Airport metal detectors and orthopedic implants: The responses of arch and hand-held devices

8 subjects with a variety of orthopedic implants were examined by the security staff at an international airport using arch and hand-held metal detectors. None of the subjects caused activation of the alarm on the arch, although the presence of metal was registered in 2 at a level below the alarm threshold. The handheld detectors alarmed over the larger superficial implants. A substantial tissue screening effect was noted.