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Letter to the Editor| Volume 18, ISSUE 6, P1040-1041, June 2021

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Letter to the Editor—Lifesaving therapy inhibition by phones containing magnets

Published:January 04, 2021DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrthm.2020.12.032
      The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) remains the cornerstone therapy for the management of malignant ventricular arrhythmias in patients with high-risk cardiac conditions. An ICD system contains a battery, capacitors, and a sensing/pacing circuit together with an intracardiac or extracardiac lead. All ICDs have an in-built switch (reed switch, Hall effect sensors, giant magnetosensitive resistors or coils) that responds to an externally applied magnetic field. When an external magnet is applied to a defibrillator, high-voltage shock therapy for ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation is suspended. It has been estimated that a magnetic field stronger than 10 gauss is strong enough to activate these switches.
      • Jongnarangsin K.
      • Thaker J.P.
      • Thakur R.K.
      Pacemakers and magnets: an arranged marriage.
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      References

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        Pacemakers and magnets: an arranged marriage.
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      1. About the magnets inside iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, and MagSafe accessories.
        https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211900
        Date accessed: December 9, 2020

      Linked Article

      • To the Editor—New phones, old problem? Interference with cardiovascular implantable electronic devices by phones containing magnets
        Heart RhythmVol. 18Issue 6
        • Preview
          We read with great interest the article by Greenberg et al1 highlighting the potential risks to patients from inhibition of therapies by the magnetic coil (MagSafe) contained within the iPhone 12 (Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA). In a patient with a Cobalt cardiac resynchronization therapy–defibrillator device (Medtronic Inc., Minneapolis, MN), therapies were suspended when the iPhone 12 was brought within close proximity of the generator, which was a consistent observation throughout the testing procedure.
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      • Letter to the Editor—Phone interaction with CIEDs: Problem or not
        Heart RhythmVol. 18Issue 6
        • Preview
          Greenberg et al1 communicated concerns about potential interactions between the Apple iPhone 12 and implanted pacemakers and defibrillators (cardiac implantable electronic devices [CIEDs]). The iPhone 12 contains magnets that align the phone with charging devices. The magnets can activate the magnet mode of CIEDs. Although we appreciate the authors’ concerns, the title of their letter, “Lifesaving Therapy Inhibition by Phones Containing Magnets,” was provocative and may arouse undue concern. We realize that the letter emphasized the magnets in the iPhone 12, yet the recommendation to not place a mobile phone over a CIED has been in place for decades, long before the existence of the iPhone 12.
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      • To the Editor—Interference of smartphones containing magnets and cardiac implantable electronic devices—Is this common?
        Heart RhythmVol. 18Issue 6
        • Preview
          A recent case series showed that smartphones pose a minimal risk of electromagnetic interference with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs).1 Unlike previous smartphones, the Apple iPhone 12 contains a large circular magnet to ensure precise alignment of the receiver coil for inductive fast wireless charging (FWC) with the charging coil of its charging station. Two recent case reports indicate that iPhone 12 activated implantable cardioverter-defibrillator magnet mode to inhibit tachyarrhythmia therapy.
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