Telephone checks

I have a Boston Scientific Altrua 60 pacemaker. At my 1st follow-up check 3 weeks ago they gave me my unit to do the phone in checks. This machine has 2 wristbands and a cradle for the phone.

My question is, what data gets transmitted to the clinician? Do they get an ECG reading or just my heart rate? Is it just checking that the device goes into magnet mode when I place the magnet over the PM?

I should have asked these questions at my appointment but didn't think about it. I had a million other questions!

Thanks for any help.

6 Comments

Phone Checks

by ElectricFrank - 2011-04-16 11:04:03

The phone checks actually check most of the same data that is checked in the office. The only difference is that they can't change any settings. The wrist band aren't actually doing and ECG, but use the same type of electrical signals to sync certain readings.

Most of the modern pacers aren't interrogated using a magnet. It is just a term for the antenna you put over it that sends a signal to the pacemaker to transmit the data. The pacer still has a magnet sensor to be used in emergency situations.

frank

Phone checks

by janetinak - 2011-04-17 01:04:08

Thanks to Frank for info. I have been doing the phone check with a device like you describe since 2001 every 3 months. That is, I do the phone check alternating with an office check. I thought that what I was doing was what Frank says but that the time remaining on the PM only can be checked in the office. I have used the "donut" shaped thingie all that time with no problem tho. Funny thing is that I have to go into the bathroom in the center of house-no windows for it to work. Maybe Frank can tell me why that is. Frank?

Janet

Maybe?

by ElectricFrank - 2011-04-17 02:04:53

That's a new one on me, but I have Medtronic Care Link.

I'm wondering if the information isn't being transferred by some other means. Maybe it is using a wireless connection to the unit. Or some kind of transmission though the wrist electrodes. The thing that doesn't make sense otherwise is how any usable info could be sent via a wrist to wrist ECG type hookup.

By the way there is no reason to be spooked by the magnet test at home. It's really no different than the one I use other than how it is activated. Mine runs me through heart rates of 55, 85 and 100 while it changes modes and skips a beat or two. Kind of like a Disney World ride.

Janet, the first thing that occurred to me is transmission via infrared light like some of the TV remotes, but I'm not sure how they would pass that through the skin. They can be sensitive to bright extraneous light.

If anyone finds the answer let me know. I'll store it in the 80yr old memory bank in my head. LOL

frank

Pacetrak

by Parrothead57 - 2011-04-17 10:04:26

Janet,
My phone unit is called Pacetrak speaks. Last night I found the manufacturer's website. It had limited information Here is a short discription:

Increase patient compliance and improve pacemaker report quality.
In a matter of minutes, the portable, battery-operated Pacetrak Speaks™ transmits real-time ECGs and pacemaker information over any telephone to Cardiostation™ or any commercially available ECG
receiving station. The converted signal can be put in report format for immediate analysis and interpretation. Through improved patient alert features and a universal phone-cradle design, communication between
clinicians and the patient is simple and understandable. Additionally,baseline artifacts and spike sensitivity are controlled remotely, greatly improving signal integrity and reducing retests.

I didn't see any specific information regarding useage in certain locations in the house, so I'm bafflled as well. I will ask this question at my next appointment. It will be question # 2,321.

Here is a link to the information I found.
http://www.opsmedical.com/documents/pacetrak_speaks.pdf

Frank, thank you for the reassurance about testing at home. BTW, I used to work for a company that made high end microprocessors. I just hope one of ours isn't in there because I've seen the quality that goes into the chips we built! Yikes! :-(
Take care!

Magnet

by Parrothead57 - 2011-04-17 12:04:31

Hi Frank,
Thanks for that information. I understand about the interrogation at the clinic using the telemetry wand. But this phone unit has a doughnut shaped magnet I'm supposed to place over my PM. This is to check that my device successfully goes into "magnet mode" and then back out when the magnet is removed. Its a bit scary to me to test that feature at home.
I go in for visit #2 in June and they're supposed to teach me all about it then. But thanks again, its good to know the phone unit transmits more than just HR.

Phone checks???

by johnl - 2011-04-18 05:04:48

I don,t know about all these telephone checks, my PM just gives me a whack now and again and I know it,s working .LOL

You know you're wired when...

Your signature looks like an EKG.

Member Quotes

Since I got my pacemaker, I don't pass out anymore! That's a blessing in itself.