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Electromagnetic interference of GSM mobile phones with the implantable deep brain stimulator, ITREL-III
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND: The purpose was to investigate mobile phone interference with implantable deep brain stimulators by means of 10 different 900 Mega Hertz (MHz) and 10 different 1800 MHz GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) mobile phones. METHODS: All tests were performed in vitro using a phantom especially developed for testing with deep brain stimulators. The phantom was filled with liquid phantom materials simulating brain and muscle tissue. All examinations were carried out inside an anechoic chamber on two implants of the same type of deep brain stimulator: ITREL-III from Medtronic Inc., USA. RESULTS: Despite a maximum transmitted peak power of mobile phones of 1 Watt (W) at 1800 MHz and 2 W at 900 MHz respectively, no influence on the ITREL-III was found. Neither the shape of the pulse form changed nor did single pulses fail. Tests with increased transmitted power using CW signals and broadband dipoles have shown that inhibition of the ITREL-III occurs at frequency dependent power levels which are below the emissions of GSM mobile phones. The ITREL-III is essentially more sensitive at 1800 MHz than at 900 MHz. Particularly the frequency range around 1500 MHz shows a very low interference threshold. CONCLUSION: These investigations do not indicate a direct risk for ITREL-III patients using the tested GSM phones. Based on the interference levels found with CW signals, which are below the mobile phone emissions, we recommend similar precautions as for patients with cardiac pacemakers: 1. The phone should be used at the ear at the opposite side of the implant and 2. The patient should avoid carrying the phone close to the implant.
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“To mitigate interference, one strategy is using separate frequency bands for power and data. Lower frequencies are reserved for inductive charging and higher ones for RF communication, minimizing interference risks (Kainz et al., 2003; Dionigi and Mongiardo, 2012; Degen, 2021).”
From Comparative analysis of energy transfer mechanisms for neural implants (2024) · cites this paper as Kainz et al., 2003
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“To mitigate interference, one strategy is using separate frequency bands for power and data. Lower frequencies are reserved for inductive charging and higher ones for RF communication, minimizing interference risks (Kainz et al., 2003; Dionigi and Mongiardo, 2012; Degen, 2021).”
From Comparative analysis of energy transfer mechanisms for neural implants (2024) · cites this paper as Kainz et al., 2003
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References 22 · Cited by 16
Research works printed but not linked: 26
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Metadata
- Authors
- Kainz, W., Alesch, F., & Chan, D. D.
- Affiliations
- Seibersdorf Laboratories (Austria) (AT)
- Vienna General Hospital (AT)
- Johns Hopkins University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Kainz, Wolfgang
- ORCID
- Kainz, Wolfgang
- Venue
- BioMedical Engineering OnLine
- Published
- 2003-05-07
- Volume
- 2
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 11-11
- ISSN
- 1475-925X (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC156641
- OpenAlex
- W2126300430
- Cited by
- 16
- References
- 22
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 0.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Locations
- BioMedical Engineering OnLine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Clinical Neurology › Deep Brain Stimulation and Movement Disorders
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biophysics › Electromagnetic Fields and Biological Effects
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiac pacing and defibrillation studies
- Keywords
- electromagnetic interference, deep brain stimulator, GSM mobile phones, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, biomedical implants, interference threshold, continuous wave signals, tissue phantoms
- MeSH terms
- Brain Diseases, Electrodes, Implanted, Electromagnetic Fields, Electric Stimulation Therapy, Humans, Models, Anatomic, Pacemaker, Artificial, Risk Assessment, Phantoms, Imaging, Prostheses and Implants, Cell Phone
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- Kainz, W., Alesch, F., & Chan, D. D. (2003). Electromagnetic interference of GSM mobile phones with the implantable deep brain stimulator, ITREL-III. BioMedical Engineering OnLine. https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-925x-2-11
