Apple: Magsafe on the iPhone 12 may interfere with pacemakers and cardiac defibrilators
- Reference: 1611578090
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2021/01/25/magsafe_on_the_iphone_12/
- Source link:
The latest warning that the MagSafe adaptor on the [1]iPhone 12 may interfere with these medical devices came at the weekend.
[2]
New language [3]added to the iPhone's support pages warns about the risk of MagSafe interfering with life-preserving implanted tech when in close contact. Apple advised customers keep their phones and accessories at least 15cm (or 6 inches) away, or 30cm (12 inches) while wirelessly charging, although the documentation noted the risk of any magnetic interference isn't greater than that of previous models.
"Though all iPhone 12 models contain more magnets than prior iPhone models, they're not expected to pose a greater risk of magnetic interference to medical devices than prior iPhone models," the firm said.
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Apple introduced [5]MagSafe on the iPhone last year. The tech consists of an array of rear-mounted magnets, allowing users to better lineup their phone with a wireless charger, as well as attach other third-party accessories, like wallets and in-car mounts. Apple's guidance also notes that these accessories may pose a risk to those with pacemakers.
"All MagSafe accessories (each sold separately) also contain magnets — and MagSafe Charger and MagSafe Duo Charger contain radios. These magnets and electromagnetic fields might interfere with medical devices," warned Apple.
It's no secret that magnetic fields can interfere with certain medical devices. In its guidance for pacemaker users, the American Heart Association [6]explicitly warns against lingering around metal detectors (as one does), as well as carrying electronic devices such as mobile phones in the top pocket of a shirt, although it notes the risk posed is relatively low.
Still, the iPhone 12 ain't a normal phone, and some clinicians have raised concerns. One article published earlier this month in the peer-reviewed Heart Rhythm Journal [7]raised concerns about potential interference , showing the iPhone 12 disrupting the normal functionality of a Medtronic-made implanted defibrillator while placed in close proximity.
"Once the iPhone was brought close to the ICD (implantable cardioverter-defibrillator) over the left chest area, immediate suspension of ICD therapies was noted, which persisted for the duration of the test. This was reproduced multiple times with different positions of the phone over the pocket," the paper explained.
Prior to its mobile launch, MagSafe was used across the MacBook line, starting in 2006 before being gradually phased out in 2015 in favour of USB-C. This move proved to be unpopular, and Apple is [8]reportedly considering bringing it back later this year , at least according to Apple analyst Ming Chi-Kuo.
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Should that come to pass, Apple devotees with cardiac complaints are advised to resist the urge to tenderly hug their pricey new laptops. If they can. ®
Get our [10]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.theregister.com/2020/11/06/apple_iphone_12_mini_pro_max/
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_personal_tech/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2YA75JNsq5d3E0FRKyHvndgAAANE&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211900
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_personal_tech/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33YA75JNsq5d3E0FRKyHvndgAAANE&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2020/10/13/apple_iphone_launch/
[6] https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/arrhythmia/prevention--treatment-of-arrhythmia/devices-that-may-interfere-with-icds-and-pacemakers
[7] https://www.heartrhythmjournal.com/article/S1547-5271(20)31227-3/fulltext
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2021/01/15/apple_magsafe_revival/
[9] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_personal_tech/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YA75JNsq5d3E0FRKyHvndgAAANE&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[10] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: One can suspend MacBooks with a magnet too
Real shame that humans aren't as good as MacBooks at returning from standby mode, though.
Have you tried turning him off and on again?
My dad has a pacemaker so isn't allowed in the kitchen when the microwave is on, on doctors orders. Engineers here have claimed that is paranoid, but I doubt they are medically qualified to diagnose paranoia.
My octogenarian parents are getting their first Covid vaccine later this week. Assuming they survive that long. Their attitudes are telling. My dad is angry he wasn't the first person to get a vaccine. My mum doesn't want hers and thinks it should be given to an NHS worker.
Me, I'm herding cats.
Re: One can suspend MacBooks with a magnet too
> isn't allowed in the kitchen when the microwave is on, on doctors orders. Engineers here have claimed that is paranoid,
Malfunctioning microwave ovens are not unheard of. It is possible, for example, for the door latch switch to malfunction, allowing the device to emit radion even without the door being completely closed.
That said, the biggest heart health issue associated with microwaves is that they encourage the consumption of ready meals. Since vegetables produce bitter-tasting compounds after they are cut, a ready meal requires more sugar and salt to taste acceptable than a meal you've prepared by chopping your own vegetables. There is also some evidence to suggest that the act of cutting vegetables and activity preparing food causes your body to anticipate the coming meal, and thus digest it in a healthier way.
Re: One can suspend MacBooks with a magnet too
"Since vegetables produce bitter-tasting compounds after they are cut, a ready meal requires more sugar and salt to taste"
Except that you'd be lucky to have real sugar used - mostly they use glucose-fructose syrup or similair as a sweetener, which is an abomination for health (but hey it's cheap for the manufacturer). Also, since ready-meals are designed to have as long shelf life (so it's cheaper for both manufacturer and retailer), they are mostly stuffed with preservatives. And because in modern food business, consistency trumps quality, they're usually also stuffed with colorings and flavour enhancers, because we don't want any of the pesky natural variability in the flavour and colour of ingredients, do we?
Re: One can suspend MacBooks with a magnet too
My dad has a pacemaker so isn't allowed in the kitchen when the microwave is on, on doctors orders. Engineers here have claimed that is paranoid, but I doubt they are medically qualified to diagnose paranoia.
I've had a pacemaker(*) for 17 years and whereas I've been told not to put my phone in a breast pocket and to avoid Tesla coils and high power radio transmitters, I've never been told to stay clear of microwave ovens.
(*) Well, two actually. The first got replaced 3 years ago.
Re: One can suspend MacBooks with a magnet too
I bet it's not the EM emitted by the electronics, but the strong, stable magnetic field emitted by the phone speaker's magnet.
...are advised to resist the urge to tenderly hug their pricey new laptops
Anthropomorphise and then apply social distancing rules
A product to die for ?
No, not die.
You are clearly holding it wrong.
My iPhone will be the death of me......
A friend's pacemaker triggered an alert a while back. The cause? The company he was working for had magnetically attached name badges which he'd clipped to his shirt pocket.
Although a quick phone call came up with the answer he was still strongly advised to visit the cardiac unit to get it checked out,
One can suspend MacBooks with a magnet too
One thing which I always found fascinating since I first began to use MacBooks (for an iOS development job, that is), is that I quickly found out that you can trigger the lid sensor in a MacBook by putting a phone or magnet on the palmrest.
The Hal sensor Apple uses for that purpose is apparently sensitive enough that even the relatively weak fluctuating EM field of a phone (iPhone or Android phone) was enough to put the MacBook into standby. Put phone on left side of the palmrest, watch MacOS check out. Also a delightful prank to pull off at the office, especially during a meeting :)
It appears that pacemakers use similar Hal sensor technology, which would result in a similar standby mode when exposed to the stronger MagSafe field. Real shame that humans aren't as good as MacBooks at returning from standby mode, though.