Wi-Fi Pacemaker

This July a wireless pacemaker, able to communicate critical data through Wi-Fi, was approved by the FDA. This wireless pacemaker was designed by St. Jude Medical Inc. with the idea of creating a pacemaker able to communicate with the doctor. This pacemaker uses the internet to communicate a patient history to the doctor. The pacemaker shows the doctor the patient’s rhythm history and any abnormalities with the device once the information is downloaded. The pacemaker can also alert the doctor if an emergency is occurring via a 24/7 telephone call. For instance if a patient is sleeping at home and the pacemaker has a critical malfunction, for instance a lead becomes defective, the device uses a nearby wireless network to alert the patients doctor. Carol Kasyjanski was the first patient in the US to have one of these pacemakers implanted in her. She has had an older pacemaker for 20 years until it failed. She says that having this new technology gives her great relief that if something goes wrong the doctor will know. This wireless pacemaker is opening a door to new technology such as being able to use these pacemakers to regulate slow heartbeats but also monitor blood pressure, glucose levels, and even heart failure.

I found this article interesting for several reasons. I one day hope to become a Cardiothoracic surgeon, so naturally reading an article on a new advancement in cardiovascular technology would be very interesting. I also find this article interesting from the stance of being an engineer. I can appreciate the hard work and ingenious engineering that went into designing this device. I also find this article more interesting after studying the cardiovascular system in class. Now that I have a better understanding of the organ system I have a much greater appreciation for this technology.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,538908,00.html?sPage=fnc/health/heart
Andrew Ritchey VTPP 435-502