Magnet Proximity Alarm

I've had various Medtronics devices since 2006. This is #5. I am 100% pacer dependent.

Recently the magnet proximity alarm has been going off. Nowhere near any magnet, large or small, no recorded incidents, etc.

Medtronics says it can only be a magnet, usually within 6 inches, that is sounding the alarm. None of the scenarios suggested apply - no new phone or electronics, not dressed (so no zippers or metals), and not even holding something when it happens.  Pacer clinic is baffled as no incident show up, including the alarm indicator.

Anyone have this happen to them? What is the story with this?

5 Comments

Magnet proximity alarm

by LondonAndy - 2018-10-19 13:42:42

I am confused about this, though admittedly I didn't even know they had proximity alarms.  You say the data recorded shows no sign of the alarm going off?   

My only thought is, if it is magnetic, do you live close to high voltage power lines, or to an electricity substation?  If something is developing a fault it could be something outside of the house, but it would have to be huge!

Magnet Proximity Alarm

by cecmjensen@gmail.com - 2018-10-19 13:53:37

All my answers to these questions and the many asked by Medtronics and my pacer clinic are no, no, no... nothing has changed. Even my neighborhood looks the same - to include satellite dishes and wires. No changes or new equipment in the house, no construction inside, outside, or in the neighborhood. Circumstances are always different. It just goes off - very annoying. I am dependent so don't have a warm fuzzy that I am protected. 

Unfortunately nobody demos all the alarms - only the two tones indicating the low battery or device function problems. Magnet proximity on the Medtronics is a long flat tone (unfortunately reminds me of a cardiac monitor flat line). 

Alarm

by AgentX86 - 2018-10-19 14:40:07

If the alarm is sounding and the device isn't logging an incident,  clearly it's defective. Some alarm should be logged.

audio alert

by ROBO Pop - 2018-10-19 18:27:07

Actually a steady styate audio sound is not an alarm, but an all clear and usually means your device is operating normally. I could mean you were in proximity of a magnet and now are clear but can also mean your battery is okay as well. They use it when they have a battery recall to ensure the battery is operating correctly. As I recall Medtronics had a class 1 recall recently, perhaps there's a correllation. Google the recall and see what that's about.

I admit to surprise Medtronics is not interested in the fact this alert is occurring seemingly for no valid reason. If you can perhaps recording the alert when it happens or triggering it with a technician present will get their attention. 

A new feature?

by BOBTHOM - 2018-10-21 11:29:42

Could this be a new feature?  Where it runs a test or self diagnostic of some sort?  My ICD was set to do a recalibration every night at 12:30am but I felt pokes and felt it interrupt my natural heart rythm.  Nothing was ever logged and every test showed the device was working as designed.  After weeks of device clinic and EP telling me it was in my head Medtronic finally told me it was a "feature" and my EP could turn it off.  I still get those pokes (and they still don't beleive me) but it's not every night at 12:30am.

Keep us posted, would be intersting to hear what it turns out to be, and I hope it's nothing serious!

You know you're wired when...

Microwave ovens make you spark.

Member Quotes

Hi, I am 47 and have had a pacemaker for 7 months and I’m doing great with it.