The effect of therapeutic x-radiation on a sample of pacemaker generators

Tests were made on nineteen generators, comprising seventeen types from five manufacturers and including four programmable units, and x-ray energies of about 4 MeV. The bipolar generators suffered no measureable damage and radiotherapy patients using these would appear not to be exposed to any hazard. Nor were any of the generators using entirely CMOS circuitry, including the programmable types, affected. Generators using hybrid bipolar and CMOS circuitry were damaged by radiation exposure, the majority of these being Medtronic pacemakers. Transient recovery of function followed by total failure suggested that even a transient loss of function must be regarded as a precursor to permanent damage. This transient effect indicates that it is most likely the CMOS circuit element that is affected. (U.K.)