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Wheeling Hospital Takes Big Step With Tiny Technology

Wheeling Hospital recently was among the first hospitals in the U.S. – and the only one in the region – to adopt the world’s smallest longterm, insertable cardiac monitoring device for patients with recurrent fainting, heart palpitations, unexplained stroke or atrial fibrillation.

Earlier this week, Dr. Maninder Bedi, a cardiac electrophysiologist, successfully completed the first implant at Wheeling Hospital. The technology was launched Feb. 19 with clearance by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The Reveal LINQ Insertable Cardiac Monitor is approximately one-third the size of an AAA battery, making it more than 80 percent smaller than other ICMs available.

The device is part of a powerful system that allows physicians to continuously and wirelessly monitor a patient’s heart for up to three years. In addition to its continuous and wireless monitoring capabilities, the system provides remote monitoring and notifies physicians if patients have significant cardiac events between regular medical appointments.

“The Reveal device is so discreet that most patients will not even know it is there and can go about their lives without interruption or discomfort,” Bedi said. “Additionally, the device has the ability to communicate wirelessly with the patient’s physician via the MyCareLink Patient Monitor while the patient is sleeping, allowing them to continue living their lives normally, even when travelling away from home.”

Placed just beneath the skin through a small incision of less than 1 cm in the upper left side of the chest, the ICM often is nearly invisible once inserted. The device is placed using a minimally invasive insertion procedure, which simplifies the experience for both physicians and patients.

The entire procedure takes under a minute, and patients usually can leave the hospital in less than an hour afterward, instead of the nearly four hours using the larger device.

“This miniaturized monitoring system is the result of many years of product development work from engineers focused on shrinking the size of medical devices while maintaining their power and improving benefits for patients,” said Pat Mackin, president of the Cardiac Rhythm Disease Management business and senior vice president at Medtronic. “This is a game-changing technology for patients who need cardiac monitoring, and we look forward to providing them with the most technologically advanced and minimally invasive approach possible.”

Ron Violi, Wheeling Hospital chief executive officer, added, “By offering Reveal LINQ ICM to our patients, we continue to lead the way with the latest technology to diagnose and treat heart disease. Dr. Bedi has been a big part of our successful cardiac care program, one that has earned us national recognitions on an annual basis.”

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