Allegheny General Hospital Introduces Miniature Implantable Cardiac Monitor for Patients with Irregular Heartbeats
Pittsburgh, PA (PRWEB) May 31, 2014 -- Allegheny General Hospital(AGH), part of the Allegheny Health Network, is the first hospital in western Pennsylvania to implant a miniature cardiac monitor that is significantly smaller than similar devices that provide continuous, wireless monitoring of patients with cardiac arrhythmias.
At about one-third the size of a AAA battery, Medtronic’s Reveal LINQ Insertable Cardiac Monitor (ICM) is 80 percent smaller than other ICMs. The small device is part of a system that allows physicians to continuously monitor a patient’s heart for up to three years.
The device was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in February and Allegheny General performed its first case in April.
“This next-generation device brings more powerful memory and data capacity into a much smaller package and will help us to reach more patients at risk for cardiac arrhythmias,” said AGH electrophysiologist Amit Thosani, MD, who performed the first procedure to implant LINQ in Pittsburgh.
Cardiac arrhythmias occur when there is a malfunction in the electrical impulses that instruct the heart to beat. When the heart beats too slowly, too quickly, or irregularly, cardiac monitoring can be used to check for potentially life-threatening conditions. The Reveal LINQ ICM is indicated for patients who experience symptoms such as dizziness, palpitations, fainting, and chest pain that may suggest a cardiac arrhythmia and for patients at increased risk for arrhythmia.
The Reveal LINQ ICM is implanted just under the skin of the upper left chest through an incision smaller than 1 centimeter. The minimally invasive insertion procedure facilitates quick recovery. Reveal LINQ also is compatible with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) so that patients may undergo that imaging procedure in the future if needed.
Along with the ICM, the Reveal LINQ system includes a remote patient monitoring system with global cellular technology that transmits patients’ cardiac device diagnostic data to clinicians from nearly any location worldwide.
“Patients are able to resume their typical routines, live life, and even travel while this device collects valuable data that helps our team develop the most appropriate treatment plan,” said Srinivas Murali, MD, Director, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Allegheny Health Network.
For more information on Reveal LINQ ICM, visit http://www.MonitorYourHeart.com.
###
Jennifer Davis, Allegheny Health Network, +1 (412) 330-4439, [email protected]
Share this article