MHz)을 사용했다. WCDMA 모듈 전자파가 pacemaker 및 ICD에 미치는 영향을 평가하기 위해, 각 이식형 의료기기들을 WCDMA 모듈에 최대한 근접 (3 mm 이내) 시킨 후 5분간 전자파에 노출 시켰다. 실험 결과 WCDMA 모듈 전자파가 5개의 pacemaker 및 3개의 ICD에 미친 어떠한 영향도 관찰 할 수 없었다. WCDMA 휴대전화는 GSM 휴대전화보다 더 높은 주파수 대역 (1800-2200 MHz)에서 더 낮은 출력(0.01-0.25 W)을 방출하기 때문에, WCDMA 휴대전화에서 발생하는 전자파는 pacemaker 및 ICD 기기들에게 영향을 미치지 않을 것으로 사료된다.

Keywords

References

  1. A.J. Greenspon, J.D. Patel, E. Lau, J.A. Ochoa, D.R. Frisch, R.T. Ho, B.B. Pavri, and S.M. Kurtz, "16-year trends in the infection burden for pacemakers and implantable cardioverterdefibrillators in the United States 1993 to 2008," J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., vol. 58, no. 10, pp. 1001-1006, 2011. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2011.04.033
  2. T.H. Rho, "우리나라의 영구 심박동기 과거와 현재," The Official Journal of Korean Heart Rhythm Society, vol. 15, no. 3, pp. 24-30, 2014.
  3. M.E. McIvor, J. Reddinger, E. Floden, R.C. Sheppard, D. Johnson, G.I. Becker, and M. Mayotte, "Study of pacemaker and implantable cardioverter defibrillator triggering by electronic article surveillance devices (SPICED TEAS)," Pacing Clin. Electrophysiol., vol. 21, no. 10, pp. 1847-1861, 1998. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-8159.1998.tb00002.x
  4. V. Barbaro, P. Bartolini, A. Donato, C. Militello, G. Altamura, F. Ammirati, and M. Santini, "Do European GSM mobile cellular phones pose a potential risk to pacemaker patients?," Pacing Clin. Electrophysiol., vol. 18, no. 6, pp. 1218-1224, 1995. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-8159.1995.tb06961.x
  5. G. Altamura, S. Toscano, G. Gentilucci, F. Ammirati, A. Castro, C. Pandozi, and M. Santini, "Influence of digital and analogue cellular telephones on implanted pacemakers," Eur. Heart J., vol. 18, no. 10, pp. 1632-1641, 1997. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.eurheartj.a015144
  6. M. Santomauro, L. Ottaviano, D. Da Prato, A. Borrelli, and M. Chiariello, "New Advances in Heart Failure and Atrial Fibrillation," Springer Milan, pp. 139-149, 2003.
  7. Korea Communications Commission, "Korea Communications Commission Annual Report 2013," 2014.
  8. S.B. Choi, M.K. Kwon, J.W. Chung, J.S. Park, K. Chung, and D.W. Kim, "Effects of short-term radiation emitted by WCDMA mobile phones on teenagers and adults," BMC Public Health, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 438, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-438
  9. International Commission in Non-Iorizing Radiation Protection, "Guidelines for Limiting Exposure to Time-Varying Electric, Magnetic, and Electromagnetic fields (Up to 300 GHz)", Health Physics, vol. 74, no. 4, pp. 494-522, 1998.
  10. E.H. Lucas, D. Johnson, and B.P. McElroy, "The effects of electronic article surveillance systems on permanent cardiac pacemakers: an in vitro study," Pacing Clin. Electrophysiol., vol. 17, no. 11, pp. 2021-2026, 1994. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-8159.1994.tb03793.x
  11. A.D. Bernstein, J.C. Daubert, R.D. Fletcher, D.L Hayes, B. Luderitz, D.W. Reynolds, M.H. Schoenfeld, and R. Sutton, "The revised NASPE/BPEG generic code for antibradycardia, adaptive-rate, and multisite pacing. North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology/British Pacing and Electrophysiology Group," Pacing Clin. Electrophysiol., vol. 25, no. 2, pp. 260-264, 2002 https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1460-9592.2002.00260.x
  12. W.J. Groh, S.A. Boschee, E.D. Engelstein, W.M. Miles, M.E. Burton, P.R. Foster, B.J. Crevey, and D.P. Zipes, " Interactions between electronic article surveillance systems and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators," Circulation, vol. 100, no. 4, pp. 387-392, 1999. https://doi.org/10.1161/01.CIR.100.4.387
  13. M.M. Ismail, A. Badreldin, M. Heldwein, and K. Hekmat, "Third-Generation Mobile Phones (UMTS) Do Not Interfere with Permanent Implanted Pacemakers," Pacing Clin. Electrophysiol., vol. 33, no. 7, pp. 860-864, 2010. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-8159.2010.02707.x
  14. K. Hekmat, B. Salemink, G. Lauterbach, R.H. Schwinger, M. Sudkamp, H.J. Weber, U. Mehlhorn, " Interference by cellular phones with permanent implanted pacemakers: an update," Europace, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 363-369, 2004. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eupc.2004.03.010
  15. Y.W. Shim, J.J. Kim, D.I. Yang, M.H. Lee, and D.W. Kim, "Effects of EAS Systems on Pacemakers and ICDs Malfunction," Journal of The Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers, vol. 46, no. 6, pp. 44-49, 2009.
  16. Korea Food and Drug Administration, "Dear Healthcare Professional Letter," 2009.
  17. Y. Tarusawa, T. Nojima, and T. Toyoshima, "In-vitro experiments to estimate the impact of EMI from cellular phone and base-station antennas on implantable cardiac pacemakers," IEEE International Symposium on Electromagnetic Compatibility, pp. 931-936, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2002.