I came across a post at the blog of Ben Philipson, the developer of the Curatron 2000 System. (Click Here For the Original Posting). Ben has extensive experience in this field and has been very helpful in teaching me about Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy.
What Ben Philipson says is:
“I am often asked “Can I use a PEMF device if I have a pacemaker or implant?”
The answer to this question is not straight forward and here follows some information about electromagnetic and static magnetic disturbance signals.
Many different frequencies and intensities are used in such devices, thus these warnings are in place because the resulting inducted intensities and frequencies are simply unpredictable.
PEMF devices powered by batteries, like bone growth stimulators, generate electromagnetic pulses (PEMF) with very limited energy levels. The energy generated during the pulsing time depends on the pulse width (= pulse duration) and pulse amplitude (like the volume on your radio) which form the amount of energy emitted during the pulse duration time.
Many makers of PEMF devices in their manuals, write that active implanted devices are contraindicated for use with pacemakers etc.
I suggest you read Ben’s Article at http://www.pemft.com/Pacemakers-in-pemf-therapy
My feelings on this are similar to those of Ben but I live in a country with many lawyers and litigators who would work till they died trying to prove that something we sold killed their patient. So let me be clear, I agree with Ben that I might use a Curatron 2000 system on my leg if I had an electronic implant in my chest BUT I WILL NOT AND CANNOT RECOMMEND THAT YOU DO THE SAME. This is a discussion that you should have with your doctor!
I agree with your comments up to the last sentence– “This is a discussion that you should have with your doctor!”
As a person with a pacemaker/defibrillator and medical conditions that might benefit from PEMF treatment and who has exhausted all of the medical protocols in the US over the last three decades, I have to point out that your recommendation to discuss the use of PEMF with your doctor is simply another copout.
Neither the manufacturers of pacemakers nor cardiologists have the technical know how or actual experience with the two devices to offer anything other than an academic guess as to the possible danger from using the two devices together. And, in fact, are very reluctant to even make any comment other than to advise against PEMF. I’ve tried getting comments.
What is needed are scientific tests exploring the interactions of the two devices and an explanation of how they can safely be used simultaneously.
How close to the heart might the PEMF field safely be placed. What strength? Is there any way to shield the pacemaker sensor from the PEMF? Is localized treatment away from the heart effective? (Could a high intensity probe be used safely on the feet?) In what way does the PEMF affect the pacemaker sensor? (If the PEMF only withholds pacemaker therapy while it is in use that might be an acceptable risk to some patients who are just trying to get some relief from completely debilitating medical problems.) These questions are probably naive but you get the gist.
Hi George, I do understand your comments but here in the USA, we live in a litigious world. We simply do not know how each brand and type of implanted electronic device in the human body will react to a pulsing magnetic field and we have no choice but to take the safe way out and advise against the use of the Curatron when the user has an implanted electronic device, be it a pacemaker, defib unit etc. The list would include Electrically or magnetically operated shunts, Cardiac Pacemakers or Cardiac Defibrillators, Deep brain stimulators, Gastric Stimulators, Insulin Pumps, Foot Drop Implants, Cochlear implants, and other implanted electronic devices.
Some of the manufacturers of these devices do say that their device is immune or not susceptible to external magnetic influence and many are actually managed or adjusted using external magnets. We have no way to know which may be safe and which may not. Ben Philipson, the creator of the Curatron discusses this in a website http://www.pemft.com that you might want to review. See http://www.pemft.com/Pacemakers-in-pemf-therapy
Here in the USA, our world is probably more fraught with lawyers and the like and any suggestion that the Curatron can be used by somebody with an implanted device would introduce financial risks.
Personally, if I had an implanted device in my torso I would probably feel comfortable using the Curatron on my lower legs, but there is always risk.
We have little choice but to declare it as contraindicated when the user has an electronic implant. The doctor and/or the maker of the implanted device should be questioned.
Your points are valid. I was just trying to point out that doctors are not prepared to give any fact based advice on PEMF devices so referring someone who is considering the use of a PEMF device to them for information will not assist in the process of evaluation. Frustrating. Thanks again for your response.