2022 Study Finds AirPods Can Disrupt Pacemakers at 6 Inches
Updated
Updated · Engadget · Jun 13
2022 Study Finds AirPods Can Disrupt Pacemakers at 6 Inches
1 articles · Updated · Engadget · Jun 13
Summary
A 2022 study found Apple AirPods, the iPhone 12 Pro Max, Apple Pencil and Microsoft Surface Pen can trigger magnet mode in pacemakers, defibrillators and other cardiac implants.
That happens because consumer-device magnets can exceed the roughly 10 Gauss threshold that switches cardiovascular implants into a temporary safe mode, potentially stopping them from detecting tachycardia and other irregularities.
Apple and the FDA advise users with implanted heart devices to keep AirPods, phones and similar electronics at least 6 inches away and avoid carrying them in shirt pockets near the implant.
The concern reflects a broader spread of rare-earth magnets across phones, watches and other gadgets, extending a long-known medical-device risk into everyday consumer electronics.