warning: magnetic clips are dangerous.

I have been meaning to post about this for a while now. There have been a few masks come out over the last year or 2 with magnetic clips, such as the ResMed AiFit F20, The ResMed AirFit N20 and the Respironics DreamWear full face. The idea has its merits as it makes them much easier to use for people with reduced dexterity, however, it comes with a major caveat. If you have a pacemaker, defibrillator or other implanted device in your upper chest, neck or head area you must not use a mask with magnetic clips. The magnets in them can seriously interfere with the operation of your implanted device. There is a warning to this effect nestled deep in the instruction manual somewhere, but other than the the manufacturers do little to highlight this problem.

We had a patient who used one of these masks with a pacemaker and reported to us that, as every morning when he got up he felt really strange in the chest. we discovered that this was because, when he took off his mask, the magnetic clip would pass near his pacemaker and reset it to 120 beats per minute. Needless to say, we took that mask away from him and found an alternative. It can also interfere with hearing aids, cochlear implants and similar. If in doubt be cautious and do some research.

So be careful and spread the word.

Great tip! It is so easy for patients to miss this if they are not self advocating. I have used several masks with the magnetic clips and have loved them but I don't have those issues that you bring a word of caution about.

I agree. Something I certainly didn't think about although like Sherry, I don't have those issues. Thanks for sharing. Hope it helps someone!

Good warning, That is the first I have heard of the closures having an actual impact.

I wanted to try those masks but my wife has a pacemaker and I did not want to take a chance.