Speaker's magnetic field and pacemaker

Zavato- My experience with AICDs is that each manufacturer has a different design. In some, the magnet will turn off the defibrillator part, in some the pacer part, some will reset the programmed settings, in some nothing at all. It generally takes a powerful magnet very close to the device. Anything greater than 18 inches would require a very strong magnet, more than what you would normally be exposed to. The best device is to call the manufacturer and also talk to your Cardiologist/Electrophysiologist to ask. They may or may not know since it is an uncommon question but it all will depend on the specific device, model and maybe even serial number of the device. Most have an alarm that is audible through the skin that alerts if the defibrillator is de-activated. Best to stay at least 18 inches or further away. It will not trigger a shock but may turn off the defibrillator until the device is reset by a technician/programmer.

I've spoken to the electro physiologist and the Medtronic rep. Neither really didn't know but offered the same general advise- keep a reasonable distance. The alarm also activates when the battery is nearing end of life. I heard it last year.

Funny thing- I'm a litigation attorney and not long ago I deposed a fellow who claimed that his need for an AICD was because of an accident (BS) and then he listed a laundry list of things he claimed he could not do because he had an AICD most of which are nonesense (he can't operate a tv remote, he can't drive an SUV are 2 of his claims). After giving perhaps a half hour of perjurious testimony, I took out my Medtronic ID card and asked if he had one like it. Well, once he and his counsel realized they were piling on a load of crap to someone with first hand knowledge, the cardiac claims vanished. His AICD was real, just not accident related.

Ha! Good story. I think to be absolutely sure you will have to contact the company directly. They should absolutely know what a magnet (any magnet) does to your device. It is in their literature. They just have to go look for it. I can safely assume the FDA makes them test it with magnets. And, yes, the internal alarm sounds when the battery goes below a minimum needed to deliver a series of pre-programmed shocks. Most also alarm when the device is not able to deliver a shock for any reason, even being de-programmed.