The iPad 2 might interfere with life-saving heart devices

[RaduTyrsina]

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The iPad is a great device to have in your life, but a recent study presented at the Heart Rhythm Society in Denver, Colorado, by an unlikely speaker, might prove otherwise. GiannaChien is a 14 year old student from Stockton, California and her father is a doctor, so she has taken an interest in medicine from an early age.

Her study revolves around 26 volunteers who live with defibrillators. Defibrillation is a common treatment for patients suffering from cardiac dysrhythmias, ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia. These conditions can usually be life threatening, so the patients usually resume daily normal functions with the help of defibrillators. These devices deliver doses of electrical energy to the heart, just enough to restore the normal balance. Defibrillators can be external but to maintain the normal activity range, patients often opt for implantation within the body.​​

Gianna Chien showed in her research that the iPad 2 can intervene in the activity of defibrillators, and potentially cause serious damage. For example, if a patient falls asleep with the iPad 2 on his/her chest, the device can “accidentally turn off†the heart device. The study only observed the potential effects the iPad 2 could have on patients, but one could assume other iPads might have the same effects.

"I definitely think people should be aware. That's why I'm presenting the study."

Out of 26 of the people involved in the study, only 30% presented problems when an Apple tablet was put on their chest. Medtronic, one of the lead producers of defibrillators, stated that it found no risky connection between its life saving technology and iPads. Apple also declined to comment the research.

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

 

[iJamesH]

Well that's heartbreaking to say the least. I think Apple needs to have a heart to heart talk with its tech guys and get to the heart of the matter. This comes from straight from my heart!!!

 

[KevinJS]

Perhaps at this point we should offer the advice that sleeping with an iPad on your chest is not recommended. They have been known to fall off and break.

 

[zstairlessone]

And is there a specific model defib unit affected?

Or a specific chest shape (Body builder, basketball player, super skinny computer user etc). Does the presence or absence of a BELLY affect the effect? Should people needing a defib device be laying down, head perched up and neck strained to see an iPad laying on their chest, in the first place (or third place). Should they not fall asleep with a microwave on their chest or a 20 lb weight plate? Hmmm, I see a government grant in here somewhere.

 

[s2mikey]

Well that's heartbreaking to say the least. I think Apple needs to have a heart to heart talk with its tech guys and get to the heart of the matter. This comes from straight from my heart!!!

James - what a heartless poster you are around here. Have a heart! Just don't let your iPad stop it.

 

[Bob Maxey]

And is there a specific model defib unit affected?

Or a specific chest shape (Body builder, basketball player, super skinny computer user etc). Does the presence or absence of a BELLY affect the effect? Should people needing a defib device be laying down, head perched up and neck strained to see an iPad laying on their chest, in the first place (or third place). Should they not fall asleep with a microwave on their chest or a 20 lb weight plate? Hmmm, I see a government grant in here somewhere.

Well, the "study" did come from a kid who does not know anything about defibrillators or electronics or iPads. And is it just iPads or are other things like cells and Android tablets a problem?

Not to dampen a child's efforts, but we need more information and twenty years of long, costly, government funding of endless studies to determine what is up with that.

 

[Bob Maxey]

When you research this (I just did, and here are the conclusions of my 45 second glance at the articles)

Everything that can cause interference even if it can't (and does not and will not) will be sued out of existence by either the cabal of crazy people that wear tinfoil hats or Apple.

There will be Protect-O-Heart; an iOS app costing only $54.00 from Apple. It will shield the device by redirecting the wave thingies out of the iThingy into the atmosphere where it becomes harmless. Just like the radiation from the atomic bomb testing here in Utah.

There will be countless lawsuits and Apple will shell out tens of trillions of dollars to settle. This is why Apple will be left with only a few thousand trillion dollars and cancels employee Christmas bonuses.

The government will pass laws that require nuclear hardened iDevice cases be implemented no later than 2023 and Apple will contest, so the deadline will be moved to 3245 which ofddly enough, is three years after the Mayans say the earth will end.

People that are better at spinning than writing and researching will panic the nation and there will be not only No smoking signs, but No iThingy warning signs posted at every 7-Eleven.

Facts will be replaced by sensationalism and the world will force Tim Cook to resign. Woz will take over.

We will eventually learn that the reason our kids have flippers is because of Apple and their gamma ray emitting iDevices..

 

[Bob Maxey]

I see a new Kickstarter project: Radiation hardened underwear. In three or five festive colors. Perhaps something that smells like an Apple or Microsoft or an android? Anyone want to get behind the mammoth product of the century?

Apple might buy us and we will be riding the gravy train on biscuit wheels.

Seriously, I make fun of something that could be correct. Perhaps our electronics can interfere with essential devices. Bob does not know. Sorry if I offend anyone who requires such devices. Not my intent. Just been through too many unfounded scares about our devices and things like brain cancer.

Or my tinfoil hat is too tight.