“EKG to go” for cardiac arrhythmias
01.12.2009 13:05
Vitaphone remosEKG 100/300 BT optimizes telecardiological diagnostics
“EKG to go”, the recording of an EGK anytime and anywhere - for millions of people who suffer from sporadic and often very stressful cardiac arrhythmias, this is the solution when it comes to identifying the causes.
However, not all clinics and cardiologists offer this modern option for telecardiological functional diagnostics with the tele-ECG. This is all the more surprising since the number of those affected increases dramatically from year to year due to demographic developments alone.
Cardiac arrhythmias can indicate life-threatening illnesses, such as atrial fibrillation, which can lead to a stroke if left untreated. With the remosEKG 100/300 BT, the telemedicine provider Vitaphone GmbH presented another innovative tool for telemedical diagnosis of symptomatic cardiac arrhythmias at MEDICA 2009 in Düsseldorf.
The patient who wears the remosEKG 100/300 BT around his neck can record an ECG at any time and anywhere in everyday life - wirelessly thanks to the integrated electrodes. Simply, at the touch of a button and whenever he feels like his heart is out of rhythm.
The device then transmits the ECG data via Bluetooth and mobile phone to the Vitaphone GmbH Telemedical Service Center. All of this happens fully automatically. It is also possible to transmit the ECG data using a landline telephone.
Immediately after the transfer, the ECG is made available to the treating physicians for assessment in the clinic or practice. Either by fax, by email or on your own server on the Internet. Alternatively, the stored ECK data can be read directly into the PC in the clinic or practice using special software – the remosManager.
The remosEKG 100/300 BT is available as a 1- or 3-channel ECG. Up to 120 ECGs - depending on the default setting with a duration of 40 to 300 seconds - can be saved. “The remosEKG 100/300 BT was developed due to demand from numerous customers abroad.
There are many countries, especially overseas, whose landline telephony is hardly developed and where communication takes place predominantly via mobile phone. With this innovation in telecardiological functional diagnostics, we are closing a real gap in the market and have another unique selling point for our devices and services worldwide,” explains business graduate Matthias Quinger, managing partner of Vitaphone GmbH.
Professor Dr. med. Hans-Joachim Trappe, Director of the Med. Univ.-Klinik II Marienhospital Herne/Ruhr University Bochum: “In my opinion, the tele-ECG is the method of choice for closely monitoring patients and reliably diagnosing symptomatic cardiac arrhythmias. Our experiences have been consistently positive and I am always amazed that this option of simple and precise telecardiological functional diagnostics is so little used and offered in clinics and practices.”
Background cardiac arrhythmias
Cardiac arrhythmias are an increasing problem globally due to demographic developments. According to experts, at least 5.5 million people worldwide suffer from atrial fibrillation alone. Atrial fibrillation is therefore the most common cardiac arrhythmia. Patients with atrial fibrillation have a fivefold increased risk of suffering a stroke - with the well-known individual and economic consequences.
The diseases associated with atrial fibrillation include heart failure and sudden cardiac death, which is responsible for up to 20 percent of all cardiac deaths and is usually caused by tachycardic cardiac arrhythmias. The early identification of high-risk patients is therefore particularly important in cardiology clinics and practices. Telecardiological functional diagnostics makes a valuable contribution to this.