March 14, 2016 — Biotronik announced that its BioMonitor 2 heart monitor is now available for patients in the United Kingdom. The insertable device allows highly accurate and reliable continuous detection of cardiac electrical events.
The monitor is indicated for patients suffering from unexplained syncope, and to detect atrial fibrillation (AF). Diagnosing the irregular heartbeat condition AF is notoriously difficult, as is finding the root cause of syncope — a condition where the patient passes out due to decreased blood flow to the brain. If left untreated, both can be life threatening.
In response, BioMonitor 2 can be inserted under the skin of the patient in a simple procedure. It then records all cardiac electrical events. Data from the device is transmitted directly to the physician via Biotronik Home Monitoring, where they are given an accurate map of the heart’s activity right on their computer screen.
“AF is often so sporadic and unpredictable that it is sometimes impossible to diagnose at the time the patient has symptoms,” commented Riyaz Kaba, M.D., from Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals, Surrey, and St George’s Hospital, London. “It is similar with syncope. The patient can hardly choose to faint when they are hooked up to an ECG just so we can find out what’s causing it. But, because BioMonitor 2 is always on and always recording, we can see exactly what’s going on with their cardiac rhythm in these precise moments. It’s really unprecedented and the accuracy of the readings has exceeded our expectations. We get a clear picture very early on, meaning necessary treatment can begin earlier.”
As well as its diagnostic benefits, the device has been designed with the patient anatomy in mind. “The insertion procedure is easy for both doctor and patient. It only takes a few minutes,” explained Kaba. “The monitor adapts to the patient’s anatomy, and they’re satisfied with the overall cosmetic result.”
BioMonitor 2 also has Biotronik ProMRI technology and is approved for full-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans at both the usual 1.5 and ultra-high 3.0 tesla strength. Its average battery life is four years, topping the industry standard by a year.
For more information: www.biotronik.com
