A FIREFIGHTER became the first person in the UK to have a Bluetooth heart monitor implanted in her chest that medics can check remotely.
Sian Jones, 34, hopes the 3cm device will help her understand blackouts she has suffered since a car crash aged 18.
A team at University Hospital Southampton took less than ten minutes to inject it under her skin. It also lets her to see the data on an app.
Sian, of Totton, Hants, said: “The monitor is incredible. Before, when I’ve passed out they haven’t picked up anything because by the time I get to the doctors it is too late. Hopefully this will give answers.”
Consultant cardiologist Dr Paul Roberts said the tech was “game changing”.
He said: “We are one of the first in Europe to implant this pioneering device that will now allow us to see 24/7 what is happening on that ECG without the patient having to leave their home.
“It’s different to the Bluetooth we have on our earphones and speakers – BlueSync technology is low energy and a new and novel form which also has rigorous high-level cyber security measures in place.
“Once it’s implanted we pair it up in the same way you would pair up other devices, and all the patient needs to do is keep the app open in the background on their phone or tablet to allow the data to transfer.
“Until now, we have had to bring the patient into hospital and remove the data from the device, sometimes every month.
“We don’t need to do that anymore – we can see it instantly. This is particularly useful while we are in the grip of the Covid-19 pandemic, allowing patients to stay at home.”
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