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Security millimetre wave body scanner safe for patients with leadless pacemakers or subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillators

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Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

This study was designed to evaluate the electromagnetic interference (EMI) effects and safety of the new security screening millimetre wave body scanners (MWBSs) for patients with rare cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs).

Methods

We identified 73 patients with either entirely subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (S-ICD) or leadless pacemakers (LPM) attending routine device follow-up. CIED programming was optimised for the detection of EMI occurrence, and high-voltage therapy was disabled. Patients then underwent millimetre wave body scans under continuous ECG monitoring. Scanning was performed at the recommended distance as well as in close proximity to the scanner emulating accidental exposure. CIED function was observed for EMI effects.

Results

There were no episodes of inhibition of pacing in the leadless pacemaker subgroup, no oversensing in the S-ICD subgroup and no spontaneous device reprogramming in any group. There was no change in pacing or sensing thresholds, and S-ICD vector eligibility remained unchanged after scanning with the MWBS. No CIEDs were identified by the MWBS during the study.

Conclusion

No EMI events were detected during the use of MWBSs by patients with either S-ICDs or LPMs. This data should be reassuring for patients suggesting that they can undergo security body scans without worries or disclosure of their CIED status.

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Funding

This work was supported by the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Energy and Technology [Nr. 07 03/686 68/ 57 /17/ 30 /18/ 31 /19)]. Rohde & Schwarz provided a millimetre wave body scanner (R&S QPS, Rohde & Schwarz, Germany) for use during the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Deutsches Herzzentrum München, Klinik für Herz- und Kreislauferkrankungen, Klinik an der Technischen Universität München, Munich, Germany

    Patrick Blažek, Severin Weigand, Christian Grebmer, Lena Friedrich, Tilko Reents, Marc Kottmaier, Verena Semmler, Felix Bourier, Heribert Schunkert, Isabel Deisenhofer, Christof Kolb & Carsten Lennerz

  2. Department of Cardiology, Wellington Hospital, Wellington, New Zealand

    Matthew J. O’Connor

  3. DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany

    Severin Weigand, Heribert Schunkert & Carsten Lennerz

  4. Klinik für Kardiologie und Internistische Intensivmedizin, Klinikum Bogenhausen, Munich, Germany

    Sebastian Reif

  5. Klinikum Großhadern, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik I, Klinikum der Universität München, Munich, Germany

    Stephanie Fichtner

Authors
  1. Patrick Blažek
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  2. Matthew J. O’Connor
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  3. Severin Weigand
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  4. Christian Grebmer
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  5. Sebastian Reif
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  6. Stephanie Fichtner
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  7. Lena Friedrich
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  8. Tilko Reents
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  9. Marc Kottmaier
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  10. Verena Semmler
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  11. Felix Bourier
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  12. Heribert Schunkert
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  13. Isabel Deisenhofer
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  14. Christof Kolb
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  15. Carsten Lennerz
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Contributions

Conceptualization: Christof Kolb and Carsten Lennerz.

Methodology: Tilko Reents, Marc Kottmaier, Lena Friedrich and Christof Kolb.

Formal analysis and investigation: Patrick Blažek, Severin Weigand, Christian Grebmer, Sebastian Reif and Stephanie Fichtner.

Writing—original draft preparation: Matthew J O’Connor and Carsten Lennerz.

Writing—review and editing: Felix Bourier, Verena Semmler, Isabel Deisenhofer, Heribert Schunkert and Christof Kolb.

Funding acquisition: Heribert Schunkert and Carsten Lennerz.

Resources: Isabel Deisenhofer, Heribert Schunkert and Christof Kolb.

Supervision: Isabel Deisenhofer, Christof Kolb and Carsten Lennerz.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carsten Lennerz.

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Conflict of interests

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethics approval

This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Approval was granted by the ethics committee of Technische Universität München, Munich.

Consent to participate

All participants provided full, written, informed consent to participation.

Consent for publication

All participants provided full, written, informed consent to publication.

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Blažek, P., O’Connor, M.J., Weigand, S. et al. Security millimetre wave body scanner safe for patients with leadless pacemakers or subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillators. J Interv Card Electrophysiol 61, 603–607 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10840-020-00830-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10840-020-00830-x

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