News

High-tech iPhone Case with Built-in EKG Monitor is Approved by FDA

AliveCor has been developing a smartphone case and app called the AliveCor Heart Monitor that is designed to produce an EKG when held in the user’s hands.

Fri Jan 18 2013By DXE Medical, Inc

 

AliveCor has been developing a smartphone case and app called the AliveCor Heart Monitor that is designed to produce an EKG when held in the user’s hands.  All the user has to do is press the fingertips of each hand against the sensors and the case communicates wirelessly with the app and sends the data to a site that stores and tracks all EKG ratings.

The AliveCor Heart Monitor went through clinical trials and demonstrated efficient and accurate results.  The goal the developers have for the case/app is that it will become an ideal tool for EMT’s and paramedics because of its portability.  AliveCor also hopes that the Heart Monitor’s price of $200 will eventually make it an affordable option that allows patients to look more carefully after their own health.

AliveCor’s website informs that although the unit has received a lot of clinical support they are still researching effectiveness in cases of post-ablation follow-up, long-term afib remote monitoring, multi-specialty care integration, medication-induced QT duration response monitoring, expanding PA/RN data collection abilities, preventive pediatric care, and stress induced rhythm morphology changes.

Because of the research still underway, the case/app is only available for purchase by U.S. Medical Professionals.  According to their website, so far it has been used in several clinical trials along with rigorous testing through numerous medical professionals and in many on-going studies at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, USC’s Center for Body Computing, and other institutions. Abstracts were presented in 2012 at three major cardiology meetings, demonstrating usability, accuracy, and the ability to use the device for community screening.

The AliveCor’s Heart Monitor is a single-channel EKG device that is not intended to replace traditional 12-lead EKG.  The device is simply designed to be an additional more portable and convenient heart screening tool.  Also, the device does not provide any diagnosis and requires a trained professional to read and diagnose any EKG rhythm data.

The AliveCor Heart Monitor is a testament to how innovative technology can be used to make it easier for people to be attentive to their health.  Although the case/app is not available for presale for patients and consumers, the developers hope to reach that point in the near future.  It is exciting to see that soon people will be able to easily send heart screening results to their doctors directly from home.

 

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