iPods can make pacemakers malfunction - study
iPods can cause cardiac implantable pacemakers to malfunction by interfering with the electromagnetic equipment monitoring the heart, according to a study presented by a 17-year-old high school student to a meeting of heart specialists on Thursday.
Context & Ripple Effects
iPod safety coverage had focused on personal hearing risks, including a 2006 examination of iPod-related ear hazards. The study presented to heart specialists broadens that safety question from listening habits to potential interference with cardiac care equipment.
First-order effects
- Pacemaker patients using iPods and the heart specialists monitoring them have a newly identified interference risk to account for during cardiac evaluation.
Second-order effects
- Hospitals and cardiac-device providers face pressure to distinguish whether a malfunction arises in the implant itself or in the monitoring equipment affected by a nearby iPod.
Third-order effects
- If similar findings accumulate, electromagnetic compatibility testing will become a more important boundary between consumer electronics and medical-monitoring systems.
The trend: Portable consumer electronics are attracting broader safety scrutiny as their signals and accessories encounter sensitive medical equipment.