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(Circulation. 1999;100:387-392.)
© 1999 American Heart Association, Inc.

Clinical Investigation and Reports

Interactions Between Electronic Article Surveillance Systems and Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators

William J. Groh, MD; Scott A. Boschee, BS; Erica D. Engelstein, MD; William M. Miles, MD; M. Erick Burton, MD; Peter R. Foster, MD; Barry J. Crevey, MD; Douglas P. Zipes, MD

From the Krannert Institute of Cardiology, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Ind (W.J.G., S.A.B., E.D.E., D.P.Z.); Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis, Ind (P.R.F., B.J.C.); and the Southwest Florida Heart Group, Fort Myers, Fla (W.M.M., M.E.B.).

Correspondence to Douglas P. Zipes, MD, Krannert Institute of Cardiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 1111 W 10th St, Indianapolis, IN 46202-4800. E-mail dzipes{at}iupui.edu

	Abstract

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Background—In patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs). inappropriate shocks have been reported with exposure to electronic article surveillance systems. The risk to patients with ICDs of walking through or lingering near surveillance systems requires further investigation.

Methods and Results—We evaluated the response in ICD function in 170 subjects during a 10- to 15-second midgate walk-through of and during extreme (2 minutes within 6 in of the gate) exposure to 3 common article surveillance systems. Complete testing was done in 169 subjects. During a 10- to 15-second (very slow) walk-through of the 3 surveillance systems, no interactions were observed that would negatively affect ICD function. During extreme exposure (169 subjects) and during extreme exposure and pacing via the ICD (126 subjects), interactions between the ICD and the article surveillance systems were observed in 19 subjects. In 7 subjects, this interaction was clinically relevant and would have likely (3 subjects) and possibly (4 subjects) resulted in ICD shocks. In 12 subjects, the interaction was minor.

Conclusions—It is safe for a patient with an ICD to walk through electronic article surveillance systems. Lingering in a surveillance system may result in an inappropriate ICD shock.

Key Words: heart-assist device • cardioversion • defibrillation • electromagnetic fields • arrhythmia

	Introduction

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Three case studies have reported that patients have received inappropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) shocks believed to be associated with exposure to electronic article surveillance systems.^{1 2 3} These antitheft surveillance systems emit an electromagnetic field used to detect a metal alloy tag and signal a theft. ICDs normally sense cardiac electrical activity and deliver antitachycardia pacing or shocks for rapid rates. Electromagnetic fields such as those generated by an electronic article surveillance system may lead to inappropriate therapies if detected on the sensing circuit of the defibrillator.

Electronic article surveillance systems are in common use in retail and public places; one estimate is that as many as 800 000 systems are in use worldwide. ICDs also are common, with estimates of 400 000 devices implanted worldwide. Exposures to article surveillance systems in those with ICDs occur and will continue to occur frequently; thus, an understanding of possible negative interactions is mandatory. We assessed the effects of electronic article surveillance systems on ICD function in 170 individuals.

	Methods

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Subjects and Study Design
The 3 participating centers have active pacemaker and defibrillator clinics. Over a 4-month period, all individuals with ICDs were informed of the study and asked to participate.

The study design was approved by the Institutional Review boards at each center, and subjects gave informed consent before participation. Three electronic article surveillance systems similar to those used in antitheft applications were set up at each location. The 3 systems evaluated were manufactured by Sensormatic Electronics Corporation (Boca Raton, Fla): a pulsed acoustomagnetic system (Ultra-Max) and 2 different electromagnetic systems, Aislekeeper and P-Magnetic. These systems were chosen for 3 reasons: (1) case reports implicating electronic article surveillance equipment as a cause of inappropriate defibrillator shocks have occurred with 2 of these systems (2 with Ultra-Max and 1 with Aislekeeper); (2) other studies have shown interactions with pacemakers and these systems; and (3) these electronic article surveillance systems are commonly used worldwide.^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8}

ICD sensing parameters for tachyarrhythmia detection were left as clinically programmed but with the actual delivery of therapies inactivated. Continuous ECG monitoring in the presence of a standby external defibrillator was used during the time period that therapies were inactivated. Exposure during 3 gate transits with each surveillance system was tested.

1. Routine exposure. Subjects were asked to walk through the middle of the gates over a 10- to 15-second period. This very slow transit was intended to replicate the exposure that the absolute slowest person might experience routinely.

2. Extreme exposure. Subjects stood in the surveillance system within 6 in of the gate transmitter for 2 minutes. Subjects slowly rotated near (or leaning on) the gate transmitter to assure exposure despite directional field effects.

