Analysis of the coupling of electromagnetic interference to unipolar cardiac pacemakers

A theoretical analysis is developed to determine the behaviour of the unipolar pacemaker catheter as a receiving aerial. The theory is used to predict the effect of parameters such as the frequency and the length of the catheter on the coupling of electromagnetic interference to the pacemaker. The results are presented in terms of an equivalent circuit which is useful for developing simple experimental tests to evaluate the susceptibility of pacemakers to electro-magnetic interference. The theoretical results are shown to be in good agreement with measurements made on an actual catheter.

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