Weapons Detection and Medical Implants: What Patients and Hospitals Should Know
Hospitals and healthcare facilities must balance two priorities: keeping everyone safe with hospital security systems and ensuring that patients receive care without unnecessary barriers. One concern often raised is whether weapons detection systems can interfere with people who have pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), or other medical devices.
Why Pacemakers and ICDs Require Special Consideration
Pacemakers and ICDs play a vital role in regulating heart rhythm and protecting patients from cardiac emergencies. Because these devices respond to electrical signals, any technology that generates electromagnetic fields, including metal detectors in hospitals, must be carefully evaluated for safety. Patients often appreciate knowing that weapons detection systems are intended to operate in a way that minimizes any potential impact on their devices and maintains comfort.
A Growing Need for Patient-First Hospital Security Solutions
“Up to 3 million Americans live with pacemakers” according to Yale Medicine. That number continues to grow as implantable devices become more common, making safe weapons detection systems in public spaces and healthcare facilities an even greater priority.
International Weapons Detection Systems Safety Standards
Fortunately, there are well-established safety standards that address this concern. Examples include:
- ISO 14117:2019 for active implantable medical devices exposed to electromagnetic fields
- EN 50527-2-1:2016 for evaluating workers with pacemakers exposed to electromagnetic sources
- EN 45502 series and ISO 14708-6:2019 for implantable device safety
Systems that meet applicable safety criteria can provide hospitals with greater reassurance that they are suitable for use around patients with implantable devices while contributing to overall hospital public safety efforts.
OPENGATE®: Certified Safe Hospital Security Solutions for Patients
OPENGATE® has been tested and certified by third party laboratories to meet all applicable safety and harmlessness standards.
- Non-disruptive screening that does not require removing bags or personal items
- Extremely low false alarm rates to minimize unnecessary interruptions
- Quick deployment without permanent installation, offering flexibility for hospital and healthcare security teams
Start Managing Patient Security in Hospitals with Confidence
For healthcare providers, hospital violence prevention must never come at the expense of patient trust. By choosing weapons detection systems that meet international safety standards, hospitals and clinics can create secure environments while protecting those who rely on pacemakers, ICDs, and other life-saving devices. Learn about how CEIA USA offers that balance through OPENGATE and other healthcare safety technology applications, or contact us for more information.