The effect of therapeutic x-radiation on a sample of pacemaker generators

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Tests were made on 19 generators, comprising 17 types from 5 manufacturers and including 4 programmable units. Bipolar generators suffered no measurable damage and radiotherapy patients using these would appear not to be exposed to any hazard. Nor were any of the generators using entirely CMOS circuitry, including the programmable types, affected. It was surprising to observe that generators using hybrid bipolar and CMOS circuitry were damaged by radiation exposure, the majority of these being Medtronic pacemakers. Transient recovery of function followed by total failure suggested that even a transient loss of function must be regarded as a precursor to permanent damage. This transient effect indicates that it is most likely the CMOS circuit element that it affected.

This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit: