iMedicalApps had the opportunity to attend the 2013 USC Body Computing Conference a few days ago. This week, we’ll share some of the highlights.
The FDA-cleared AliveCor Heart Monitor ECG for smartphones is now available for Android devices in addition to current compatibility with iOS phones.
While previous iOS versions of the AliveCor were integrated with a case for the iPhone 4/4S/5/5S (which we reviewed previously), the newly announced universal Heart Monitor mounts directly to the back of the smartphone or a universal attachment plate.
This offers compatibility with the Samsung Galaxy S3, S4, and HTC One, in addition to iOS devices. AliveCor will also continue to sell case-integrated versions of the Heart Monitor ECG for the iPhone 4, 4S, 5, 5S, and Samsung Galaxy S4.
The announcement of the AliveCor Heart Monitor’s new compatibility with Android also coincided with several other related announcements at the 7th Annual Body Computing Conference, held on October 4th, 2013.
First off, the USC Center for Body Computing’s Executive Director, Dr. Leslie Saxon (also Chief of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine at USC), launched a 12-month study by handing out 300 AliveCor Heart Monitors to those who attended the conference, and will be expanding the number of subjects to up to 5,000. In addition, Dr. Leslie Saxon and the USC Center for Body Computing demonstrated the iPhone app BioGram, which utilizes the AliveCor Heart Monitor to superimpose the user’s heart rate to images uploaded to Instagram.
Finally, the Body Computing Conference included a brief demonstration of a concept for a smartphone-enabled 12-lead ECG Heart Monitor using a wrist attachment and probe sensor. AliveCor co-founder Dr. David Albert cited the creation of this concept demo as a response to the most commonly requested feature for the existing line of AliveCor Heart Monitors, which generate single lead ECG’s. The newly-announced AliveCor Heart Monitor for Android was approved by the FDA for sale as a Class II medical device, and is now on sale for $199.
Product Link – AliveCor Heart Monitor
This article is part of iMedicalApps’ coverage of the 7th annual Body Computing Conference, hosted by the USC Body Computing Center, which took place on October 4th, 2013. The event showcases the cutting edge of digital health, in partnership with industry leaders and venture capitalists in biotechnology, telecommunications, entertainment, and design.
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ALIVECOR UNVEILS VERSATILE MOBILE HEART MONITOR
Technology can now be used with iOS and Android Smartphones
LOS ANGELES, CA., October 4 — AliveCor, Inc., announced today at the University of Southern California Body Computing Conference its new versatile Heart Monitor that easily attaches to any compatible smartphone or smartphone case.
This new universal design includes the proprietary AliveCor ultrasound technology that enables a clinical-quality ECG recording of the heart’s activity, while minimizing battery drain. The compact design is easy to install and is transferable among various mobile devices. Just like the current Heart Monitor, it is clinically accurate, simple, and powerful.
“We have today extended the benefits of our mobile ECG technology to a new range of smartphones, significantly expanding customer access,” said Euan Thomson, CEO and President of AliveCor. “The AliveCor Heart Monitor is small, versatile, uses very little battery power, and can be used any time in almost any location.”
The FDA-cleared Heart Monitor attaches directly to the back of the mobile device or its case with the universal attachment plate. Current Android devices supported are the Samsung Galaxy S3, S4, and HTC One. Apple devices supported are the iPhone® 4, 4S, and 5 and – new today – the iPod touch 5. For those that prefer the Heart Monitor as a case, AliveCor offers cases for the Galaxy S4 and for the iPhone 4, 4S, and 5.
“From its early days, I’ve studied and published peer-reviewed research on the AliveCor device,” said Dr. Leslie Saxon, the Chief of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, and the Executive Director of the USC Center for Body Computing, a digital health research and innovation center. “I think it is one of the more important technologies in recent years that enables large scale healthcare awareness and literacy.
The Heart Monitor is available for purchase in the United States to medical professionals and patients with prescriptions – please visit www.alivecor.com.
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AliveCor, Inc., a privately held company headquartered in San Francisco, CA, believes everyone should have their health at their fingertips. They plan to make the vital health signs of people around the globe easily visible and actionable, at exceptionally low cost. This improves everything from public health to the lives and possibilities of people all over the world. For more info, please visit AliveCor.com, follow us on Twitter @AliveCor, on Facebook at facebook.com/alivecor and view our videos at youtube.com/alivecor.
Ed Note: This post was amended to reflect the fact that AliveCor received FDA clearance through a 510k filing and not approval through a premarket evaluation process.
