Sorrentino Implants Georgia's First Wireless ECG Monitor

Dr. Robert Sorrentino delivered the first wireless implantable ECG monitor in the state of Georgia, on March 5, 2008. Transoma makes the innovative device called the "Sleuth". It is about the size of a small pacemaker and it is implanted under the skin to record electrocardiograms. The patient can trigger the device to store an ECG in its memory if they have suspicious symptoms or the device can be programmed to automatically trigger a stored ECG for abnormal heart rates, as prescribed by their doctors. It wirelessly transmits these to a PDA type of device that the patients carry with them. The PDA can store about 10.5 hours of ECGs before the base station, which is plugged into a home telephone "wall jack" automatically transmits the ECGs to a 24/7 receiving station. The receiving station scans and reviews the ECGs and notifying their doctor about abnormal heart rhythms either by secure email, fax, or telephone.

This is truly novel technology that improves on the existing device that requires the patient to come to the doctor's office or emergency room to download the ECGs into a computer interrogator device every time they have a symptomatic event. The device can remain implanted for about 2.5 years, until battery depletion or a diagnosis is defined before the battery depletes.

More information about the "Sleuth" implantable ECG monitoring device.