3. Extreme exposure with pacing. We tested exposure during pacing because in many ICDs, the maximal sensitivity for detecting cardiac events (or noise) occurs during pacing. In addition, pacing at a fixed rate allows determination of whether any oversensing (of noise) by the ICD occurs, because such a response would delay pacing. Subjects who agreed to pacing for the time of the testing were paced at 20 bpm faster than their resting heart rates. For dual-chamber ICDs, pacing was done in both the atrium and ventricle.

A continuous ECG was recorded during gate transit. After each gate transit, the ICD was interrogated to determine whether any events were detected by the device or whether defibrillator reprogramming occurred.

In subjects who had a separate pacemaker, no changes were made in pacemaker programming. The pacemaker was interrogated before and after gate transits to ensure that no reprogramming occurred.

Data Analysis
Subject and ICD characteristics were recorded. The ICD sensing circuit was categorized into 1 of 3 types: (1) endocardial tip ring (true bipolar), (2) endocardial tip coil (integrated bipolar), and (3) epicardial. Any interaction between the ICD function and the specific surveillance systems was noted. An interaction that could possibly result in an inappropriate defibrillator therapy was defined as clinically relevant. Continuous variables are given as mean±SD. Statistical tests included ² analysis with Pearson's formulation and Fisher's exact test. Student's t test was used for continuous variables. Multivariate analysis was conducted by means of a Cox regression analysis. All tests were conducted with a 2-sided risk level of 0.05.

	Results

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Of the 170 patients tested, 169 completed the study. One individual did not complete testing and was excluded from analysis. The manufacturer, model number, implant location, and ventricular sensing type of the defibrillators tested are given in Table 1.

View this table: [in this window] [in a new window]   Table 1. ICDs Tested

Routine Exposure
No alteration in baseline cardiac rhythm was observed with gate transit. After a slow walk through the middle of each surveillance system, interrogation of the ICDs revealed no interactions or any reprogramming. Defibrillators manufactured by Ventritex (St Jude Medical) do not provide information regarding tachyarrhythmia detection unless therapies are activated. In addition, Ventritex defibrillators manifested a noise reversion mode in which noise sensing may appropriately deactivate therapies temporarily. In newer Ventritex models, (V-115, V-145, and V-180), an internal ECG recording was activated to determine device sensing during transit. In these 15 defibrillators, no spurious sensing was detected. In older Ventritex devices (V-100 and V-110), there was no capability to determine device sensing except during pacing.

Extreme Exposure
In 3 subjects undergoing extreme exposure to the 3 surveillance systems, the ICDs showed inappropriate tachyarrhythmia detection (Table 2). All occurred with the Ultra-Max surveillance system, and all would likely have resulted in shocks based on the ICD therapies. The first of these occurred in a subject with a Medtronic model 7219 ICD. Sensing revealed continuous noise with gate exposure interpreted by the ICD as ventricular fibrillation (Figure 1). Both the second and third subjects had model 1746 defibrillators from Cardiac Pacemaker, Inc (CPI). In both subjects, sensing revealed continuous noise with gate exposure interpreted by the ICD as ventricular fibrillation (Figure 2). No ICD reprogramming was observed in any of the ICDs.

View this table: [in this window] [in a new window]   Table 2. Extreme Exposure (and Pacing): ICD–Surveillance System Interaction

View larger version (44K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 1. Ventricular fibrillation (VF) detection in Medtronic model 7219 defibrillator with extreme exposure to Ultra-Max Surveillance System. Shown are detected R-R intervals (ms) by defibrillator. Baseline heart rate is 57 bpm (R-R interval, 1050 ms). With extreme exposure, detected intervals as short as 120 ms are seen, consistent with electromagnetic interference. This led to detection of ventricular fibrillation event (FD) that would have likely resulted in ICD shock in active device. VT indicates ventricular tachycardia; VS, ventricular-sensed event; FS, VF-sensed event; and TS, VT-sensed event.

View larger version (54K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 2. Ventricular fibrillation (VF) detection in CPI model 1746 defibrillator with extreme exposure to Ultra-Max Surveillance System. Top, Defibrillator-sensed electrogram. Surveillance system– induced noise is seen between normal QRS signals. Bottom, Detected R-R intervals (ms) determined by defibrillator. Baseline heart rate rhythm is atrial fibrillation. With extreme exposure, detected intervals as short as 137 ms are seen, consistent with noise sensing. This led to detection of ventricular fibrillation event that would have likely resulted in defibrillator shock in active device. VS indicates ventricular-sensed event and VP, ventricular pacing.

