Evaluating the Safety of Cremation Involving Implanted Cardiac Devices

A research paper coauthored by Exponent's Ryan Spray and Sophie Lee, alongside medical doctors from BIDMC/Harvard and industry peers, has been published in the journal Heart Rhythm. Titled "Safety and Behavior of Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices During Cremation: A Feasibility Study," their paper explores safety factors related to cremating bodies without first removing cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs). Before being published, the concept and presentation received the Mark E. Josephson Abstract Competition & VT Innovation Award at the 17th Annual International Symposium on Ventricular Arrhythmias.

Employing a combination of tests from battery safety standards and customized test platforms, the study found that while the thermal failure of batteries led to the disintegration of the devices, for most devices tested "the projectile forces were small and unlikely to cause crematoria damage or bodily harm." Furthermore, the study found that many devices tested exhibited maximum decibel levels and harmful gas emissions at relatively low concentrations given the anticipated emission location, inside an estimated 1000L-2000L furnace.

This work could lead the way toward revising requirements for pre-cremation surgeries to remove some battery-containing medical devices, balancing considerations around operator safety and environmental pollution with respect for the deceased by minimizing the need for modification of the body. 

From the publication: "While CIEDs were breached after thermal failure resulting in device propulsion and disintegration, the projectile forces were small and unlikely to cause crematoria damage or bodily harm."