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| Medtronic's MeSeeq Mobile Cardiac Telemetry System--Courtesy of Medtronic |
Medtronic ($MDT) launched the wireless, adhesive heart monitor that it acquired when it bought startup Corventis in June reportedly for more than $150 million. The monitor can be worn up to 30 days to detect and diagnose the cause of irregular heartbeats. But the device remains a second-line tool behind the bulky Holter monitor.
Known as the Seeq Mobile Cardiac Telemetry System, its wearable sensor has a depth of about 0.6 inches. It's water resistant and designed to be worn continuously while exercising, showering or sleeping.
In addition to the sensor, it includes a handheld transmitter that sends data to the Medtronic Monitoring Center via Bluetooth technology, which is staffed around the clock by cardiographic technicians to analyze the data. The system also includes a trigger button the patient can push to send data during a particular event.
Medtronic said the system is indicated for patients who have experienced symptoms that suggest an irregular heartbeat such as fainting, lightheadedness, vertigo, palpitations or shortness of breath and whose symptoms were not detected by a 24-hour Holter monitor. A standard Holter monitor is much more burdensome for the patient, as it is equipped with a variety of electrodes and monitors.
Earlier this year, Medtronic also launched its Linq Insertable Cardiac Monitoring System, which can continuously monitor patients for up to three years. This implantable monitor is designed for patients with less frequent episodes less likely to be detected by short-term monitoring.
The Seeq System "allows us to get the critical arrhythmia recordings we need to make treatment decisions without being burdensome to patients," Ethan Levine an electrophysiologist and director of electrophysiology and arrhythmia services at Arnot Ogden Medical Center in Elmira, NY said in a statement.
"Wearing a bulky monitor for more than a couple of days can be a frustrating experience for patients. Because this device is an inconspicuous and easy-to-use adhesive patch, patients are more likely to wear it continuously, allowing for more consistent and comprehensive capturing of data, which enables physicians to make accurate diagnoses and timely treatment plans," he added.
- here is the release
- and a recent Bloomberg story on Linq