New study published by the Heart Rhythm Society reveals that the iPhone 12 can block a pacemaker if the phone is placed near a patient’s heart. But the study, designed to look at whether the magnetic field enabling the iPhone 12’s new MagSafe charging technology has had an impact on portable cardioverter defibrillators (or ICDs), raises more questions than he responds.
Apple’s latest iPhones have a rounded set of magnets that are built into their backs, allowing them to grab a MagSafe charge pad or a compatible accessory (such as a phone case). But graduates have a switch that can be turned off by an external magnetic field, and when researchers from the Henry Ford Institute of Heart and Vulnerability placed an iPhone 12 over the heart of a patient with a Medtronic pacemaker applied, the pacemaker’s work was suspended each time.
“As soon as the iPhone was placed near the ICD over the left breast, it was noticed that ICD treatments were stopped immediately that lasted for the duration of the trial,” the study authors wrote. “This has been reproduced several times with various roles over the mobile phone.”
Mar 9to5Mac notes, Apple admits this is a danger: “The iPhone contains magnets as well as components and radios that emit electromagnetic fields. These magnets and electromagnetic fields can block medical devices, such as steppers and defibrillators. Although iPhone 12 models have more magnets than previous iPhone models, they are not expected to be at greater risk of introducing medical devices than previous iPhone models. ”
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So the question remains whether the iPhone 12 is more likely to block a pacemaker than other devices. The researchers took note of studies showing that smartphones without the type of magnetic arrays found in the latest iPhone have a low risk of infiltrating ICDs, but also noted devices such as fitness trackers have been found to turn off a pacemaker. More research is needed, and it would be better to test a wider range of phones and more ICDs, to find out if the iPhone 12 is more dangerous to use for patients with pacemakers than phones other.
Because of the way pacemakers are designed, they can be easily activated (or switched off) by environmental sources with magnetic fields, including a Fitbit or a vape pen, depending on medical news service Xpress medical. This does not have to be true, but by changing it requires medical device manufacturers to redesign their controls.
To do more research, if you have a pacemaker and also have an iPhone 12 – or any device that has magnets – talk to your doctor to see how far they recommend you the device keep it away from your heart. At the very least, you may not want to throw your phone in a pocket directly over your chest.