iPods won't crash your pacemaker says the FDA

It turns out that 17-year-olds probably aren't that good at studying electrical interference -- and its effect on pacemakers -- created by iPods. Unlike the data presented to the Heart Rhythm Society last year by a high-school student, which demonstrated the music player's ability to interfere with heart-regulating devices, the FDA now says that the gadgets are completely safe for use. Researchers measured magnetic fields produced by four different models of Apple's ubiquitous device, and found no reason why your grandmother can't keep jamming to her South of Heaven reissue. Said FDA researcher Howard Bassen, "Based on the observations of our in-vitro study we conclude that no interference effects can occur in pacemakers exposed to the iPods we tested." We hope the FDA will follow this up with a definitive study on the effects of boomboxes on hip implants.

[aardvark sandwich @ Feb 1st 2008 1:54PM]

So thats where my slayer album went. GIVE IT BACK GRANDMA!

[paragraph @ Feb 1st 2008 1:55PM]

Thats good, i can still rock out when i'm old and gray... now just find me a nudist nursing home and i can do it with my you know what out.

[looseinthedeuce @ Feb 1st 2008 2:15PM]

Ok, the FDA doesn't have a problem with iPods?...but people aren't trying to EAT them.

What does the FCC have to say on the matter?

[joe @ Feb 1st 2008 2:16PM]

Grandpa?

[R1cebrner @ Feb 1st 2008 2:20PM]

This just in apple sue's teen for faulty science fair project led to loss of sales.

[martin @ Feb 1st 2008 2:20PM]

i bet i could kill someone with a 1st gen if i threw it hard enough though.

[dramamoose @ Feb 1st 2008 2:22PM]

Damn comment system won't let me reply.
@looseinthedeuce.
You obviously have NO idea what you're talking about. The FCC deals with communications equipment, etc. The FDA deals with most medical issues. They, for example, deal with pacemakers. Pacemakers=FDA. Cellphones=FCC. iPod's effects on pacemakers=FDA iPod's effects on cellphones=FCC.
Mmkay?

[looseinthedeuce @ Feb 1st 2008 2:35PM]

Damn comment system isn't working today.
@dramamoose

Mmkay, I got it.

Chill, it was joke. To clarify, the FCC deals with all electronics, I'm sure they've examined pacemakers in the past...but again, a joke. Oh, and thanks for pointing out the "obvious" fact, because if it was obvious before, it certainly needed your response (that was a bit of sarcasm, but I thought I'd point out the obvious!!).

Mmkay?

[John @ Feb 1st 2008 2:55PM]

...did we honestly waste taxpayer money on seeing if iPods interfered with pacemakers? really?

[Zak @ Feb 1st 2008 3:03PM]

No, a 17 year old teenager did some apparently faulty research that stated that iPods can interfere with pacemakers, so then we spent taxpayer money to disprove it.

[Reid @ Feb 1st 2008 3:15PM]

17 year old trying to scare people?

Or government agency paid off by Big Apple?

you decide.

[ethana2 @ Feb 1st 2008 3:22PM]

@loose

I think I like it better this way. You can't respond to the wrong person and not be able to edit your post if you can't respond to them at /all/, right? At least we have chronological order now.

[hackman @ Feb 1st 2008 3:42PM]

What the hell engadget?? this is what it does when i try to reply
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/6571/43381565ps0.th.png

[DarkLightConnection @ Feb 1st 2008 3:45PM]

@ethana: No, it was better with replies. Now I have to scroll up (sometimes WAY up) whenever I see a message starting with "@", because I usually don't care about who posted what message.

[kay.one @ Feb 1st 2008 3:52PM]

shit, I bought an ipod for grandpa for no reason! give it back, have some antifreeze.

