AliveCor has received FDA approval for a new feature of its home ECG device KardiaMobile 6L. Photo Credit: AliveCor
As more and more consumer-oriented devices add the ability to measure the electrical activity of the heart, companies are looking for new ways to convert this data into valuable health information. AliveCor, a start-up company that makes home electrocardiogram equipment, recently obtained a 510(k) license, which can help doctors detect whether drugs affect patients’ QT interval.
Measure and track the time it takes for the ventricles of the heart to contract and relax. Sometimes, patients experience a prolonged QT interval, which increases their risk of developing a life-threatening arrhythmia. Certain drugs can cause QT prolongation, including certain types of heart rhythm drugs, antibiotics, and antidepressants.
For example, if a patient is prescribed one of these drugs and has other risk factors, doctors can use the device to monitor their QT interval.
The patient clamped AliveCor’s KardiaMobile 6L device with his fingers for 30 seconds to obtain a reading. Then, doctors can access the data through the remote monitoring platform and manually measure a person’s QT interval. AliveCor also provides software to calculate the QT interval. The patient cannot access the QTc value.
AliveCor CEO Priya Abani said in a press release: “Patient safety is of paramount importance, which is why we are proud to provide doctors with the ability to monitor QTc through the convenience and quality of our equipment.” “We hope this is important. The FDA approval will help healthcare professionals identify and save patients from this potentially life-threatening disease.”
AliveCor is not the only company focusing on this technology.One Recent articles published in “Nature” It also tested the feasibility of using Apple Watch for QT interval monitoring.
Image source: Narongrit Doungmanee
