The Reveal LINQ insertable cardiac monitor

Abstract

Insertable cardiac monitors (ICMs) are leadless subcutaneous devices that continuously monitor the heart rhythm and record events over a timeframe measured in years, allowing for the diagnosis of infrequent rhythm abnormalities that can be the cause of palpitations, syncope and stroke. To date, ICMs have primarily been used in the work-up and management of syncope; however, their use in other areas of rhythm evaluation, particularly atrial fibrillation monitoring, is increasing. The Reveal LINQ™ is the smallest and most versatile ICM available and represents a dramatic leap forward in ICM technology that has the potential to transform patient care in a number of circumstances. Device miniaturization, simplified implant procedure and enhanced automation vastly increase physician and patient acceptance. The next 5 years can be expected to bring a greatly increased use of ICMs for disease diagnosis and management in a variety of clinical settings.

Keywords:

• arrhythmia
• atrial fibrillation
• implantable loop recorder
• insertable cardiac monitor
• loop recorder
• syncope

Financial & competing interests disclosure

R Passman: Medtronic: consultant, research support, speaker’s bureau; Boehringer Ingelheim: speaker’s bureau; Janssen Pharmaceuticals: speaker’s bureau; Pfizer/ BMS: speaker’s bureau; UpToDate: author royalties; NIH: research support. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Key issues

• Insertable cardiac monitors (ICMs) are subcutaneous devices that continuously record a far-field ECG over prolonged periods of time (years), allowing for the diagnosis of infrequent abnormal heart rhythms and correlation of the heart rhythm during symptoms, such as syncope or palpitations.

• To date, ICMs have primarily been used in the work-up and management of syncope; however, their use in other areas of rhythm evaluation, particularly atrial fibrillation monitoring, is increasing.

• The Reveal LINQ™ is the latest ICM to come to market and represents a dramatic leap forward in ICM technology that has the potential to transform patient care in a number of circumstances.

• The miniaturization of the device, simplified implant procedure and enhanced automation vastly increase physician and patient acceptance.

• The next 5 years can be expected to bring a greatly increased use of ICMs in a variety of clinical settings.

Notes