Heart Device Monitor Approved, Simplifies Patient Monitoring
A new remote monitoring device from St. Jude Medical, Incorporated was granted marketing clearance from the Food and Drug Administration. The system supports transmission of data from from wireless heart devices that patients have implanted. The company plans to begin offering the service in a few months.
The Merlin@home transmitter is a radio frequency wireless system that supports remote evaluation of implanted cardiac systems. Data about the device activity is automatically sent to a secure database. Clinicians can access information via the internet.
Included in this new tool is the means to program the system remotely. Devices can be programmed, for example, to send daily updates to clinicians with respect to specific parameters. Those may include details on a patient’s heart rhythm or device performance. As well, physicians can request alerts based on specific cardiac functioning.
The system operates seamlessly with the Promote RF and Current RF family of products, as well with as working with the company’s data management system.
Earlier iterations of monitoring systems required that patients use a telephone line to manually submit data. Patients would also have to come into the doctor’s office for device programming.
July 17, 2008 Related topics: Product Approval & Certification, Monitoring, Diagnostic, Cardiology