Irish medical technology firm Medtronic has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its MyCareLink Smart Monitor, an app-based remote monitoring system for patients with implantable pacemakers.
MyCareLink allows Medtronic pacemaker patients to use their own smartphone or tablet technology with cellular or Wi-Fi service to securely transmit data from their pacemakers to their physicians, who will interpret the data to make treatment decisions.
MyCareLink features handheld portable device reader and mobile app, which is free on both Android and Apple platforms.
Patients can start a transmission of pacemaker data by securely uploading the information to the Medtronic CareLink Network, when the MyCareLink Smart Monitor is connected to cellular or Wi-Fi service.
MyCareLink Smart Monitor will confirm the date of their most recent transmission of pacemaker information.
It will also create a personalized profile on the MyCareLink Connect Website to manage their pacemaker information and data transmission, and receives email or text reminders, confirmations and notifications of their data transmissions.
Medtronic cardiac and vascular group connected care business vice-president and general manager Darrell Johnson said: The use of smart technology continues to grow among people of all ages, and especially among people over 65 which is the age range of the majority of our pacemaker patients.
"As a leader in remote cardiac monitoring, Medtronic is committed to providing cardiac patients with the latest technology to improve their health and make their lives easier, while helping to reduce the costs of healthcare."
Recently, the firm introduced VenaSeal closure system in the US, developed to treat symptomatic venous reflux.