Extreme Exposure With Pacing
The pacing effect on ICD–article surveillance system interaction was evaluated in 126 subjects. Five subjects were characterized as dependent on their ICDs for pacing, and in 121 subjects, pacing at 20 bpm faster than resting heart rate was done. Pacing resulted in oversensing of the T wave in 6 individuals with Medtronic ICDs before surveillance system exposure. In these subjects, ICD sensitivity was decreased by 0.15 mV sequentially until T-wave oversensing was not observed, similar to what might be done during normal clinical practice.

During extreme surveillance system exposure with pacing, ICDs in 19 of 126 subjects showed evidence of oversensing. No ICD reprogramming was observed. The results showing ICD oversensing are summarized in Table 2. In 12 subjects, the interaction was not clinically relevant. In these subjects, only an intermittent delay in pacing caused primarily by noise-augmented T-wave oversensing was observed (Figure 3). In 7 subjects, the interactions were clinically relevant. In 5 subjects, complete pacing inhibition occurred with surveillance system exposure. Three of these subjects had inappropriate ICD detection during extreme exposure. Similar to the inappropriate ICD detections, pacing inhibition occurred in the Ultra-Max surveillance system. The other 2 cases of complete pacing inhibition occurred in subjects with Ventritex model V-110 ICDs. In both subjects, pacing inhibition occurred with exposure to the Aislekeeper surveillance system. In 2 additional subjects with Ventritex model V-100 ICDs, prolonged pacing inhibition of 2 consecutive beats was observed with extreme exposure to the Aislekeeper surveillance system. In 1 subject with a Ventritex model V-110 ICD in whom complete pacing inhibition was observed on exposure to the Aislekeeper surveillance system, pacing inhibition of 2 consecutive beats also was observed during exposure to the Ultra-Max surveillance system. Whether the pacing inhibition observed in these Ventritex defibrillators would have led to inappropriate defibrillator therapies or would have resulted in temporary noise reversion is unknown.

View larger version (20K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 3. Noise-induced augmentation of T-wave oversensing in Ventritex model V-145 defibrillator with extreme exposure to the Aislekeeper surveillance system. Shown is defibrillator-sensed electrogram. Ventricular pacing is seen in first 3 beats. Delay in ventricular pacing occurs secondary to T-wave oversensing (arrows). This T-wave oversensing resulted from electromagnetic interference.

In 4 of the 5 subjects characterized as dependent on their ICDs for pacing, no changes in pacing were observed with extreme gate exposure. One subject who had inappropriate tachyarrhythmia detection and complete pacing inhibition on extreme exposure to the Ultra-Max surveillance system remained asymptomatic, with an escape heart rate in response to underlying atrial fibrillation of 40 bpm.

Evaluation in Subjects With Separate Pacemakers
Four subjects had separate pacemakers. All of these individuals had pacing in the atrium, ventricle, or both. No abnormalities in pacemaker function or abnormal pacemaker-ICD interactions were observed with any gate exposure. Interrogation of the pacemakers after gate transit showed no reprogramming.

Correlates of Defibrillator–Surveillance System Interference
Subject and ICD characteristics were analyzed to determine factors increasing the likelihood of surveillance system–defibrillator interaction. Characteristics found to predict an interaction through univariate analysis are summarized in Tables 3 and 4. With multivariate analysis, a diminished R-wave amplitude and a Ventritex ICD were the only characteristics that independently predicted an increased likelihood of any interaction (R wave, P=0.01; Ventritex, P<0.01) or a clinically relevant interaction (R wave, P=0.05; Ventritex, P=0.02).

View this table: [in this window] [in a new window]   Table 3. Continuous Variables Predicting Defibrillator–Surveillance System Interaction

View this table: [in this window] [in a new window]   Table 4. Discrete Variables Predicting Defibrillator–Surveillance System Interaction

