Calgary – A Calgary man called Apple after the new iPhone 12 caused interference with an implant that involved shock.
“It was like being electrocuted.” Matthew Harkham said: “I fell to the ground, it was a terrifying, excruciating, literally shocking pain.
Its implant, called the Prodigy MRI Implantable Pulse Generator, is manufactured by Abbott of America.
Provides “neuromodulation” – the device stimulates his spine with a gentle current to relieve chronic pain after a bus hit him in 2003.
The device was controlled from the outside by a device that waved him on a “pocket” in his lower abdomen, as the pulse was sent to his spine.
Harckham bought the phone on January 16 and said he was shocked twice.
In addition, he can use his own medical implant by placing the smartphone on his stomach, which he says has been able to replicate it several times, although this does not happen with an older model of iPhone.
He says it would have been worse if he had driven or climbed stairs.
an Apple She posted a notice on her website on January 23.Warning that magnets and electromagnetic fields can interfere with medical devices.
The advisory reads, “Although all iPhone 12 models contain more magnets than previous iPhone models, they should not present a greater risk of magnetic interference to medical devices than previous iPhone models. ”
Harckham says the manufacturer of his medical implant is against it.
“(They) said you can’t put more magnets in a device and they say there is no more magnetic interference like more magnets means more interference,” he said. he declares.
The company also released a statement.
“Abbott designs our implantable medical devices with the understanding that there are magnetic fields created by cell phones and other devices that our patients will use in everyday life,” said spokesperson Jonathon Hamilton. Cell phones and other electronic devices directly above their implanted medical devices. “
Apple’s advisory advises users to keep iPhone and MagSafe accessories (items related to charging for Apple devices) a safe distance from medical devices.
Specifically, “is over 15cm / 6 inches or over 12 inches / 30cm when wireless charging).
Harckham says it’s unrealistic.
“I don’t see how you can use the phone and still keep six inches from where the device might be. It grabbed me when I put it in my pocket. ”
An Apple spokesperson said the company is not aware of any other cases of interference with medical implants outside the recommended distance.
Additionally, the company claims to have tested for magnetic interference during development of the device, and no newer device has shown increased magnetic interference compared to older models.
The Apple Notice and iPhone User Guide advise users to consult a physician and medical device manufacturer for advice on using a smartphone or related accessories, but add: “If you think iPhone is interfering with your medical device, stop using iPhone. “
Harckham says he’s happy that Apple has updated its website with specific information, but he would like to see the tech giant go even further.
He said: “I would love to see Apple issue a point-of-sale warning asking if a family member or potential owner has a medical device and if so, that device might not be right for you.”
Harckham plans to meet with his medical team next month and believes they will likely study the phenomenon further.
He will sell or donate an iPhone and was told he was not eligible for a refund from Apple because he purchased the device with a gift card from Best Buy.
Discussions with his family about whether to upgrade their Apple devices to newer models.
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