[Brian @ Feb 1st 2008 4:01PM]

For all the comedians posting, and even the author of this article, it is not only "old people" that have pacemakers. I have had one since I was 14, and I am now 31. I have had a few upgrades and have the defibrillator pacer for a while now, and I also own the 5th gen iPod as well as iPhone without any issue. And, no money was spent in this research because I know exactly what it feels like when something interferes with pacemakers, those damn electro static balls (or whatever they call those things that when you touch them the hair on your head stands up) and I learned that one the hard way, when my pacemaker was first implanted...that sucked...

[lanejasper69 @ Feb 1st 2008 4:08PM]

@ "Brian" with pacemaker........Good For you! Stand up for your rights etc.
I agree, and.....people are ignorant assume it's always something that "can't happen to me" mentallity"

And of course you can't blink wrong at an apple product around here at all ;-)

Faslane

[Bill Koslosky, MD @ Feb 1st 2008 4:42PM]

I've been in contact with Dr. Bassen, the lead author of this study, and I've read his prepublication paper.

In the paper he refers to the journal article referencing the study "highly publicized around the world" published in Heart Rhythm which alleged iPod electromagnetic interference with an implanted pacemaker. It was a case report of a single patient who had fainted, and was tested with an iPod to see if this could be cause. He also writes, "The authors concluded that 'Warning labels may be needed to avoid close contact between pacemakers and iPods.' Soon after, a clinical study was performed and found 'no interference for any of the eight pacemakers or the ICD (implantable cardiac defibrillator)."

I'm tracking down the story as reported by Reuters last year of the 17-year-old who tested 100 patients, and found interference in 50% that was supposedly also published in Heart Rhythm.

For more details: http://billkosloskymd.typepad.com/wirelessdoc/2008/01/study-refutes-c.html

[Justin @ Feb 1st 2008 7:09PM]

I can tell you that the iPod does not effect pacemakers, at least it has not affected mine (23 and on 4th pacemaker). Cell phones, radios, and microwaves have never have seemed to effect my pacemaker in any way, only magnets (so... no MRIs). Also, not just the old have pacemakers; I have had mine since I was 2 years old. I was born with Transposition of the Great Arteries so I guess I am a rarity. ;-)

[Justin @ Feb 1st 2008 7:18PM]

Brian:
Yeah thanks for pointing out that not only the elderly have pacemakers. About pacemaker malfunctions, the strangest pacemaker malfunction I ever had was when the lead wires from the pacemaker shifted and somehow stimulated my diaphragm. So when my pacemaker would pace it would contract the muscle and basically gave me the hiccups. After my doc did some adjustments on the voltages for that lead it went away. Strange huh? It about drove me nuts for a few weeks ;-)

[thenewsconduit @ Feb 1st 2008 8:09PM]

"Two reports had suggested otherwise. Last year cardiologists operated an iPod during a patient's examination, and reported in the journal Heart Rhythm that they had seen interference with the pacemaker. "

http://uk.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUKN3133286720080201

It seems it wasn't just the 17-year-old who did a study on this, although a study by the FDA is probably more comprehensive? Anyways, I think this is the perfect opportunity for a new type of iPod, namely the iPacemaker.
For more details: http://thenewsconduit.wordpress.com/2008/02/01/apple-silent-over-rumors-of-new-ipod/

[TNP @ Feb 1st 2008 10:34PM]

Did the study include the new update that's blowing out headphones and other equipment? To quote Emeril: BAM!, soon to be followed by Redd Fox: "I'm coming, Elizabeth!"

[Tom Oliveri @ Feb 1st 2008 10:52PM]

hahah that's great, maybe the kid was just a little hopeful.

[Tim @ Feb 2nd 2008 3:35AM]

Well, who cares what the FDA says, they've been wrong about a lot lately. People are dieing on drugs the FDA has approved...

[cmdr_k33n @ Feb 25th 2009 2:09PM]

for what it's worth, here is a link to the abstract of the original study at MSU:
http://www.gmei.msu.edu/files/Research%20Day%20Conf%20Book.pdf