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| Apple MagSafe can interfere with cardiac devices |
The American Heart Association says that devices using Apple's MagSafe technology can cause interference if they are placed on the skin or too close to heart devices (such as pacemakers).
American Heart Association researchers found that the devices selected by the three largest cardiology companies (Medtronic, Abbott and Boston Scientific) are all sensitive to magnetism.
In the article, the researchers wrote, “Our research shows that iPhone 12 Pro Max, when placed directly on the skin over the implantable heart device, can induce a magnetic resonance mode that can dampen treatments.
They tested the effects of MagSafe on cardiac devices by placing the iPhone near the 11 pacemaker and defibrillator.
Some pacemakers are implanted in patients, others are new and not yet used.
When you place the iPhone on the skin or very close to the device, all three of the in vivo testing devices and 8 of the 11 in the lab generate clinically recognizable magnetic interference.
The iPhone can operate in magnetic resonance mode up to a distance of 1.5 cm from the device to the body.
Apple said in an advisory that the iPhone 12 poses no greater risk of magnetic interference than the older generation iPhone.
The study showed, contrary to what Apple said, that 3/3 of the cases showed a magnetic response in vivo.
MagSafe can interfere with cardiac devices:
When compared to the previous generation iPhone 6, a case study found no magnetic response in a sample of 148 patients.
Potential interference can occur if someone places the MagSafe in a jacket or shirt pocket over their chest.
This leads to asynchronous stimulation or inactivation of anti-hypertrophic therapy.
An external magnet strong enough can cause problems with many electronic devices that can be implanted in the heart. Hence, the problem is not limited to MagSafe technology.
The researchers said their findings underscore the importance of increasing public awareness of the interaction between implantable electronic heart devices and new smartphones with magnetic charging capabilities.
The FDA website states that cell phones do not pose a significant health risk to patients using these devices. However, he admitted that it might be wise to take some precautions.
Apple revised the MagSafe support document in January. It recommends that iPhone 12 users maintain a distance of at least 15 cm between the device and the implant.
The study authors also recommend that patients seek professional counseling for advice on smartphones and implantable electronic heart devices.
The results of this study are consistent with those of the journal Heart Rhythm. This indicates that if the iPhone 12 is placed on or near the implant, it may interfere with electronic devices that can be implanted in the heart.