Evaluation of the effect caused by hearing implants on SAR in a body approaching an RFID reader emitting at a frequency of 13.56 MHz

This ongoing study is aimed to evaluate the effect caused by the use of bone conduction hearing implants on the absorption of EMF in the head of its user, emitted by an RFID HF reader. The RFID reader was modelled as a loop antenna (35x35cm) emitting an EMF at a frequency of 13.56 MHz. A multi-layer ellipsoidal model of the implant user was used for the numerical calculations of SAR. It was found that the use of a bone conduction hearing implant may significantly increase the level of localised SAR values in the head of the implant user, caused by exposure of EMF from RFID HF readers. The use of such a hearing implant may be a contraindication for the stay near RFID readers, or the application of RFID HF devices in medical technologies used by implant users.