A portable heart rhythm monitor worn by a patient who suffers intermittent palpitations or loss of consciousness of unclear cause. The device transmits the patient’s heart rhythms by telephone to a central laboratory, where symptomatic and asymptomatic dysrhythmias (such as atrial fibrillation and atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardias) or heart blocks can be detected.
A compact device designed to be worn by a patient over a span of several days or weeks is utilized to monitor and record the patient’s electrocardiogram (EKG) whenever symptoms are detected. The patient has the ability to activate the device, capturing the EKG readings during episodes of concern.