Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40795264›Full record

ArticleEuropace : European pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac electrophysiology : journal of the working groups on cardiac pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac cellular electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology2025

Preventing smartphone induction of magnet mode in cardiac implantable electronic devices.

Felix K Wegner, Dennis Korthals, Fabienne Kreimer, Julian Wolfes, Christian Ellermann, Moritz Martinovic, Christoph Kittl, Gerrit Frommeyer, Lars Eckardt

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Europace : European pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac electrophysiology : journal of the working groups on cardiac pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac cellular electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Magnetic interference from consumer devices: a renewed challenge for the safety of cardiac implantable electronic devices.Europace : European pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac electrophysiology : journal of the working groups on cardiac pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac cellular electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Felix K WegnerDepartment of Cardiology II-Electrophysiology, University Hospital Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48149 Muenster, Germany.ORCID 0000-0001-9087-645X
Dennis KorthalsDepartment of Cardiology II-Electrophysiology, University Hospital Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48149 Muenster, Germany.
Fabienne KreimerDepartment of Cardiology II-Electrophysiology, University Hospital Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48149 Muenster, Germany.ORCID 0000-0003-1400-6254
Julian WolfesDepartment of Cardiology II-Electrophysiology, University Hospital Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48149 Muenster, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-9344-7826
Christian EllermannDepartment of Cardiology II-Electrophysiology, University Hospital Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48149 Muenster, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-9172-296X
Moritz MartinovicDepartment of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany.ORCID 0009-0007-7385-3943
Christoph KittlDepartment of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-8507-5735
Gerrit FrommeyerDepartment of Cardiology II-Electrophysiology, University Hospital Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48149 Muenster, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-1431-9886
Lars EckardtDepartment of Cardiology II-Electrophysiology, University Hospital Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48149 Muenster, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-3735-8503

Funding

University of Münster
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimsWireless charging capable smartphones may interact with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED). We hypothesized that magnetic shielding with a steel plate placed at the back of a smartphone may prevent interaction. METHODS AND

resultsSixteen CIED (6 pacemakers and 10 implantable cardioverters/defibrillators) from all manufacturers were consecutively implanted in a subcutaneous and submuscular location in an isolated porcine thorax and connected to an interactive heart simulator. Two smartphones (Apple iPhone 14 and Google Pixel 8 Pro) were placed on top of the implantation site, and signs of magnet mode induction were recorded. The Apple iPhone induced magnet mode in seven of 16 (44%) subcutaneously placed CIED. Placed in a magnetic phone case, the Apple iPhone induced magnet mode in six of 16 (38%) devices. Magnet mode induction was successfully prevented in all cases by placing a 1 mm thin steel plate at the back of the smartphone. The Google Pixel did not induce magnet mode in any of the 16 devices, even with a magnetic case. Submuscular CIED placement resulted in no occurrence of magnet mode induction by any smartphone. All devices were still able to be interrogated and responded to a CIED magnet.

conclusionThe Apple iPhone induces magnet mode in close to half of subcutaneously placed CIED due to its MagSafe magnet. Neither a smartphone utilizing the Qi wireless charging standard nor magnetic smartphone cases confer the same risk. Submuscular CIED placement or magnetic shielding with a steel plate prevents magnet mode induction. The future Qi2.0 standard may exacerbate interaction risks.

Indexed as

Defibrillators, ImplantablePacemaker, ArtificialSmartphoneWireless TechnologyAnimalsEquipment DesignModels, AnimalSteelSwineSteelDefibrillatoriPhoneMagnetPacemakerSmartphone

Identifiers

PMID40795264
PMCPMC12396591

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.