St. Jude Medical, Inc. a global medical device company announced the U.S launch of its Wireless USB Adaptor for the Merlin@home transmitter.
This system allows patient data from an implantable cardiac device to be wirelessly downloaded and transmitted securely through a telephone to a physician for review purposes. The new Wireless USB Adaptor helps patients using a Merlin@home transmitter to transmit data over cellular networks to their physicians.
Dr. David Sandler, director of electrophysiology at the Oklahoma Heart Institute in Tulsa, Okla said, “For patients who either prefer to use cellular technology or do not have access to a standard phone line, this product provides an alternative solution for secure data transmission. The Wireless USB Adaptor offers a reliable, portable remote monitoring option for patients who frequently travel.”
The new device is small and can easily plug into the existing Merlin@home transmitters which are usually placed on a patient’s bedside table. The data can be transmitted through the Merlin@home transmitter to the Merlin.net patient Care Network or PCN which is an Internet-based repository of patient and device data, said company sources.
The Merlin.net PCN organizes the data after receiving it to enable fast analysis and review. This information is directly sent to the clinic or hospital’s electronic health record or EHR system and is included in that particular patient’s comprehensive EHR.
“This technology improves patient care by providing an efficient remote monitoring system when the use of a landline is inconvenient or unavailable,” said Eric S. Fain, M.D., president of the St. Jude Medical Cardiac Rhythm Management Division. “The Wireless USB Adaptor is another addition to our innovative product portfolio and demonstrates the strength of our connectivity platform.”
The remote monitoring capabilities provided by the Merlin@home transmitter, automates follow-up appointments and daily checks which can be done wirelessly with limited patient action. This helps patients avoid many visits to the physician in person and also allows doctors to keep tab on a patients’ condition.
The transmitter supports all radio-frequency St. Jude Medical implantable cardioverter defibrillators or ICDs, cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators or CRT-Ds, and the Accent RF pacemaker and Anthem RF CRT-P cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemaker.
Company sources added that the Accent RF pacemaker and Anthem CRT-P pacemakers provide complete remote and in-clinic follow-ups via wireless communication. Also the data transferred using the Merlin@home device are fully encrypted and meet applicable national data privacy and security requirements in every country.
Shamila Janakiraman is a contributing editor for HealthTechZone. To read more of Shamila’s articles, please visit her columnist page.Edited by
Alice Straight
