iPods now linked to pacemaker malfunction?

What's a 17 year old doing presenting a study before a gathering of heart specialists? Why, drawing the connection between iPods and heart implants, of course. According to student Jay Thaker, the findings of his study showed that of 100 installed pacemakers, electrical interference was detected 50% of the time when an iPod was held at a distance of 2-inches from the chest for 5-10 seconds. We'd really liked to have been there to see him try and pitch this study of his to the variety of seniors with heart problems who participated (they averaged 77 years of age), but don't get alarmed, we have a feeling your grandparents -- who've probably never even heard of that newfangled iPoddie doohickie -- won't find out first hand whether this is the real deal.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in, photo via Rositress]

[Tim @ May 11th 2007 9:19AM]

It might help to differentiate between HD-based and flash-based models. Does the Shuffle have the same effect as a 60GB iPod Video?

[Mike @ May 11th 2007 9:20AM]

The statement in your article that those in the study "probably never even heard of that newfangled iPoddie doohickie" is offensive as ageist, and unfairly stereotypical. What makes you think that those in the study are not vibrant and knowledgeable members of society? My parents (older than 77) are and know what an iPod is. Wouldn't--and won't--you be, in their place?

[Debra @ May 11th 2007 11:47AM]

I agree - my grandpa loves his Ipod. :)

[Jared Harley @ May 11th 2007 9:49AM]

Hard drive has magnets, magnets mess with pacemakers.

My personal favorite aspect of the story is how they ONLY studied iPods, and didn't say which specific type - I'll put money on the fact that it'll be any DAP with a hard drive.

[Cupajo @ May 11th 2007 10:05AM]

It's funny you should say that, because to read most of the posts around here MP3 player does in fact equal iPod. I guess when it's bad press we're talking about that's no longer true.

[segovia101 @ May 13th 2007 9:47AM]

The study was probably funded by Creative or Sony, hence 'iPods lethal to aged'.

[erroneous @ May 11th 2007 9:52AM]

"iFallen... and iCan't get up!"

[supermeerkat @ May 11th 2007 10:08AM]

Perhaps I could use this in my plan to commit a perfect murder, and inherit my father's vast wealth. HA HA HA!

[segovia101 @ May 13th 2007 9:49AM]

Bah! You got their first. :(

I've found the perfect gift for my millionaire, octogenarian, pacemaker sporting uncle who recently changed his will. :)

[supermeerkat @ May 14th 2007 3:50AM]

It worked very well, and after he died I got my hands on the millions and I got myself a hardly used iPod. Result!

[fred @ May 11th 2007 10:10AM]

Ok, first, Mike, take it easy. It's a pretty valid thing that most "Senior Citizens" don't have much to do with technological "doohickeys" while your parents may be the vibrant, knowledgeable hipsters of the septugenarian set it's not typical. Get offended over something worthwhile. Jeez.

Also, I love the ipod-centric slant of the study. Let's start sticking some other small electrical appliances to grandpa's chest and see if they make his eyes roll up in his head or something. I want objectivity! I would imagine a Zune would induce full on seizures.

[Mike @ May 11th 2007 10:10PM]

Sorry folks, any commentary that rashly stereotypes a group as being incompetent in a field is "-ist" of whatever type; if a comment like that was made as to many other groups, people would readily scream. Yep, perhaps some great-grandparents have technical issues, but how many 20 and 30 year-olds, and others, still have flashing 12:00s on their VCRs or DVD players? And to make a comment of this type at an esteemed website like Engadget is a discredit, and perpetuates stereotypes. My hunch is that a 50 year-old would never write something like that.

[jarofchris @ May 11th 2007 10:15AM]

my iPod and cell phone sporadically go crazy whenever they are near each other for long periods of time so this is no surprise. It's not like the iPods are magnetically or electrically shielded.

Incidentally, I wonder if cell phones have the same effect on pacemakers?

[Offerlin @ May 12th 2007 3:16AM]

I have been working with pacemakers for 6 years now, and have never heard of any household appliance that can cause a pacemaker to malfunction - that includes mobile phones, microwave ovens, induction stoves, tv sets and the list goes on.
I have even seen a mobil phone recieving a call while placed directly on an implanted pacemaker, without any effect at all.
I have however met a lot of pacemaker patients who thought that something interfered with the pacemaker. But every single time - without exception - it was normal pacemaker operation. I have also seen a lot of doctors unable to interpret an ECG from a patient with a pacemaker, thinking that something was wrong.
It's true that elderly patients get older models (not in Denmark where i'm from - public helthcare) but still these models aren't more than max. 10 years old and and are just as safe as the new ones - the difference is in features and programebility and older patients rarely needs these new features.
It is true tht pacemakers respond to magnetic fields, but they dun't "mess with them", it's a feature all pacemakers have (either standard or programable) to enable doctors to se if it is working if they dont have a pacemaker programmer at hand.
Finaly some devices do interfere with pacemakers; some powertools, shortwawe redio transmitters, radiofrequency ablation, electro cutting and other powerfull equipment, but i don't think an iPod is anything like that.
By the way - where does at 17year old get a hold of pacemaker programmers (you have to use one of those to see what is going on in the pacemaker) and how is allowed to use them on a pacemaker patient ?? You can kill people that way ?!
So until I see the proff, I don't believe it.

