iPhone 12 and other similar phones

iPhone 12

by Gemita - 2021-01-25 16:23:54

https://www.pacemakerclub.com/message/40377/very-interesting-article

Hi Chris,

This subject came up recently and I post the link above which might be worth a read.  I am thinking of upgrading as well.  I think the consensus is we can safely go ahead if we can afford the phone?

iPhone 12

by AgentX86 - 2021-01-25 17:34:24

In my opinion, ditch the iCult but that's me.  ;-)

I think the consensus here and from everything I've read is to be just a little more careful. IIRC, the issue was inhibiting ICDs from firing by using the same mechanism that, well, designed to do the same. IOW, there was no security built into the ICD for this function. I could easily be wrong but it seemed to me like it only affected ICDs and only that function (which could be a life or death matter).

In short,  I'd just be a little more careful.  One shouldn't put a cell phone or any magnet directly over one's PM anyway. Just don't and blow your money. ;-))

BTW top-of-the-line Android phones aren't exactly cheap. I've see  them for as much as $1500, though Idon't know if anyone actually pays that much.

Me an iCultist - I just like the best product I can buy !

by Gemita - 2021-01-26 10:07:13

Hi AgentX86, I know there are lots of iCultist's out there who like to flash their latest purchases around, but not me.  I quietly use my products, safely and effectively at home, out of harm's way.  I know quality when I see it though and my Apple products have never let me down which is why I continue to pay a high price for these products.  I have tried other brands in the past but they have simply not stood up to Apple

Upgrade to iPhone 12

by amanda_shanti - 2021-01-26 10:15:26

Hi Gemita, I was considering to upgrade my phone to iPhone 12 as well, I even visited the Apple Store (just yesterday) to check out which model I like the most. But now I'm not so sure about upgrading my phone at this moment. I will wait to see some more information and maybe check with my device manufacturer first. 

I read some news last night and found that Apple just updated their webpage few days ago (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211900), they now specified to keep the iPhone 12 series and MagSafe accessories a safe distance away from the medical device more than 6 inches apart or more than 12 inches apart if wirelessly charging. Also consult with physician and device manufacturer for specific guidelines.

12 inches... sounds like the magnets are too many/too strong for medical devices.

From the news I read, they mentioned it was an ICD that got affected in the reported incident. Not sure how it affects PM. But, better be safe than sorry.

P.S. I'm an iCultist too, love their products and quality.

Amanda

by Gemita - 2021-01-26 10:30:43

Thank you so much for this up to date news.  Yes I agree it is a potential concern but I think the problem relates to ICD usage in particular, but maybe I will hold off buying a new model until the picture is clearer.  After all my iPhone 7+ is top of the range with 256 GB capacity (and still lots of capacity available for photos/videos), so no need to purchase anything new just yet.

Good luck whatever you decide

iPhone 12 could be fatal?

by Selwyn - 2021-02-10 05:44:05

Apple's ‌iPhone 12‌ series includes an array of magnets that help align the phone on Apple's MagSafe charging accessory to maximize charging, and Apple already advises users with implanted pacemakers and defibrillators to keep iPhone and ‌MagSafe‌‌ accessories a safe distance away from such devices.

To test the extent of the risk, Henry Ford Heart and Vascular Institute cardiologist Gurjit Singh and his colleagues recently carried out further testing to see just how much of an influence the Apple products have.

Dr. Singh and his colleagues took an iPhone 12 Pro and passed it over the chest of a patient with an implantable defibrillator.

"When we brought the ‌iPhone‌ close to the patient's chest the defibrillator was deactivated," said Dr. Singh. "We saw on the external defibrillator programmer that the functions of the device were suspended and remained suspended. When we took the phone away from the patient's chest, the defibrillator immediately returned to its normal function."

"We were all stunned," he said. "We had assumed that the magnet would be too weak in a phone to trip the defibrillator’s magnetic switch."
The findings are significant, since Dr. Singh is an expert in the use of devices such as implantable defibrillators that detect an irregular heartbeat and shock the heart back into a normal rhythm, and pacemakers that use electricity to keep the heart beating. Following the discovery, Dr. Singh and his colleagues immediately submitted a report of their findings to the HeartRhythm medical journal that was published on January 4, 2021.

"We believe our findings have profound implications on a large scale for the people who live daily with these devices, who without thinking, will place their phone in their shirt pocket or upper pocket or their coat – not knowing that it can cause their defibrillator or pacemaker to function in a way that could potentially be lethal."