If you or someone you know has an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), you may want to avoid using an iPhone 12. According to a recent study in the Heart Rhythm JournaliPhone 12 and its accessories can interfere with the behavior of an ICD and even interfere with its operation.
The study found that several components in the iPhone 12 “can inhibit potentially life-saving therapy in a patient, especially when the phone is carried in the top pockets.” This warning applies to all iPhone 12 devices, including the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Max, and iPhone 12 Max Plus. The iPhone 12’s MagSafe accessories are also a risk, especially the MagSafe Charger and MagSafe Duo Charger, because of their magnets and NFC radios.
According to the study, the magnetic charging coils and RF emitting components in these products are strong enough to interfere with the internal mechanisms of an ICD, which respond to magnetic fields. Investigators found that the ICD’s heart-regulating surgeries were immediately stopped if an iPhone was “brought close to the ICD on the left chest.” The fault “persisted throughout the test”.
This poses serious health risks, including the possibility of heart failure or cardiac arrest. To educate users about the potential risks, Apple has updated its iPhone 12 health and safety documentation with new guidelines based on the suggestions of the report. Apple now recommends users keep their iPhone 12 and MagSafe accessories more than six inches from their chest at all times, and more than 12 inches when charging your phone wirelessly. Do not put your iPhone in the breast pocket of your shirt or jacket.
While these warnings are specific to the iPhone 12 line and its magnetic accessories, they are not the only products that can affect medical devices. A similar case study shows that smartwatches and fitness trackers can interfere with ICDs if they come within 2.4 centimeters of the location of the ICD in a patient’s chest. The iPhone 12 malfunction is more serious especially during wireless charging, but you have to be careful when using it each smart devices near someone with an ICD.
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