Magnets Can “Turn Off” Your ICD

Gianna Chien (age 14) presented her science fair poster at HRS in Denver last week. The poster is about tiny magnets on the iPad cover that can inadvertently shut off implanted defibrillators  (ICD’s) if the device is left on the chest, such as if you fall asleep with the iPad.

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 larger magnets placed on the chest. The magnets in the iPad are too small to affect implanted defibrillators in normal use but might affect them if held close enough to the chest.

Most defibrillators will turn back on once the magnet is removed, but some must be reactivated manually causing a potentially life-threatening situation.

A spokesperson with Medtronic, Inc. stated: “Our current internal analysis and testing shows iPad technology presents no risk of electromagnetic interference with Medtronic implantable cardiac rhythm devices.”

"However, as a precaution, those implanted with a pacemaker or ICD are advised to follow Apple and Medtronic labeling recommendations and maintain a distance of 6 inches (15 cm) between the iPad and implanted device.
 
ICD Therapy suspension and Asynchronous Pacing of IPG can be triggered by exposure to a magnet with a static magnetic field greater than 10 gauss. This is a standard functionality of most ICD and IPG devices.
 
Medtronic proactively communicates to patients to avoid placing any magnet near the device implanted area. Since the covers of iPads often use magnets to secure them to the tablet, the presentation at HRS 2013 is a good reminder for patients to remain vigilant on new technology and its accessories and maintain a distance of 6 inches between an iPad and implanted pacemaker or ICD."

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