[Amps] Experience with Heart Pacemakers?

[Glen Zook via Amps]

My cardiologist is rated as one of the best, if not "the" best, in the State of Texas.  He is very cautious and insists on the best units possible.  He did not know that I was an amateur radio operator when he chose the pacemaker to install.  The pacemakers that he considers to be the best available are manufactured by St. Jude Medical.  The fact that they are impervious to r.f. is a side benefit.

St. Jude has a terminal, that is connected to one's phone line, that checks the status of the pacemaker every night, when the patient is asleep.  There is no physical connection to patient, the unit just has to be within 15-feet to get an accurate reading.  The information is stored and St. Jude Medical recovers the information once a week.

However, if the unit detects a problem, the cardiologist is immediately notified.

The only "problem" with the terminal is that the yellow LED used for the off / on indicator is very bright.  I had to put several layers of black plastic tape over the LED so that the light does not affect my sleep, or that of my wife.

https://health.sjm.com/~/media/SJM%20Health/AA/PDF/Merlinhomebrochure.ashx

 
Glen, K9STH


Website:  http://k9sth.com


On Sunday, August 3, 2014 3:38 PM, Roger (K8RI) <k8ri at rogerhalstead.com> wrote:
 


On 8/3/2014 3:10 PM, John Lyles wrote:
> Being an old schooler myself, I tried to reason with a 'specialist'. I 
> explained that some of the equipment they were labeling would emit far 
> lower RF levels than their smartphone, comparable with radio noise 
> that might show on S meter on a receiver.
>
> They had a mandate to label everything that was above 1 V/m which is 
> far below the 1 or 0.1 mW/cm^2 power density that RF safety 
> regulations from OSHA, FCC and IEEE are concerned with. There is not a 
> chance for reasonable science when someone has picked a number from 
> the air (pun) like that.
>
> 73
> John
> K5PRO
>
>>
>> Much like the Government. It's nothing more than a CYA unless they have

I phrased this badly.

The MRI would be dangerous, while these numbers picked out of 
their...er... air are nothing more than CYAs , fantasies, or junk science.

I specified if they were going to implant one, I wanted one of the newer 
ones that would let me weld and operate the ham rig.  The Doc said that 
they used the one from St Jude (I got that wrong too) so there shouldn't 
be a problem.

They gave me a pamphlet on welding with a pacemaker/defibrillator and 
there is a wealth of information on the net.

The point is, that other than near the link frequency and strong 
magnetic fields there is little danger.  I'd not stand close to an 
antenna that was running power as a precaution, but screening and worry 
about connectors seems a bit over the top

I run the legal limit with an amp capable of 2500 PEP and set between 2 
and 3 feet from the transformer location in the amp. It's in an Aluminum 
cabinet.

Two of us with the things have stated what we were told and what we do 
with no problems.  It appears there as substandard units still out 
there. So specify what you want.  If the doc is one of those whose 
stance is my way or...I'd get a different Cardiologist.  My 
cardiologist, neurologist, and Family doc all take my interests to 
heart.  They are also open to homeopathic treatments and supplements 
that have a good reputation.

73

Roger (K8RI)


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