Biotronik’s Lumax ICD Defibrillates, Sends SMSs, Emails, Faxes

Biotronik has announced the first implantations of its new Lumax VR-T and Lumax DR-T ICDs. And once again, the company is very proud of the home monitoring technology that can be found in a number of its devices:

The Lumax ICD recently developed by the European manufacturer sets new standards for safety. It not only contains a defibrillator that can deliver life-saving electric shocks, but also integrates a technology that monitors the functions of both the heart and the device itself. This double capability is unique in the world. Wherever the patient might be, the new Lumax ICD automatically transfers all important diagnostic data to the cardiologist over the mobile phone network– once a day, and immediately in the case of a critical event. The physician just needs to log in through a secure Internet site to be informed of the patient’s current cardiac status. Moreover, BIOTRONIK’s Home Monitoring® technology automatically sends a SMS, e-mail or fax to the physician in case of a critical change in the patient’s heart rhythm…
BIOTRONIK’s Lumax ICD is the sole implant worldwide that sends ECG data automatically in case of heart rhythm disorder. Wherever the patient might be, the device informs the physician on critical alteration of the heart rhythm, and immediately delivers an electric shock in case of ventricular fibrillation.
Moreover, IEGM Online HD®, a high-definition intracardiac ECG sent over the GPRS network, enables the physician to detect atrial fibrillation in time.
In most cases, the patient does not notice this heart rhythm disorder, but repeated atrial fibrillation may result in a stroke, or lead to heart failure…
As an additional feature, the new Lumax ICD also detects possible technical malfunctions in the device, such as a decreasing signal quality that could impair the precision of future therapies. On his computer, the physician can clearly distinct interfering signals from cardiac events and contact the patient for correction of the technical problem.

Press release…
Biotronik’s Home Monitoring technology page…
Biotronik seems not to have a product page for this line of ICDs (we’ll update when it comes to life)…
Flashbacks: Philos II DR-T from Biotronik; Lumos DR-T Dual-Chamber ICD with Wireless Home Monitoring
(hat tip: MTB Europe)