Abbott (NYSE:ABT) said today that it is launching its next-generation, FDA and CE Mark cleared, smartphone-connectable Confirm Rx implantable continuous cardiac monitor.
The Chicago-area medical device maker said that the newly launched next-gen Confirm Rx is a paper-clip sized implantable device intended for the remote monitoring of unpredictable heart rhythm problems, and is intended to produce fast and accurate diagnoses.
“Through new advances like Abbott’s next generation of Confirm Rx ICM, physicians can act more proactively and efficiently in their treatment approach, and patients can stay engaged and connected,” cardiac rhythm management therapies medical director Dr. Avi Fischer said in a prepared statement.
The system is designed to be implanted just under the skin in the chest above the heart during a minimally invasive outpatient procedure, Abbott said.
The company touted that the device is the only ICM on the market designed to synch to a smartphone via Bluetooth. The device and its paired smartphone application removes the need for an additional transmitter, the company added.
“The rise in health monitoring has undoubtedly increased awareness of arrhythmias such as AFib, but many of these devices still aren’t leading to an improved diagnosis or solving the key clinical challenges for people at risk. Like a guardian for heart health, Confirm Rx ICM can relay important data about a person’s heart rhythm through their smartphone and alert their care team to a potentially dangerous heart event. With Abbott’s new technology, I can better identify risk—making it actionable for me and life-changing for my patient,” Dr. Sean Beinart of Rockville, Md.’s Adventist Healthcare said in a press release.
Last week, Abbott said that through its partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense and the TRACK-TBI network, it is ready to begin clinical trials of a point-of-care blood test technology to help quickly assess brain injuries.