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Photo:
Heart
Heart
Magazine |
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Apple:
If You
Have a
Medical
Device,
Keep It
a 'Safe
Distance'
Away
from the
iPhone
12 and
12 Pro
By
Jody
Serrano
gizmoto.com
The
new
iPhone
12 and
iPhone
12 Pro
on
display
during
launch
day on
October
23, 2020
in
London,
England.
The
new
iPhone
12 and
iPhone
12 Pro
on
display
during
launch
day on
October
23, 2020
in
London,
England.
Photo:
Ming
Yeung
(Getty
Images)
Although
Apple
has long
acknowledged
that its
iPhone
12
lineup
and
MagSafe
accessories
may
interfere
with
medical
devices,
such as
pacemakers
and
defibrillators,
it
released
additional
guidance
for
people
who use
medical
devices
on
Saturday.
The
message:
Keep
your
iPhone
12 and
MagSafe
accessories
a safe
distance
away
from
your
medical
device.
In a
support
article,
spotted
by
MacRumors,
Apple
explains
that the
iPhone
12
contains
magnets
as well
as
components
and
radios
that
emit
electromagnetic
fields
The
company
also
stated
that all
its
MagSafe
accessories
contain
magnets
as well,
and that
its
MagSafe
Charger
and
MagSafe
Duo
Charger
contain
radios.
These
magnets
and
electromagnetic
fields
may
interfere
with
medical
devices,
Apple
said.
“Medical
devices
such as
implanted
pacemakers
and
defibrillators
might
contain
sensors
that
respond
to
magnets
and
radios
when in
close
contact,”
Apple
wrote.
“To
avoid
any
potential
interactions
with
these
devices,
keep
your
iPhone
and
MagSafe
accessories
a safe
distance
away
from
your
device
(more
than 6
inches /
15 cm
apart or
more
than 12
inches /
30 cm
apart if
wirelessly
charging).
But
consult
with
your
physician
and your
device
manufacturer
for
specific
guidelines.”
Defibrillators
are
devices
that
restore
a
person’s
normal
heartbeat
by
sending
an
electric
pulse or
shock to
the
heart.
They can
even
help the
heart
start
beating
again if
it
suddenly
stops.
Pacemakers,
meanwhile,
use
electrical
pulses
to help
hearts
beat at
a normal
rate and
rhythm
and also
help
heart
chambers
beat in
sync so
that the
heart
can pump
blood
more
efficiently.
G/O
Media
may get
a
commission
Apple
states
that
users
should
consult
with
their
physicians
and
medical
device
manufacturers
for
information
on their
particular
devices.
Users
should
ask
whether
they
need to
maintain
a safe
distance
of
separation
between
their
medical
devices
and
their
iPhone
or
MagSafe
accessories.
Apple
repeated
this
advice
in the
safety
information
section
of its
iPhone
User
Guide.
The
safety
of some
of
Apple’s
newest
products
has been
a point
of
concern
in
recent
weeks
following
the
publication
of a
study
authored
by
researchers
from the
Henry
Ford
Heart
and
Vascular
Institute
that
found
evidence
that the
iPhone
12 can
interfere
with
implantable
cardioverter
defibrillators,
also
known as
ICDs.
The
researchers
stated
that
once the
iPhone
12—which
has a
circular
array of
magnets
built
into its
back in
order to
allow it
to snap
to a
MagSafe
charger
or other
accessory—was
placed
near the
medical
device
close to
the
patient’s
heart,
the
device
suspended
its
operations.
Apple
made a
point of
mentioning
in its
article
that
although
its
iPhone
12
lineup
has more
magnets
than
past
iPhone
lineups,
it’s
“not
expected”
to pose
a
greater
risk of
magnetic
interference
to
medical
devices
than
prior
models.
This
is not
meant to
bash the
iPhone
12 or
MagSafe
accessories
specifically.
ICDs can
be
easily
activated
and
deactivated
by
sources
with
magnetic
fields,
including
Fitbits
or vape
pens.
However,
this is
important
information
to
consider
when
choosing
a new
phone or
when
using
it,
especially
for
those
who rely
on
medical
devices
to
remain
healthy.
And
if you
think
something’s
not
right,
take
Apple’s
word for
it.
Subscribe
to our
newsletter!
“If
you
suspect
iPhone
or any
MagSafe
accessories
are
interfering
with
your
medical
device,
stop
using
your
iPhone
or
MagSafe
accessories,”
the
company
wrote.
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