MP3 Headphones May Interfere with Implantable Devices

Portable MP3 Player Headphones May Interfere with Pacemakers and Implantable Defibrillators

Headphones for portable digital music (MP3) players, like the popular iPod, when placed within an inch of pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs),  may interfere with the correct functioning of these devices, according to research presented November 9th at the American Heart Association annual meeting.

Researchers from the Medical Device Safety Institute investigated the effects of MP3 player headphones, most of which contain the magnetic substance neodymium, on the operation of implanted cardiac devices.   They found that headphones interfered with the proper functioning of nearly 1 in 4 cardiac devices tested.  Exposure of an ICD to the  headphones can temporarily deactivate the device, causing the defibrillator to ignore the potentially dangerous heart rhythms the device is designed to treat.   The report concludes that, for safe use, headphones must be at least 1.2 inches from implanted pacemakers and defibrillators.