
The ICM provides a new option for diagnostic evaluation and long-term monitoring in people experiencing abnormal heartbeats. It can detect hard-to-spot irregularities in heartbeats and help physicians determine the best treatment course.
Assert-IQ received FDA clearance in May 2023, entering the cardiac monitoring market that also includes Medtronic’s Linq system. Abbott can now bring the ICM system to Europe as well.
“As the prevalence of abnormal heart rhythms rise, physicians increasingly rely on ICM technology to diagnosis various heart conditions. Introducing Assert-IQ in Europe will expand access to transformative benefits of long-term monitoring and more clinically relevant information, and allow care providers to make clinical decisions faster and with more precision,” said Dr. Leonard Ganz, divisional VP of medical affairs and chief medical officer of Abbott’s cardiac rhythm management business.
More about the Abbott Assert-IQ system
Physicians can insert the small, thin Assert-IQ device under the skin of the chest in a minimally invasive procedure. Once inserted, the system monitors the heart continuously, detecting arrhythmias that can lead to symptoms like fainting and shortness of breath. Following insertion, patients can go about their daily lives while Assert-IQ continuously monitors the heart.
Assert-IQ uses Bluetooth technology to connect to a transmitter — usually the patient’s own cell phone. It checks heart rhythms every 20 seconds, transmitting findings in virtually real time to the clinic’s portal. Abbott says its system also offers the world’s longest battery life for a Bluetooth-enabled ICM.
The system has two options, with a battery life of at least three years and another lasting at least six years. Those in search of more traditional monitoring may prefer a three-year device, while patients at risk of developing arrhythmias may seek the longer-term system. Both options have advanced algorithms capable of detecting irregular heartbeats and providing clinically actionable data. The algorithms reduce data burden and increase accuracy, improving workflows and efficiencies, Abbott says.
“Assert-IQ is the next generation of implantable cardiac monitors, providing physicians with actionable data and new patient insights,” said Dr. Paolo Della Bella, head of the arrhythmia department at IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute in Italy. “The real-time data, advanced algorithms and diagnostic accuracy empower physicians to deliver more personalized and effective care. For those with abnormal heart rhythms, Assert-IQ ICM provides peace of mind and the freedom to live their lives with confidence.”