SAR evaluation of wireless antenna on implanted cardiac pacemaker

Abstract

For many people, a pacemaker represents something scary because it is related to heart disease. However, that is not the main purpose of this paper, the object of the article is the technical aspect of pacemakers, in particular, their calculation of specific absorption rate values, to which the pacemaker is exposed. A pacemaker generates electrical discharges that are transferred into the heart via a lead wire and electrodes. Authors focus on the impact of Wi-Fi signal antennas on a pacemaker. A dipole antenna working in the frequency range around 5 GHz is chosen as a source of electromagnetic radiation because this kind of antennas is relatively new and it is not widely used yet. Nevertheless, it represents a potential for the future. The experiment is performed through electromagnetic simulation software called CST Microwave Studio that provides tools for SAR calculation and it allows to visualise the scatter of the resulting SAR values around the pacemaker or human torso. © 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.