	Discussion

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Major Findings
Our study evaluated interactions between ICDs and electronic article surveillance systems. In 169 subjects, no evidence of any ICD interference was seen during a 10- to 15-second walk-through of the surveillance systems. During a protracted exposure of 2 minutes within 6 in of the gate transmitter, 19 subjects had evidence of defibrillator–surveillance system interference. In 12 of these subjects, this interference was not clinically relevant, with evidence of only minor oversensing. In 7 of the subjects, the interference was clinically relevant, with 3 interactions likely to produce inappropriate ICD shocks and 4 possibly producing inappropriate ICD shocks. These 7 subjects also had complete or prolonged inhibition of pacing during extreme exposure. Only 1 subject was pacing via his defibrillator before testing, and he remained asymptomatic during pacing inhibition. The likelihood of any surveillance system–ICD interaction and a clinically relevant interaction increased in older ICD implants (or revisions), in abdominal implants, with decreased R-wave sensing amplitude, and in Ventritex ICDs. The only independent characteristics that predicted any or a clinically relevant interaction were decreased R-wave sensing amplitude and a Ventritex ICD. The fact that abdominal ICD location and older implants did not independently predict interactions is likely related to an interdependence of these 2 characteristics. In fact, all 7 subjects with clinically relevant interactions had abdominal ICD implants. Older ICDs such as the Medtronic 7219 and the Ventritex V-100 and V-110 were more likely to show interference. The correlation of decreased R-wave sensing amplitude with interactions is the result of a decreased signal-to-noise ratio. The sensing of low-amplitude electromagnetic interference is more likely as the ICD increases sensitivity to detect the lower amplitude R-wave. With Ventritex defibrillators, the predominant interaction was with Aislekeeper, 1 of the electromagnetic article surveillance systems. With the Medtronic and CPI defibrillators, the predominant interaction was with the pulsed acoustomagnetic article surveillance system, Ultra-Max. The sensing circuit of the ICD did not alter the likelihood of an ICD–surveillance system interaction. This result was different from those seen in a previous study in which minor interference with pacemaker function was more common in unipolar compared with bipolar lead systems.⁷ The difference with ICDs may be that even with epicardial or endocardial tip coil sensing, the sensing circuit is more localized than that in a unipolar lead pacemaker in which the generator provides 1 pole of the sensing circuit.

Previous Reports
Three case reports have described defibrillator shocks related to surveillance system exposure.^{1 2 3} As in our study, the shocks in these 3 patients occurred with close or protracted exposure to the surveillance system, with abdominal implants (2 of 3), and with exposure to a pulsed acoustomagnetic (Ultra-Max) or an electromagnetic (Aislekeeper) surveillance system. A single study has evaluated interactions in patients with ICDs and surveillance systems.⁸ In this study, no interference was found in 25 subjects despite close and protracted exposure. No pacing was done in this study; therefore, minor interference might not have been recognized.

Study Limitations
Our study evaluated only 1 manufacturer's surveillance systems. It is likely that other systems using similar electromagnetic fields would interact similarly.⁸ No testing of swept-radiofrequency surveillance systems was done. A single previous study evaluating pacemakers and article surveillance systems has not shown any interference with the swept-radiofrequency systems.⁸ Because of the presence of a noise reversion mode in Ventritex ICDs, what was considered a clinically relevant interaction might only result in pacing output inhibition and not lead to an inappropriate ICD shock. ICDs manufactured by CPI also have a noise-sensing window that could influence electromagnetic interference.

Conclusions and Recommendations
On the basis of our study, it does not appear that electronic article surveillance systems pose a threat to patients with ICDs if exposure is kept to a 10- to 15-second (ie, very slow) walk-through. More intense exposure in both time and proximity may lead to inappropriate shocks. The already minimal risk of an interaction should diminish even more as older and abdominal ICDs are replaced with newer pectoral defibrillators.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA Safety Notification, September 28, 1998) and the American Heart Association (AHA Science Advisory, November 17, 1998) have reviewed the available data and issued statements agreeing that significant interactions are unlikely and that the public should be informed but not alarmed. Our study supports this message. What would seem most prudent is to ensure that physicians who manage patients with ICDs (and pacemakers) understand and inform their patients of the potential interactions associated with electronic article surveillance systems. Recognition of surveillance systems by the public should be possible to avoid protracted or close exposure. Surveillance systems that are not in plain view of the public should have signage indicating their presence. This policy should allow patients with ICDs (or pacemakers) to walk through such systems without lingering and therefore be seemingly at no risk of any interaction.

	Acknowledgments

 
This work was supported in part by a grant from Sensormatic Electronic Corporation (Boca Raton, Fla). We acknowledge David A. Greene for his assistance with this project.

Received March 5, 1999; revision received April 21, 1999; accepted April 30, 1999.

	References

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8. McIvor ME, Reddinger J, Floden E, Sheppard RC. Study of Pacemaker and Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Triggering by Electronic Article Surveillance Devices (SPICED TEAS). Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 1998;21:1847–1861.This study evaluated the risk to patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) encountered during exposure to electronic article surveillance systems. In 169 subjects with ICDs, no evidence of any interaction was observed during a slow walk-through of 3 common article surveillance systems. With close, protracted exposure to the surveillance systems, an interaction was observed in 19 subjects: 12 were minor and 7 clinically relevant. We conclude that individuals with ICDs can safely pass through electronic article surveillance systems if they do not linger.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

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This Article Abstract Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Groh, W. J. Articles by Zipes, D. P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Groh, W. J. Articles by Zipes, D. P. Related Collections Pacemaker Other Treatment Arrhythmias, clinical electrophysiology, drugs