Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Magnetic field interactions between current consumer electronics and cardiac implantable electronic devices

Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology volume 65, pages 133–139 (2022)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Electronic products, including the iPhone 12, Apple Watch Series 6, and 2nd Generation AirPods, contain magnets to facilitate wireless charging. Permanent magnets may affect CIED magnet mode features by causing pacemakers to pace asynchronously and defibrillators to suspend arrhythmia detection. This study determined if CIEDs are affected by static magnetic fields from commonly used portable electronics (PE) at any distance and intends to reinforce FDA recommendations concerning consumer PE which contain permanent magnets.

Methods

The maximum magnet field measurement was evaluated by a Gauss meter. The interaction between PE and CIEDs from Boston Scientific and Medtronic were tested ex vivo using a body torso model. The CIED was placed in physiologic saline, and the PE was placed at the surface and at increasing distances of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 cm. Interactions were recorded by assessment of magnet mode status.

Results

The iPhone 12 had almost three times the static magnetic field measured at the surface as the iPhone XR, but magnetic field strength decreased dramatically with increasing distance. At the surface of the model, PE triggered magnet mode in all CIEDs. The maximum interaction distance for all combinations of CIEDs and Apple products was 1.5 cm.

Conclusions

The iPhone 12 produces a stronger static magnetic field than previous iPhone models. Magnets in PE tested will not interact with CIEDs when they are 15 cm from the implanted device. Since no interaction was observed beyond 1.5 cm, it is unlikely that magnet mode activation will occur during most daily activities.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

References

  1. Jacob S, Panaich SS, Maheshwari R, et al. Clinical applications of magnets on cardiac rhythm management devices. Europace. 2011;13:1222–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Held EP, Shehata M, Swerdlow CD, et al. To the editor-Interference of smartphones containing magnets and cardiac implantable electronic devices–-is this common. Hear Rhythm. 2021;18:P1042-1043.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Patterson Z, Straw S, Drozd M, et al. To the editor–-New phones, old problem? Interference with cardiovascular implantable electronic devices by phones containing magnets. Heart Rhythm. 2021;18:P1041.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Greenberg JC, Attawil MR, Singh G. Letter to the editor–-lifesaving therapy inhibition by phones containing magnets. Heart Rhythm. 2021;18:P1040-1041.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. U.S. Food and Drug Administration 2021. Magnets in cell phones and smart watches may affect pacemakers and other implanted medical devices. https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/cell-phones/magnets-cell-phones-and-smart-watches-may-affect-pacemakers-and-other-implanted-medical-devices. Accessed 5 January 2022.

  6. Apple, Inc., 2021. About potential magnetic interference with medical devices. https://support.apple.com/en-al/HT211900. Accessed 9 Nov 2021.

  7. International Organization for Standardization 14117. Active implantable medical devices – electromagnetic compatibility – EMC test protocols for implantable cardiac pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators and cardiac resynchronization devices. https://www.iso.org/standard/73915.html. Accessed 9 Nov 2021.

  8. Fery C, Desombre A, Quirin T, et al. Magnetic field measurements of portable electronic devices: the risk inside pockets for patients with cardiovascular implantable devices. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCEP.121.010646.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Nadeem F, Garcia AM, Tran CT, Wu M. Magnetic interference on cardiac implantable electronic devices from Apple iPhone MagSafe technology. J Am Heart Assoc. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.121.020818.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Asher EB, Panda N, Tran CT, Wu M. Smart wearable device accessories may interfere with implantable cardiac devices. Heart Rhythm. 2020;7:167–9.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This study was funded by the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, Medtronic, Inc., and Boston Scientific, Inc.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Heart Rhythm Science Center, Minneapolis Heart Institute and Foundation, 800 E 28th St, Minneapolis, MN, 55407, USA

    Kathryn Xu, Jay Sengupta, Susan Casey, Elizabeth Steele & Robert Hauser

  2. Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Joel Peltier & David Settimi

  3. Boston Scientific, Inc., St. Paul, MN, USA

    Wyatt Stahl, Neal Peterson, Andrew Taylor & James Kippola

Authors
  1. Kathryn Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jay Sengupta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Susan Casey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Joel Peltier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Wyatt Stahl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Neal Peterson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. David Settimi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Andrew Taylor
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. James Kippola
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Elizabeth Steele
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Robert Hauser
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kathryn Xu.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval

Not applicable.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Xu, K., Sengupta, J., Casey, S. et al. Magnetic field interactions between current consumer electronics and cardiac implantable electronic devices. J Interv Card Electrophysiol 65, 133–139 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10840-022-01241-w

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10840-022-01241-w

Keywords

search

Navigation