Apple Lists out Items to Keep Away from Medical Devices

Apple has updated its advice on the possibility of magnetic interference between its devices and medical devices. According to the company, it recently produced a comprehensive and extensive list of things that should be kept a “safe distance away” from medical devices. Apple admitted in a support article that magnets and electromagnetic fields could interact with medical devices under some circumstances.

Implanted pacemakers and defibrillators, for example, could have sensors that respond to magnets and radios when they are nearby. The company’s products’ impact on medical equipment, which it has addressed, has been a source of concern in recent months, prompting research into the topic.

Apple said, “To avoid any potential interactions with these types of medical devices, keep your Apple product a safe distance away from your medical device (more than 6 inches / 15 cm apart or more than 12 inches / 30 cm apart if wirelessly charging). Consult with your physician and your device manufacturer for specific guidelines.”

This isn’t a minor issue. In January, researchers at the Henry Ford Heart and Vascular Institute stated that they used an iPhone 12 to place over the heart of a patient who had a Medtronic cardioverter-defibrillator implanted. They claimed that the device’s actions were always halted. Even though the study only involved one patient, it raised relevant questions. The American Heart Association recently published a study that looked at the influence of an iPhone 12 Pro Max on a bigger scale with other devices and discovered that several of them had magnetic susceptibility.