[segovia101 @ May 13th 2007 9:54AM]

Mobile phone use is largely prohibited in UK and Irish hospitals as per:

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1125359

Didn't read the article but it seems to disagree with the policy of banning them.

[Funkul @ May 11th 2007 11:27AM]

This is probably due to the pacemakers the elderly use. I believe that they use older models in elderly (just so that they dont have to do more invasive surgery just to upgrade). I know for a fact that newer models are resistant to most low level interference.

[Ayle @ May 11th 2007 11:27AM]

I tough there is usually a notice in the manual of the portable gadgets saying that you shouldnt put them near in peacemaker? Or its just for the radio devices...

[Jongscx @ May 11th 2007 11:53AM]

...anyone else notice the wiimote looking doo-hickey next to the hip granny?

[Chuckles McGee @ May 11th 2007 12:02PM]

Maybe not all old people are out of the technical loop, but my grandma certainly is.

Last week: "Did you know they have cell phones with cameras now?"

[Octothorpe @ May 11th 2007 2:06PM]

@ Mike

"It is offensive and ageist" . . .

Take it easy man, ageist, maybe but generally accurate, but who cares. I know my gransparents eould have no clue how to use the thing even if they knew what it was. It funy, I setup a wireless internet system at their house and it took me months to explain to grandpa that he didn't need wires (I run the feed to his house from mine). He doesn't really understand how it works, but "it's the magic of of a two way radio, Grandpa" seems to be the easiest explanation for him.

[MinceyFresh @ May 11th 2007 12:52PM]

How about putting that newfangled Pacemaker MP3 DJ system doohickie next to a real pacemaker and seeing which affects which? Maybe you could get some crazy sound tweaks! :D

[Isaac @ May 11th 2007 4:06PM]

Hahaha, "ageist"! Fred already replied properly so I won't bother adding to that one...

This is an interesting experiment... my little brother has a backpack with a single strap that goes across the chest, with a pocket on the strap for a cell phone or mp3 player... perfect for putting one inches from his pacemaker. I think I'll forward this to him...

It might not be a perfect experiment, but it's good that someone is waving it around and hopefully drumming up support for more testing. I'd rather it be tested and found an urban myth, than not be tested and get that call from my parents that my brother is in the hospital (or worse, the morgue) because his pacemaker mysteriously went crazy.

[krizoitz @ May 11th 2007 4:34PM]

What? YOu mean an electronic device can interfere with another electronic device?!? I'm SHOCKED i tell you, SHOCKED!!

[offerlin @ May 12th 2007 5:12AM]

OK - perhaps I jumped the gun a bit.
I just realized that this has been presented at the Heart Rythm Society congress in Denver - So there migth be some truth to the story !?
I still would love to see the complete study, as it goet complaely against anything I have ever seen.

[Joan @ May 12th 2007 11:22AM]

I am a fifty year old woman with a pacemaker for the past 10 years and I have an IPOD and was never told to watch out for any type of interference. I did however experience symptom of tiredness since getting my IPOD which I love and use all the time. If it is interfering with my pacing it could certainly be the culprit causing my tiredness and there is no way I would connect the two. I wear the IPOD on my belt buckle or in the cup holder in my car. All are within 18 inches of my pacer. My heart is ablated and needs the pacer to beat. It also controls the rythm and keeps me out of atriul fibrulation. So while everyone is laughing about old people and IPODs, it might not be so funny if it were you fitted with the pacemaker. I'm not ready to check out yet.

I found a lot of the comments offensive like "newfangled Ipoddled doohickey". And the comment from the obvious doctor who stated that old pacemakers were put into the elderly so that they would not have to do more invasive surgery. Without making this a very long story, that entire statement is completely untrue. All pacers installed are state of the art, regardless of patient age, and last approximately 10 years. At that time, the pacer only (not any of the wiring) is removed and replaced with a new state of the art unit. Pacers are checked monthly by the manufacturer and the cardiologist. Pacers record unusual events and can play them back for the cardiologist at the monthly checkup.

[Kamma @ May 13th 2007 7:09PM]

I would just like to comment that not all people with pacemaker implants are "elderly". I am 25 years old and have an implant and have had one since I was 8 years old. I find this interesting and it has prevoked me to look further into the affects on my implant model.

[Bill @ Jun 18th 2007 5:27PM]

Hey, I'm a another 55 years old with a pacemaker and a Ipod Nano (flash drive not a hard drive). While I agree somewhat with Joan I take no offense with making jokes about pacemakers and/or old people.

Perhaps it is the punk rock music I listen to when snowboarding but the pacemaker has no issues with it.Pacemaker is on the left side and I carry the Ipod in my right chest high pocket. Its all good.