Biotronik announced on 6 January 2010 the first implantations of its new leadless cardiac monitoring device performed by a team of physicians led by Gerhard Hindricks, director, Electrophysiology Department at the Leipzig Heart Centre in Leipzig, Germany.
The new implantable cardiac monitoring device is based on the unified platform technology of Biotronik’s latest pacemaker series and provides advanced detection of atrial fibrillation and other abnormal heart rhythms in combination with Biotronik’s Home Monitoring wireless technology. Implanted subcutaneously, without the need for any electrodes placed in the patient’s heart, the new device provides physicians with important clinical and diagnostic information about their patients’ heart condition. It is able to accurately detect and document numerous types of cardiac arrhythmias, e.g. atrial fibrillation or heart block, which often can be identified as root causes for unexplained symptoms such as palpitations or syncope. Furthermore, it enables therapy optimization and surveillance of success and medication after atrial fibrillation ablation in patients without an indication for a pacemaker or an implantable cardioverter defibrillator.
The new Biotronik cardiac monitoring device uses several sensing vectors allowing for highest signal quality independently from the device position within the patient’s body, which simplifies the implantation procedure and ensures the most accurate detection of abnormal heart rhythms, especially atrial arrhythmias. Arrhythmias detected by the device are recorded and sent automatically and wirelessly to the CardioMessenger patient device, which then uses the cellular network to transmit all event and trend data to the internet-based Biotronik Home Monitoring Service Center. On a secure website the physician can immediately evaluate the CardioReport that provides all relevant IEGM recordings and long-term statistics in a consolidated and easy-to-read format.
“Early detection of re-occurrence of atrial fibrillation after ablation therapy remains a major clinical challenge,” stated Hindricks. “The new device combined with the unique early detection capabilities of Biotronik Home Monitoring may allow us to immediately react on any kind of atrial arrhythmias after the initial atrial fibrillation ablation procedure in order to avoid further progression of heart remodelling and deterioration of overall heart function.”
Biotronik Home Monitoring is the first and only remote patient monitoring system that has received FDA and CE approvals for early detection and notification of both symptomatic and asymptomatic arrhythmic events, and device system anomalies allowing for earlier physician intervention. It allows clinicians to access their patients’ daily updated data from anywhere at any time enabling early intervention to improve patient care. Biotronik Home Monitoring together with this leadless cardiac diagnostic device offers a unique daily protection for advanced patient care.
