HMHP Introduces ‘Injectable’ Heart Monitor
Youngstown, OH (PRWEB) April 30, 2014 -- Humility of Mary Health Partners recently introduced a tiny, injectable heart monitor that can record a patient’s heart rhythm for up to three years.
The new Reveal LINQ Insertable Cardiac Monitor was developed by Medtronic and received FDA approval for use in the United States in February. One-third the size of an AAA battery, it is the smallest heart monitor on the market and can automatically detect and record abnormal heart rhythms.
“The Reveal LINQ is placed just underneath the skin in the upper left side of the patient’s chest; it just takes minutes to do,” says Allan L. Katz, D.O., a cardiac electrophysiologist with Humility of Mary Health Partners Physician Associates. “The Reveal LINQ Insertable Cardiac Monitor is ideally suited for patients who experience symptoms of dizziness, recurrent fainting episodes, and palpitations that may suggest an underlying cardiac arrhythmia. It is also well suited for patients with infrequent symptoms, where their episodes occur only a few times a year,” Dr. Katz says. “In these types of patients, the traditional 24-hour Holter monitor and 30-day event monitors do not aid in the diagnosis.”
The Reveal LINQ Insertable Cardiac Monitor can also be used to monitor a patient’s response to anti-arrhythmic heart medications and is safe for use during MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) procedures.
For patients with a history of stroke of unclear origin, the Reveal LINQ has been shown to help diagnose previously undetected atrial fibrillation, Dr. Katz continues.
Once the Reveal LINQ is inserted under the patient’s skin, the physician is able to access the information from the device through a programmer at the office or from the patient’s home. The Reveal LINQ system includes the new MyCareLink™ Patient Monitor. This monitor can transmit patients’ cardiac device data to their physicians from virtually any location in the world. If the patient experiences a fainting spell or irregular heart rhythm, information can be transmitted immediately, or the patient can visit the physician’s office where the doctor can review the patient’s heart rhythm before, during and immediately after the incident.
Once the Reveal LINQ is no longer needed, it can be removed during a very minimal surgical procedure.
The insertable cardiac monitor does not restrict patients’ activities. They can bathe, exercise and maintain their usual daily routines. That is another benefit to patients, Dr. Katz says. “The Reveal LINQ can help patients find answers that may be heart-related without affecting their lifestyles.”
“Having the prolonged monitoring capability that the Reveal LINQ provides is a tremendous benefit for patients with infrequent symptoms,” Dr. Katz adds, “and over time, it is cost-effective for patients who otherwise would undergo multiple tests and external cardiac monitors without sometimes even making a diagnosis.”
Thus far, HMHP physicians have implanted the Reveal LINQ Cardiac Monitor in more than 20 patients.
About Humility of Mary Health Partners:
Humility of Mary Health Partners is an integrated health system located in the Youngstown/Warren area. It is a region of Catholic Health Partners (CHP) in Cincinnati, the largest health system in Ohio and one of the largest Catholic health systems in the United States. HMHP provides a full spectrum of health care services, including inpatient, outpatient, emergency, urgent care, home care and long-term care. Members are St. Elizabeth Health Center, St. Joseph Health Center, St. Elizabeth Boardman Health Center, HM Home Health Services, The Assumption Village, Humility House, Hospice of the Valley and Laurel Lake. Learn more about HMHP online at http://www.HMpartners.org.
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Maraline Kubik, Humility of Mary Health Partners, http://HMpartners.org, +1 (330) 480-2258, [email protected]
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