EMC analysis of the pacing activity of an implantable cardiac medical device

This paper presents an extensive EMC analysis of the pacing activity of an Implantable Cardiac Medical Device (ICMD), namely an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD). The proposed procedure (Pacing Counter, PC) consists of monitoring the pacing activity of the ICD under test continuously, by counting the number of pacing events occurring over a given time horizon. As a result, their variations allow the identification of the inhibition process of the device under test. The PC has been carried out with and without electromagnetic noise in order to verify how ICD inhibition process is affected by electromagnetic noise. The experiments have been carried out in accordance with international standards and within an anechoic chamber, which guarantees also an appropriate shielding against external electromagnetic noise.