Thought I’d add a little humor to the start of a solemn week for Patriots fans…

Image from Global House Price Crash

Following a May 2007 report that suggested interference from iPods and other portable music player could cause implantable pacemakers to malfunction, a recent (FEB’08) FDA study concluded that iPods are safe for people with pacemakers (maybe they should call this the “iSurvived Study”).

Here’s a brief synopsis from the press release:

They measured the magnetic fields produced by four different iPod models: a fourth-generation iPod and an iPod with video, and an iPod nano and an iPod shuffle. They also measured the voltages delivered to the inside of the pacemaker by the magnetic fields from the iPods… All their measurements indicated the iPods could not affect cardiac pacemakers… “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”…

Now, there are several things that worry me about both studies…

Firstly, the initial 2007 evidence was based on 2 reports — one which was done by a 17 year old high school student. Secondly, whomever wrote the press release really needs another lesson in writing…Take this line, for example:

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.

I had to read it 4x before I realized that the cardiologists were not operating on the iPod! OK, that was a little overexagerated, but you get my point.

And as for the more recent 2008 study, is it just me or do you find it strange that they only used iPods for the study? Sponsored by Apple? Or perhaps the lab group just wanted to get their hands on a 4G, an iPod w/ video, a nano, and a shuffle. The shuffle must be for the lab tech (note: I used to be a lab tech many years ago).

Anyway, make of the report what you will. I’m just glad we’re not gonna see big warning labels on future iPods, saying “May Result in Sudden Death if Operated within 30cm of an Implantable Pacemaker“.

Is that why they introduced the black iPod?

Alright…enough fun for today.