Tiny Cardiac Monitor Detects Arrhythmias

March 01, 2014

In March, 2014, Hartford Hospital was the first in Connecticut to implant a new implantable cardiac monitor (Medtronic Reveal LINQ).

This device is 87% smaller than the previous monitor, lasts 3 years, and is implanted by injecting it under the skin in the chest. The entire procedure takes only a few minutes and only requires a small amount of local anesthetic. These devices are used to detect arrhythmias, like atrial fibrillation, which can cause palpitations, passing out, and strokes.

Dr. Steven Zweibel, the Director of Electrophysiology, stated that "the LINQ implantable loop recorder will revolutionize the way we monitor and treat atrial fibrillation". The device connects to a wireless cellular transmitter that is provided to the patient and can send information on the patient's heart rhythm back to their physicians almost immediately.

The patient who received the injectable monitor has had two mini-strokes (TIAs) which may have been caused by atrial fibrillation. The hope is that the LINQ device and monitor will reveal the cause of these events and allow his doctors to more appropriately target therapy so he does not go on to have a stroke.