amazing technology that sort of uses IM

Three years ago, if someone would have asked me what a defibrillator was, I would have not had a clue. Now, not only do I know what a defibrillator is, but I also have one; it has totally opened my eyes to medical technology.

In late 2006, I began getting really fast heart beats that would make me feel out of breath and often pass out. After several trips to the emergency room, many tests, and some heart monitors, I was diagnosed with ventricular tachycardia (VT) with fibrillation in February 2007. VT is a fast and irregular heartbeat, which can lead to stroke or sudden death. I had two surgeries in an attempt to correct the problem, but neither were successful, and I ended up at the Mayo Clinic. Here, the doctors discovered I not only had VT, but atrial fibrillation, which complicated matters even more. Because the problem seemed too risky to try to correct, I had a Medtronic Virtuoso Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator (ICD) placed in me in July 2008.

The official Medtronic website defines the Virtuoso as "the latest generation of cardiac rhythm disease management." It is constantly monitoring, and delivers the appropriate therapy when necessary; for shorter arrhythmias that do not exceed 180 beats per minute (BPM), the Virtuoso acts as a pacemaker, and paces the heart back into a normal rhythm. For sustained arrhythmias more than 180 BPM, the Virtuoso will deliver a therapy shock. I have experienced both- and I have to say, the shocks are NOT fun.

The Virtuoso is equipped with Conexus Wireless Telemetry and SmartRadio Technology. This uses the Medical Implant Communications Service (MICS) radio frequency band 420-405 MHz. This technology allows the Virtuoso to communicate with the clinical programmer. In the actual Pacemaker Clinic, the technician can adjust the BPM level (mine was originally set at 160, they changed it to 180) and the voltage of therapy shocks delivered. The information stored on Virtuoso is transmitted, and all of the arrhythmias are pulled onto the computer screen. The really cool part is that I can also send my transmissions from home, instead of driving up to Colorado Springs for a 10 minute appointment every time I'm suppose to send in my recordings. I have a home device that plugs into the phone line, and sends the transmissions through this device to the Pacemaker Clinic. Not only that, but should I have a very dangerous arrhythmia, the Virtuoso will communicate with the home communication device, and send a notification to my doctor.

So, while my Virtuoso may not exactly be interactive media, it's a pretty darn cool piece of technology and it even uses radio waves and the internet! I am very thankful to have the Virtuoso- while it may not have made my problem disappear, I feel a whole late safer knowing that it can stop a dangerous arrhythmia.