Effect of Amusement Park Rides on Programmable Shunt Valve Settings

Strahle, Jennifer; Collins, Kelly; Stetler, William R.; Smith, Brandon W.; Garton, Thomas; Garton, Catherine; Garton, Hugh; Maher, Cormac O.

doi:10.1159/000355247

Cited by 8 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…[ 2 3 4 11 14 ] Even amusement park rides can cause maladjustment of valves. [ 10 ] Despite these risks, programmable valves, when compared to nonprogrammable shunts, are found to be associated with a significant decrease in complications regarding over or underdrainage, as well as a reduction in overall complications. [ 1 13 ] Regulating the amount of flow is important because, as in the presented case, over-drainage can lead to problems such as subdural bleeds, craniosynostosis, and intracranial hypotension.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maladjustment of programmable ventricular shunt valves by inadvertent exposure to a common hospital device

Fujimura¹,

Lober²,

Kamian³

et al. 2018

Surg Neurol Int

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Background:Programmable ventricular shunt valves are commonly used to treat hydrocephalus. They can be adjusted to allow for varying amounts of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow using an external magnetic programming device, and are susceptible to maladjustment from inadvertent exposure to magnetic fields.Case Description:We describe the case of a 3-month-old girl treated for hydrocephalus with a programmable StrataTM II valve found at the incorrect setting on multiple occasions during her hospitalization despite frequent reprogramming and surveillance. We found that the Vocera badge, a common hands-free wireless communication system worn by our nursing staff, had a strong enough magnetic field to unintentionally change the shunt setting. The device is worn on the chest bringing it into close proximity to the shunt valve when care providers hold the baby, resulting in the maladjustment.Conclusion:Some commonly used medical devices have a magnetic field strong enough to alter programmable shunt valve settings. Here, we report that the magnetic field from the Vocera hands-free wireless communication system, combined with the worn position, results in shunt maladjustment for the StrataTM II valve. Healthcare facilities using the Vocera badges need to put protocols in place and properly educate staff members to ensure the safety of patients with StrataTM II valves.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maladjustment of programmable ventricular shunt valves by inadvertent exposure to a common hospital device

Fujimura¹,

Lober²,

Kamian³

et al. 2018

Surg Neurol Int

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“…In the study conducted with Strata, Codman and Sophy valves, it was found that cell phones could theoretically affect the valves and Strata was more sensitive than the others (9) . In a study measuring the magnetic relationship between the tablet computer and the programmable VPS valve, it was found that the valve setting changed 58% at a distance of less than 1 cm and that the valve was not affected at distances greater than 5 cm (10) . In the study, which calculated the effect of Magnetic toys on Strata II small (Medtronic Inc.), Codman Judge (Codman & Shurtleff), and Polaris (Sophysa) programmable VPS valves; it has been reported that the Polaris valve setting did not change in any way, the adjustment of the Codman valve up to 30 mm and the Strata valve up to 50 mm are affected (10) .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Programmable shunt valve affected by behind-the-ear hearing device: A case report and literature review

Diren

Boyalı

Savrunlu

et al. 2022

Sinir Sistemi Cerrahisi Derg

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Background: It is known that interactions between programmable Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt (VPS) valves and electromagnetic and hearing devices may change the valve settings. We reported a patient using programmable VPS valves and hearing devices and reviewed the literature. Case Description: A 71-year-old man was implanted with a programmable VPS valve with the diagnosis of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus. A hearing device (behind-the-ear) was proposed because of hearing difficulties, but it was suggested that it be discontinued because it did not help. However, the patient used it twice because of his current dementia, forgetting the doctor’s recommendations. The setting of the valve has changed in these two different times that this behind-the-ear hearing device is used. Long-term follow-ups showed no change in valve settings except those two situations. Conclusion: It is important to note that patients using hearing devices and programmable VPS valves are a unique group of patients. There are not enough studies showing the relationship between the behind-the-ear hearing devices and programmable VPS. It should be kept in mind that hearing devices with magnetic field strength may change the setting of the valves.

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“…The Earth's inherent MF is on the order of 50 µT or 0.5 G. 3 The values generated by magnetometers are in units of micro-Teslas (µT). The ambient or baseline measurement on magnetometers across tested smartphone devices in the study ranged between 20 and 100 µT.…”

Section: Calibration Of Smartphone Magnetometermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Unnoticed external forces can have an influence over PV mechanisms and modify the opening pressure setting. 3 MFs produced by many devices can often be a concern for Evaluation of smartphone-integrated magnetometers in detection of safe electromagnetic devices for use near programmable shunt valves: a proof-of-concept study patients and parents of children with shunt-treated hydrocephalus who have PVs, since strong MFs from external magnetic sources and implanted medical devices that use magnets can cause an unintended change in their valve setting. Although devices from the most recently developed generation have been designed with greatly improved resistance to MFs, [4][5][6][7][8] devices sensitive to field strengths of more than 90 Gauss (G) are still commonly implanted and will exist in patients for decades to come.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of smartphone-integrated magnetometers in detection of safe electromagnetic devices for use near programmable shunt valves: a proof-of-concept study

Patel

Fernández

McCoy

et al. 2021

Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics

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OBJECTIVE External magnetic forces can have an impact on programmable valve mechanisms and potentially alter the opening pressure. As wearable technology has begun to permeate mainstream living, there is a clear need to provide information regarding safety of these devices for use near a programmable valve (PV). The aim of this study was to evaluate the magnetic fields of reference devices using smartphone-integrated magnetometers and compare the results with published shunt tolerances. METHODS Five smartphones from different manufacturers were used to evaluate the magnetic properties of various commonly used (n = 6) and newer-generation (n = 10) devices using measurements generated from the internal smartphone magnetometers. PV tolerance testing using calibrated magnets of varying field strengths was also performed by smartphone magnetometers. RESULTS All tested smartphone-integrated magnetometers had a factory sensor saturation point at around 5000 µT or 50 Gauss (G). This is well below the threshold at which a magnet can potentially deprogram a shunt, based on manufacturer reports as well as the authors’ experimental data with a threshold of more than 300 G. While many of the devices did saturate the smartphone sensors at the source, the magnetic flux density of the objects decreases significantly at 2 inches. CONCLUSIONS The existence of an upper limit on the magnetometers of all the smartphones used, although well below the published deprogramming threshold for modern programmable valves, does not allow us to give precise recommendations on those devices that saturate the sensor. Based on the authors’ experimental data using smartphone-integrated magnetometers, they concluded that devices that measure < 40 G can be used safely close to a PV.

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Effect of Amusement Park Rides on Programmable Shunt Valve Settings

Cited by 8 publications

References 6 publications

Maladjustment of programmable ventricular shunt valves by inadvertent exposure to a common hospital device

Maladjustment of programmable ventricular shunt valves by inadvertent exposure to a common hospital device

Programmable shunt valve affected by behind-the-ear hearing device: A case report and literature review

Evaluation of smartphone-integrated magnetometers in detection of safe electromagnetic devices for use near programmable shunt valves: a proof-of-concept study

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