Biotronik’s BioMonitor 2 hits U.K., Ireland

Biotronik said today it launched its BioMonitor 2 subcutaneous insertable cardiac monitor in the U.K. and Ireland.

The BioMonitor 2 device is designed for remote monitoring of patients with atrial fibrillation, syncope, bradycardia and tachychardia, Biotronik said. The device uses Biotronik’s ProMRI technology and is approved for full-body MRI scans at 1.5 and 3 tesla strength.

“AF is often so sporadic and unpredictable that it is sometimes impossible to diagnose at the time the patient has symptoms. It is similar with syncope. The patient can hardly choose to faint when they are hooked up to an ECG just so we can find out what’s causing it. But, because BioMonitor 2 is always on and always recording, we can see exactly what’s going on with their cardiac rhythm in these precise moments. It’s really unprecedented and the accuracy of the readings has exceeded our expectations. We get a clear picture very early on, meaning necessary treatment can begin earlier,” Dr. Riyaz Kaba of London’s St George’s Hospital said in a press release.

The BioMonitor 2 is designed to be inserted under the skin of the patient, after which it records all cardiac electrical events, and transmits the data directly to a monitoring physician through the company’s Home Monitoring system.

“The insertion procedure is easy for both doctor and patient. It only takes a few minutes. The monitor adapts to the patient’s anatomy, and they’re satisfied with the overall cosmetic result,” Dr. Kaba said in a prepared statement.