Advanced in Tech

Interesting article here:

[techcrunch.com]

Been visually doing that with a R to R recording Polar heart rate monitor for many years. Afib on a heart rate vs. time on rhythm strip (tachogram) stands out like a sore thumb. See CR 52 & 52a. Now use a phone app with a Polar strap for the same purpose. You can also do this, but not as well with some of the recording apps that use the phone's camera & light as a plethysmograph. The key is the huge variability in rate. PAC or PVC runs can give a similar signal which is probably where the 97% accuracy comes in. That variability is usually afib, but could be something else.

Hi Que,

Yes I saw the official presentation of the Apple Watch AFIB detector algorithm at the HRS 2017 (Heart Rhythm Society Scientific Sessions conference this week in Chicago that just ended today. It will come in handy as a real time detector.

Also Alivecor announced their new KARDIA PRO which is a more sophisticated KARDIA app for doctors and caregivers so that patients with an Alivecor mobile monitor and Kardia Pro app can be hooked in to their EP/Cardio's office and with more sophisticated direct reporting of arrhythmias being recorded and sent to your doc on a schedule they can set up.

It will help lessen the overload that can happen when over eager patients inundated their docs office with a dozen EKG strips a day for weeks on end, and overall it will take the place of a system like the Life-Watch monitor often given out to patients post ablation for a 4 month follow up period.

There are a number of these new monitoring systems coming out and improved version every year.

Lots of great stuff for the AFIB world as well as real advances in research and ablation technology and understanding that was on full display in Chicago.

Cheers!
Shannon