Asahi Kasei (TYO:3407) subsidiary Zoll Medical announced the launch of and first patient prescription for the Zoll µCor (pronounced “micro core”) heart failure and arrhythmia management system (HFAMS), designed to help clinicians improve outcomes and reduce hospitalizations for heart failure patients with fluid management problems.
Zoll HFAMS is an FDA-cleared, patch-based, wireless system that employs novel radiofrequency technology to monitor pulmonary fluid levels, an early indicator for heart failure decompensation. The HFAMS sensor is non-invasive and can be worn by patients 24 hours a day. The device is designed to continuously record, store, and transmit patient data, including thoracic fluid index, heart rate, respiration rate, activity, posture, and heart rhythm (ECG).
Zoll said its proprietary algorithms determine patient-specific trends in the data collected by HFAMS, allowing for early detection of deterioration in the patient’s condition. Certified technicians at Zoll’s Medicare-approved and Joint Commission-accredited Independent Diagnostic Testing Facility monitor the data 24/7 and provide notifications according to pre-defined criteria. Data provided in the notifications aid the prescribing physician in the diagnosis and identification of various clinical conditions, events and/or trends, allowing for timely intervention.
“The Zoll HFAMS is a promising addition to our toolbox to care for patients in our heart failure program, as it serves the goal of reducing the chances of readmission and can therefore improve patient care,” said prescribing physician Dr. Douglas Horstmanshof, program director of the Heart Failure Institute at Integris Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City, in a news release. “This device gives us insight through patient-specific data about thoracic fluid levels during a time when they are vulnerable to future heart failure events, allowing us to intervene prior to the onset of many symptoms related to decompensation.”
“Despite improvements in medical therapy, 50% of patients hospitalized for heart failure are readmitted within six months of discharge, with the highest readmission rates occurring in the first 30 days,” added Zoll Cardiac Management Solutions president Jason Whiting. “The Zoll HFAMS’ remote monitoring of fluid level changes will help clinicians intervene in a timely manner by detecting early evidence of heart failure decompensation.”