iPhone 12 and ICD Interaction Explained

[@manganights]

I’m having my surgery tomorrow. Your videos are very helpful and reassuring. Thank you.

[@666rayoflight]

Taking a Bow is the least i can do to your presentation. No word on this planet for the kind of amazing videos and explanation you provide.

[@dr.joshuacooper-arrhythmia9917]

Thank you so much for your overly generous comments! 🙏

[@danaluha5019]

My 69 year old father appreciates this video as he has a defibrillator and had concerns about his phone interfering but you explained it perfectly. Thank you so much.

[@dr.joshuacooper-arrhythmia9917]

My pleasure! There was a lot of press about this, making many defibrillator patients anxious, and I'm very happy to provide a little education to help people understand the interaction and thereby reduce any fear or concern!

[@danaluha5019]

@@dr.joshuacooper-arrhythmia9917 Much appreciated. I worry when he falls asleep in his chair with his phone on his chest. Your video was able to convince him of my concerns so thank you once again. Best wishes to you.

[@dr.joshuacooper-arrhythmia9917]

@@danaluha5019 The good news is that if someone is resting with the iPhone 12 delicately balanced on their chest, without being secured in place (such as in a breast pocket), the likelihood is low that the phone will sit and remain precisely balanced in the perfect spot to continue inhibiting defibrillator function while the person undergoes a cardiac arrest. That said, my firm recommendation would be to avoid having the phone in direct proximity to the defibrillator, and I agree with your advice to your father! Thank you for looking out for him! :)

[@CrankyPantss]

Excellent explanation and accompanying video diagrams. Thank you for sharing this, along with all of your other videos, with us.

[@rjward118]

You are doing a great service to patients and providers with your videos. I was with a doc today that was telling patients to check out this video.

[@dr.joshuacooper-arrhythmia9917]

Fantastic to hear!! That's exactly why I take the time to create this content! :)

[@thabongaka2423]

Thanks Dr Cooper. I saw the article last week and wondered what the whole noise was about since it is known that any strong magnet can temporarily affect device function

[@dr.joshuacooper-arrhythmia9917]

Agree that this is not a new phenomenon (as discussed early in the video). But many people (including many patients who have ICDs) don't know about the magnet-ICD interaction. And also it isn't intuitive that the iPhone 12 would have more interaction with an ICD compared with the iPhone 11. Transparency and education are key!!

[@thabongaka2423]

'Transparency and education are key' . I love that!

[@pouchboy1]

This is a great video. Very informative.

[@wotan10950]

Very informative! I have both Vfib and Afib. I have an ICD for Vfib, and I had an ablation for Afib. Fun fun fun 😮 (I have Brugada Syndrome)

[@johnholmes4960]

I just got one of these. Although it is true the magnet turns off the device, and the device turns its self back on when the magnet is removed. BUT NOT RIGHT AWAY. This part is left out of this video. It is not an on off like a light switch. It has to reboot like any other computer or electronic device. Just like your smart phone. The best thing is to keep everything out of your left breast pocket. It is now very fashionable to walk around with your smart phone in your hand in full view of every pedestrian walking by all because you are so popular you can’t miss a call, text or email. So, enjoy it.

[@dr.joshuacooper-arrhythmia9917]

This information is not correct. A magnet does not turn off the ICD completely, but just flips a switch that temporarily stops shocks from being able to happen. The moment the magnet is removed, that function is restored. There is no delay or "reboot" of the ICD that occurs. But i agree that keeping a smart phone in a breast pocket, right against the ICD isn't a great idea.

[@weijiawang1571]

Awesome video! Thanks!

[@dr.joshuacooper-arrhythmia9917]

My pleasure! Glad this was helpful to you!

[@dotpy7928]

Dr. Cooper, I have a concern about the impact on the battery life of the pacemaker when contacting with the magnet in iPhone. I understand that even if it will turn off than it will reboot itself with no harm, though I know that each pacemaker check drains battery life of the pacemaker drastically. Can the battery life of the pacemaker being reduced if such interactions with iPhone occurs? I have a younger brother with Medtronik and he is using his phone 5+ hours a day. I am concerned about that. Thanks a lot!

[@Algalkacyo]

Hi Cooper, really missed your Ep education series. Thank you for this nice video. Does magnet disable ATP or only schock?

