Abbott Launches Smartphone-Compatible Insertable Cardiac Monitor

October 23, 2017—Abbott Vascular announced US Food and Drug Administration clearance for the company's Confirm Rx insertable cardiac monitor (ICM). The smartphone-compatible ICM is designed to help physicians remotely identify cardiac arrhythmias. The device allows patients to monitor for abnormal heart rhythms while staying connected to their physicians remotely and being able to engage in their health care.

According to the company, the device incorporates Bluetooth wireless technology that allows patients to connect their ICM to their smartphone via the myMerlin mobile application. Once implanted just under the skin in the chest during a quick, minimally invasive outpatient procedure, Confirm Rx continuously monitors heart rhythms to detect a range of cardiac arrhythmias, including irregular heartbeats, or atrial fibrillation. Data collected by the device are then securely transmitted to a patient's physician via the mobile app on a schedule set by the clinic. The application also allows patients to record symptomatic events from their own smartphone without the need for additional hardware such as handheld activators or bedside transmitters.