Mar 3 2014
The Valley Hospital is among a handful of hospitals in the nation to implant a newly approved tiny wireless heart monitor that is expected to have a very real impact for patients and doctors.
The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, NJ, is among a handful of hospitals in the nation to implant a newly approved miniature wireless heart monitor that is expected to have a very real impact for patients and doctors. Cardiac Electrophysiologist Dan L. Musat, M.D., attending physician at Valley's Arrhythmia Institute, is shown holding the LINQ Reveal heart monitor, which is manufactured by Medtronic. (PRNewsFoto/The Valley Hospital)
Indicated for use as a diagnostic tool for people suffering from unexplained fainting, dizziness, palpitations or shortness of breath, the device can also help doctors determine if a patient has atrial fibrillation, the most common form of heart rhythm abnormality.
Nick Rotonda, of Upper Saddle River, NJ, was the first patient to receive the device at Valley and is counting on it to monitor whether he has any signs of atrial fibrillation, which could increase his risk for a stroke.
About one-third the size of a AAA battery and almost 90 percent smaller than similar devices, the LINQ Reveal implantable cardiac monitor is slipped just beneath the skin with a syringe-like device through an incision less than ½ an inch long. It continuously and wirelessly monitors the heart for up to 3 years and notifies physicians if patients have significant cardiac events. It is also MRI-compatible.
"It takes about 5 minutes to implant the device using a local anesthetic," said Cardiac Electrophysiologist Dan L. Musat, M.D., attending physician at Valley's Arrhythmia Institute, part of the Valley Heart and Vascular Institute. "There is no need for general anesthetic, the device is not visible in most patients, and patients go home after about an hour," said Dr. Musat, who performed Valley's first procedure on Mr. Rotonda.
The device has the ability to communicate wirelessly via a small tabletop remote monitoring station while patients sleep, allowing them to continue living their lives normally, even away from home.
"This is one of the most innovative technologies to emerge in cardiology in the last decade," said Suneet Mittal, M.D., Director of the Electrophysiology Lab at Valley. "It is so discreet that most patients will not even know it is there and can go about their lives without interruption or discomfort. It truly is a game changer."
"This monitor gives me peace of mind because I know that if I have an episode it will alert my doctor so he can address it," Mr. Rotonda said.
Medtronic's LINQ Reveal was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration this month.