Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) is poised to make a big splash in remote patient monitoring with the commercial launch of its SEEQ skin-worn heart monitoring patch.
The peel-and-stick sensor is worn on the chest where it can capture and track heartbeats continuously for up to 30 days at a time. Medtronic acquired the technology when it absorbed Corventis earlier this year in a closed-doors deal rumored at $150 million.
The SEEQ patch is slim, wireless and water-resistant, allowing electrophysiologists to capture continuous data about a patient’s heart during all types of activities. The system automatically transmits data to a remote team of Medtronic technicians who provide around-the-clock cardiac monitoring.
The device is designed to help physicians make more informed decisions when diagnosing irregular heartbeats. The technology joins Medtronic’s existing portfolio of remote heart monitoring technologies, which includes the insertable Reveal LINQ system, designed for up to 3 years of continuous monitoring.
Remote patient monitoring systems have gotten a lot of attention lately, especially as a growing body of research suggests that the technology could help save lives and save money, and Medtronic’s technology is not alone on the market. San Francisco’s iRhythm has had its Zio cardiac monitoring patch on the market since 2009.
The Zio patch can be worn continuously for up to 14 days, CEO Kevin King told MassDevice.com in an in-depth interview earlier this year.