AnalyST ICD with ST Monitoring Watches Over Your Heart

St. Jude Medical has received approval from the Japanese authorities for its AnalyST implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) with ST Monitoring. Apart from the normal functions of an ICD, this device continuously monitors the intracardially recorded ECG for ST segment changes. The company claims that this will allow detection of otherwise silent ischemic episodes and will reduce the risk of false positive and false negative ECG’s. The device saves a continuous recording which can be retrieved by the doctor at the next follow up visit. In the future, St. Jude also plans to connect the device via their Merlin@home telemonitoring system in order to receive alerts when any significant changes occur.
Other features (from the press release):

DeFT Response(R) technology – which is designed to help devices meet the needs of patients who may have high or varying thresholds for the amount of energy required to defibrillate the heart. This enables the physician to tailor device therapy for individual patients, offering them added protection in the event of a life-threatening arrhythmia.

VIP(R) (Ventricular Intrinsic Preference) algorithm – provides a delay in device stimulation of the lower chambers of the heart (ventricles) to allow the patient’s own heart rhythm to prevail when possible. The VIP technology is designed to provide device stimulation only when needed, which has been shown to be better for patients’ overall heart health.

SenseAbility(R) technology – which is designed to optimize sensing to help protect against inappropriate shocks.
Vibrating patient notifier – The industry’s only notifier that gently vibrates – instead of issuing the standard audio alert – to notify patients if the device is not performing as designed; this can be especially beneficial for people with hearing loss.

Press release: St. Jude Medical Announces Japanese Approval of Life Saving Implantable Device that Continuously Monitors Electrical Changes that Signal Cardiac Problems…
Product page: AnalyST Accel…