iPad Magnets Can Shut Off Implanted Defibrillators

[wannabee]

14-Year-Old Discovers iPad Smart Cover Magnets Can Shut Off Implanted Defibrillators

Thursday May 9, 2013 3:34 pm PDT by Jordan Golson
http://www.macrumors.com/2013/05/09/...ff-pacemakers/

A fourteen-year-old has discovered that the tiny magnets inside the iPad can inadvertently shut off implanted defibrillators if the device is left on the chest, such as might happen if the user falls asleep with the iPad lying on them.

Apple builds magnets into every iPad it sells for use with its Smart Cover accessory.

Gianna Chien made the discovery as part of a science fair project that didn't win first place, but she will be presenting her findings to 8,000 doctors at a meeting of the Heart Rhythm Society in Denver, reports Bloomberg.
The research offers a valuable warning for people with implanted defibrillators, which deliver an electric shock to restart a stopped heart, said John Day, head of heart-rhythm services at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, Utah, and chairman of the panel that reviews scientific papers to be presented at the Denver meeting.

If a person falls asleep with the iPad2 on the chest, the magnets in the cover can “accidentally turn off” the heart device, said Chien, a high school freshman in Stockton, California, whose father is a doctor. “I definitely think people should be aware. That’s why I’m presenting the study.”
As a safety measure, implanted defibrillators can be turned off by magnets. The magnets in the iPad are too small to affect implanted defibrillators in normal use but can affect them if held close enough to the chest.

Chien's study found that 30 percent of patients with defibrillators who put iPads on their chest were affected by the device. Most defibrillators will turn back on once the magnet is removed, but some must be reactivated manually causing a potentially life-threatening situation.

[HarryT]

One might reasonably assume that anyone with an implanted defibrillator is likely (if they value their life) to be very wary of anything containing magnets. I certainly don't see that Apple can be held to blame in any conceivable way for this (although doubtless the "Apple haters" will think differently).

[din155]

I have a nexus 7 which has got some kind of magnet sensor. It might be included in the list of devices unsafe for defibrillators.

[meeera]

Yes, it's not remotely news - patients with these devices are routinely warned to never, ever get magnetic items or cellphones closer than 6 inches from their chest.

Here are examples of info sheets given to such people:

http://www.medtronic.com/rhythms/dow...ets_online.pdf

http://www.bostonscientific.com/temp...L/CRM/patient/

[JoeD]

Speaking of pacemakers, reminds me of this

Dr. Lampe says. Second, doctors only reprogram these devices in close proximity to the patient — not remotely

Which is a bold statement considering a few years earlier, this occurred

and lessons were clearly not learned as shown by this

If I had a pace maker, I'd be probably be more worried about some idiots thinking it's a laugh to do something stupid, than about magnets in devices which I'd either know to stay clear of or not risk placing anywhere near my chest until I knew for sure it wasn't in any way magnetic

What would make good research though is to find out if patients with pace makers are putting devices known to contain magnets on their chests and making sure they're very aware of the implications. From that pov it's a news worthy story just to remind people.

[Apache]

My mother was told to only use the phone on one specific ear after she had her pacemaker installed. I do not remember which ear. It is the one on the opposite side of the pacemaker.
Apache

[din155]

Originally Posted by JoeD

What would make good research though is to find out if patients with pace makers are putting devices known to contain magnets on their chests and making sure they're very aware of the implications. From that pov it's a news worthy story just to remind people.

Exactly, even if it serves as reminder to people using pace makers.

Originally Posted by HarryT

One might reasonably assume that anyone with an implanted defibrillator is likely (if they value their life) to be very wary of anything containing magnets. I certainly don't see that Apple can be held to blame in any conceivable way for this (although doubtless the "Apple haters" will think differently).

I'm fairly certain that the iPad is being mentioned simply because it is a popular device. Both Apple and their competitors have been using a similar mechanism to decide if the cover has been closed on tablets and laptops, and they have been doing so for years.

I suppose the greatest value in an article like this is pointing out that magnets exist where most people would least suspect them. After all, most people would see the sleep cover as a cool feature and put very little thought into how it works.

[wizwor]

Finally, a Killer App for the iPad!

[din155]

Originally Posted by wizwor

Finally, a Killer App for the iPad!

yes it is..!

[Tomsk]

Originally Posted by wannabee

14-Year-Old Discovers iPad Smart Cover Magnets Can Shut Off Implanted Defibrillators

Thursday May 9, 2013 3:34 pm PDT by Jordan Golson
http://www.macrumors.com

A fourteen-year-old has discovered that the tiny magnets inside the iPad can inadvertently shut off implanted defibrillators if the device is left on the chest, such as might happen if the user falls asleep with the iPad lying on them.

Apple builds magnets into every iPad it sells for use with its Smart Cover accessory.

Gianna Chien made the discovery as part of a science fair project that didn't win first place, but she will be presenting her findings to 8,000 doctors at a meeting of the Heart Rhythm Society in Denver, reports Bloomberg.
The research offers a valuable warning for people with implanted defibrillators, which deliver an electric shock to restart a stopped heart, said John Day, head of heart-rhythm services at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, Utah, and chairman of the panel that reviews scientific papers to be presented at the Denver meeting.

If a person falls asleep with the iPad2 on the chest, the magnets in the cover can “accidentally turn off” the heart device, said Chien, a high school freshman in Stockton, California, whose father is a doctor. “I definitely think people should be aware. That’s why I’m presenting the study.”
As a safety measure, implanted defibrillators can be turned off by magnets. The magnets in the iPad are too small to affect implanted defibrillators in normal use but can affect them if held close enough to the chest.

Chien's study found that 30 percent of patients with defibrillators who put iPads on their chest were affected by the device. Most defibrillators will turn back on once the magnet is removed, but some must be reactivated manually causing a potentially life-threatening situation.

So is it the magnets in the iPad or in the cover?

My KFHD8.9 also uses magnets to turn it off and on when used with a suitable cover. In the safety and compliance section of it's online help it warns about possible interference to pacemakers etc. My cheap cover however came with no such warning.

I'm sure Apple also has similar warnings for it's iPad, but does it have the same warnings for it's cover?

[Andrew H.]

Originally Posted by meeera

Yes, it's not remotely news - patients with these devices are routinely warned to never, ever get magnetic items or cellphones closer than 6 inches from their chest.

Here are examples of info sheets given to such people:

http://www.medtronic.com/rhythms/dow...ets_online.pdf

http://www.bostonscientific.com/temp...L/CRM/patient/

That's interesting - it does kind of undercut her claim to have "discovered" this, though.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Tomsk

So is it the magnets in the iPad or in the cover?

The magnet is in the iPad itself. The cover simply has a piece of metal in it which "sticks" to the magnet.

Many other devices work the same way. The Kindle PW also has a magnet in it for use by the cover, and so, if memory service me correctly, do Sony readers.

[elcreative]

Originally Posted by HarryT

The magnet is in the iPad itself. The cover simply has a piece of metal in it which "sticks" to the magnet.

Many other devices work the same way. The Kindle PW also has a magnet in it for use by the cover, and so, if memory service me correctly, do Sony readers.

Maybe in what you've tried but my Apple iPad cover has magnets in it... tested with steel rule... attracted to IPad weakly hence magnet but attracted much more strongly to cover so stronger magnet in cover...

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by elcreative

Maybe in what you've tried but my Apple iPad cover has magnets in it... tested with steel rule... attracted to IPad weakly hence magnet but attracted much more strongly to cover so stronger magnet in cover...

OK, thanks. I stand corrected.