FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ann-Marie White
Heart Rhythm Society
(202) 464-3476
awhite@hrsonline.org

In light of the study that was released on March 12, 2008 titled Pacemakers and Implantable Cardiac Defibrillators: Software Radio Attacks and Zero-Powered Defenses, the Heart Rhythm Society would like to reiterate its stance on the importance of Implantable Cardiac Defibrillators (ICDs) in patients with life-threatening arrhythmias and its dedication to patient safety and privacy.

ICDs are 99 percent effective in stopping life-threatening arrhythmias and are the most successful therapy to treat ventricular fibrillation, the major cause of sudden cardiac arrest which claims more than 250,000 lives in the United States each year. However, only 35 percent of patients who could be helped by an ICD have one. ICDs continuously monitor the heart rhythm, automatically function as pacemakers for heart rates that are too slow, and deliver life-saving shocks if a dangerously fast heart rhythm is detected.

“Although the experiment by Dr. Maisel and colleagues is a technical study that may be of interest to engineers who design wireless transmission systems, the results do not have any important implications for patients and there is no reason for alarm,” said Dr. Bruce Lindsay, President of the Heart Rhythm Society. “This is not a product failure or safety recall. Millions of patients worldwide have benefited from the use of ICDs and this technology will continue to be critical in the treatment of patients who are at risk for life threatening heart rhythm disorders.”

It is important to note that the study was performed on one ICD model, the tests were only performed from distances up to several centimeters from the device and the researchers have highly specialized electronic engineering skills. In addition, current ICDs do contain safeguards such as electronic filters and there is no knowledge of any instances of a patient being harmed by an unknown manipulation to an ICD.

The Heart Rhythm Society is dedicated to improving the care of patients by promoting research, education and optimal health care policies and standards. The Society strongly supports additional measures that would advance the safety and privacy of patients living with these devices.