FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Pager Size Cardiac Monitor Allows Individuals To Check For Dangerous Heart Rhythms Utilizing Their Fingertips!
TIMONIUM, MD.- December 5, 2006 (Cardiophonics®)
A Leading telemedicine provider, Cardiophonics®, has announced a software edition to the Cardiophonics® 1000, their pager size cardiac event recorder. The algorithm “Listen to the Beat!” was designed to test for dangerous heartbeats and to turn those heartbeats into an EKG for immediate review. The driving force behind the development was an abnormal and dangerous heartbeat called atrial fibrillation, which has become an epidemic worldwide, and a leading cause of over 20% of strokes and disability within the US, concludes a major study published in Circulation by the Mayo College of Medicine. About 5 million people in the US have atrial fibrillation, a condition in which the upper chambers of the heart no longer pump blood in a coordinated fashion.
The risk factors for atrial fibrillation are generally the same as heart disease but many individuals have no identifiable underlying disease. Often individuals can be asymptomatic, but many may sense that their own pulse or heart beats aren’t quite right, with frequent missed or skipped beats. Others may experience occasional dizziness, shortness of breath, or overwhelming fatigue. In atrial fibrillation, the normal coordination between the chambers of the heart is lost, and the pulse becomes uneven. The normal protocol, for screening for atrial fibrillation, is based on teaching individuals how to find the pulse and check its regularity on a routine basis. In many individuals, however, due to arthritis, poor perfusion or chronic disease, a pulse is difficult to find and many individuals simply cannot determine the regularity
“Many times, providers and screening centers cannot provide an EKG test for arrhythmias, like atrial fibrillation very easily outside of the office. The EKG equipment, the definitive test for any arrhythmia, is expensive, bulky and the patient has to disrobe for the test.” said Richard Trader, PA-C FCCM developer of the Cardiophonics® technology. “In fact, due to the complexity, the majority of facilities do not include EKG testing in their stroke screening programs, even though atrial fibrillation is a major risk factor, and the cause of 20% of our strokes and disability in the US.”
"The centers usually have a nurse or technicians check the individuals pulse for irregularity during examination or screening. The problem with that technique, is that you can’t determine the type of arrhythmia the individual is having if an irregularity in the pulse is discovered during the exam. The individual has to have an EKG to receive a definitive diagnosis. This leads to a delay in medical care and a significant amount of anxiety for the patient.” he continued.
The Cardiophonics® 1000 monitor, which fits in a shirt pocket, removes the need for bulky equipment and the need for individuals to disrobe for testing. It allows individuals, providers and screening centers to easily test for abnormal beats by utilizing finger tip electrodes to acquire the cardiac signal, and for the first time, provide an EKG tracing for immediate review. The EKG may also be printed on site with a small PC program or forwarded by phone or e-mail to any provider.
Interview Contact: Richard Trader MMsc PA-C FCCM
Cardiophonics Telemedicine
Telephone: 888-393-3750
rt@Cardiophonics.com
http://www.Cardiophonics.com
Cardiophonics Telemedicine
1300 York Road
Timonium, Maryland
Voice 888-393-3750
Fax 1-410-821-9620
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