[@dr.joshuacooper-arrhythmia9917]

Great question! A magnet technically turns "off" tachycardia sensing, so while the magnet is in place, no fast rhythms will be detected at all, and therefore no ATP or shocks would be delivered (and there wouldn't be any "monitored VT" events in the log either for the time the magnet was in place).

[@alexandrabeer6795]

Hi Dr Cooper what about the iPhone 12 Pro Max with an pacemaker is it considered the same thing or no just wondering?

[@dr.joshuacooper-arrhythmia9917]

It's a great question! I should make a second version of the video about pacemakers. Pacemakers also have a magnetic switch that can interact with the iPhone 12. But with pacemakers, placing a magnet results in *extra* pacing, and not taking anything away (this is different from ICDs, where a magnet will *take away* shock treatments while the magnet is in place). The extra pacing that is forced by the magnet being in place over a pacemaker is not dangerous, but it can feel funny to some people.

[@mystery10010]

Thank you Dr Cooper. Is this the same issue that raises concerns with the FibroScan in patients with a CIED?

[@dr.joshuacooper-arrhythmia9917]

I had never heard of a FibroScan before so I just looked it up. It looks like that is an ultrasound imaging technique, particularly of the liver. If that is the scan you are talking about, there should be no interaction with pacemakers or ICDs, as there are no magnets anywhere near the device and no electrical signals transmitted into the body.

[@mystery10010]

Yes, it's an US technique for detecting early cirrhosis. But it seems that a pacemaker is listed as one of the contraindications, even though it's effectively just an ultrasound of the liver. Hence the question as to why this may be so

[@dr.joshuacooper-arrhythmia9917]

@@mystery10010 Can't think of a reason to avoid. Would reach out to the company; sometimes there are unfounded warnings about pacemaker interaction without any real issues

[@MrGarrydhillon1983]

Hi doctor same thing happened with me got the implant done on 2015 dual chamber icd biometric implanted under my skin and in 2019 got 5 shocks back to back with sinus rhythm becu I was near a dj music speaker and dancing doctor examined and explain tat it by mistake gv the shock My question doc is can any magnet works by putting over the icd to stop the inappropriate shocks Plz answer Thanks

[@dr.joshuacooper-arrhythmia9917]

Implanted defibrillators can detect very strong nearby electrical signals from outside the body, such as in an MRI machine, or working on high voltage power lines, or doing arc welding. I wouldn't have expected speakers at a club/concert to be detected by an implanted defibrillator, unless perhaps one was literally leaning up against one. A strong simple magnet placed against the skin will turn off ICD shock treatments regardless of the cause (real arrhythmia or other detected electrical signals) - a magnet should primarily be used in a purposeful fashion under medical supervision, given that the magnet will prevent the ICD from treating *real* life-threatening arrhythmias as well, which could pose some small risks if the magnet were left in place for a long period of time.

[@hmo1234]

Well, as civil engineer, and working with Medico ie. ICD, I simply directly disagree with your conclusion regarding the iPhone - in general - qua the fact that their Qi function has such a low induction and thus magnetic field that you can not present the issue as a problem. I acknowledge that you would like to observe general considerations, but you present a horror scenario that is extremely rare. Have you actually demonstrated inactive status of the ICD by placing an iPhone on top of your chest? I find it reprehensible that certified cardiologists spread horror scenarios - including naming specific manufacturers.

[@dr.joshuacooper-arrhythmia9917]

Thanks so much for your input. My video was created to directly address an article that absolutely demonstrated that this iPhone model will deactivate (temporarily) an ICD when the phone is placed against it on the chest. The intent of the video is to reduce any worry out anxiety about this interaction by explaining exactly what happens. And to reassure that this interaction is extremely unlikely to result in any clinical harm to a patient. Especially once the patient understands the issue. I'm glad we both agree that there is no need to worry!

[@contendingforthefaith9897]

@@dr.joshuacooper-arrhythmia9917 just got an icd the other day, I'm wondering is it OK to cut my hair with my clippers, without getting a hit from the icd?

[@dr.joshuacooper-arrhythmia9917]

@@contendingforthefaith9897 yes, there is no issue whatsoever from a shaver/clippers 👍

[@contendingforthefaith9897]

@@dr.joshuacooper-arrhythmia9917 Thanks, just was wondering, again thanks for your reply.