IN THIS ISSUE

From the Winter 2006 Issue

Cardiovascular News

New System Monitors
Cardiac Device Patients at Home

Imagine relaxing in the comfort of your home. And at the same time, your doctor is getting important information (data) from your cardiac device—such as whether your device delivered high-energy therapy or how much energy is left in the battery. Imagine also measuring your weight and blood pressure from home and having the measurements automatically sent to your doctor.

Does this scene sound like science fiction? It's not. The LATITUDE® Patient Management system offers a new way to check data stored in implanted cardiac devices. And it gives us a look at how doctors and nurses may check cardiac device patients in the future.

The technology in the LATITUDE system allows your doctor to get the same data from your device whether you are at home or in your doctor's office. This information transfer happens automatically.

What Is Remote Monitoring?

LATITUDE Patient Management is a new remote monitoring system for cardiac device patients:

• "Remote" because you don't need to be at your doctor's office to have your device checked. Instead, the LATITUDE system checks your device while you're at home.
• "Monitoring" because the system can check your device as often as every day and alert your doctor if necessary (for example, if the battery power is low).

How the LATITUDE System Works

The LATITUDE Patient Management system uses a small piece of equipment, called the Communicator, to collect data from your device. The Communicator sits in your home. It plugs into a phone jack and power outlet, and fits easily on a nightstand (Figure 1). It has a short antenna, like those on cordless phones.

The Communicator automatically collects information from your device on a schedule set by your doctor. It then sends this information through the phone line to a secure website that your doctor can access with a password. Best of all, you won't feel a thing.

Figure 1. LATITUDE Communicator

Click to enlarge

What Information Is Sent?

The LATITUDE system allows your doctor to gather the same information from your device, remotely, that he or she would gather if you were physically in the office for a check-up. The LATITUDE system can provide your doctor with three types of information:

1. Daily or weekly status checks with doctor alerts—The Communicator can check certain functions of your device as often as every day. If necessary, your doctor is alerted of potential problems. For example, the Communicator will alert your doctor if the battery power is low or if there is a sign of a possible device problem.
2. Scheduled device follow-ups—The Communicator enables your doctor to collect the same type of information remotely that he or she would normally collect during a routine office visit. For example, the system can check your heart rate and rhythm and the treatment your device delivered since your last visit. At an office visit, this process is typically done by holding a wand over the device. With the LATITUDE system, the data are collected wirelessly and sent automatically over your phone line.
3. Weight and blood pressure readings—Your doctor can collect daily weight and blood pressure readings. These readings may be important for heart failure patients.

Note that even though the LATITUDE system allows your doctor to gather some information remotely, you'll still need to go in for an occasional office visit.

What Do I Have to Do?

Very little. For your doctor to collect information from your device, you need to be within 8 feet of the Communicator. If you have a phone jack in your bedroom, you may want to put the Communicator on the nightstand next to your bed. That way the system can collect the data from your device while you sleep. Your doctor decides how often to collect the data, and the LATITUDE system does the rest.

If your doctor also wants to collect weight and blood pressure readings, you will receive a special blood pressure monitor and scale as part of your remote monitoring system (Figure 2). For your doctor to collect this information, you'll need to:

• Step on the scale to weigh yourself
• Put the blood pressure cuff on your upper arm and press the Start button

Again, the LATITUDE system does the rest. Your weight and blood pressure readings are automatically sent from the scale and cuff to the Communicator, and then on to your doctor.

Figure 2. LATITUDE Blood Pressure Cuff and Scale

Click to enlarge

How Is the Information Sent?

The Communicator sends the device data and weight and blood pressure readings to your doctor through your phone line. The Communicator and your phone use the same phone line. If you are on the phone when the Communicator is scheduled to send data, the Communicator will wait until you hang up to do its job. So you can still make phone calls whenever you choose.

When Is the Information Collected?

It depends. For the most part, doctors will gather device data only once every few months. But they may want to get weight and blood pressure readings, or basic device information, as often as every day. Your doctor will program your system to collect the data as often as needed to manage your care.

Helping Both Patients and Doctors

The LATITUDE Patient Management system may reduce the number of office visits needed. The convenience can save you time.

Likewise, your doctor may save time with fewer office visits. Your doctor may also review device data faster on a computer than by looking through paper records. Those benefits may help your doctor see—and treat—changes in your health quickly, without waiting for your next office visit.

Although you and your doctor may benefit from the LATITUDE system, it's still up to you whether or not to use it.

Your cardiac device is designed to help your heart work better. And this new remote monitoring system is designed to make life with your device more convenient—for both you and your doctor.

Talk to your doctor about important safety information.