Hartritmemonitor

Hartritmemonitor is a medical device designed to record and analyze the heart's electrical activity over an extended period to detect abnormal heart rhythms, or arrhythmias. It is used in ambulatory settings or through implanted systems to provide long-term rhythm data beyond a single clinical visit.

Devices in this category vary by duration and method. External options include Holter monitors, which record continuously for 24 to 48 hours using chest-mounted electrodes; and event or loop recorders, which are patient-activated or automatically triggered to capture specific episodes and can be worn for weeks to months. Patch monitors are lightweight, disposable sensors worn on the chest for extended periods. Implantable loop recorders are placed under the skin and can monitor heart rhythm for months to years, transmitting data when events occur or on a scheduled basis. Consumer wearables with ECG or rhythm-tracking features are increasingly used for informal monitoring but are not always a substitute for medical-grade devices.

How it works: electrodes or sensors detect the heart’s electrical signals (ECG), and the device stores or transmits data for analysis. A clinician reviews recorded episodes to identify arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation, bradycardia, or tachycardia, and to correlate events with symptoms.

Indications include unexplained syncope, palpitations, dizziness, chest pain, and monitoring before or after interventions. Benefits include longer observation periods and objective documentation; limitations include patient comfort, data volume, artifacts, false positives, and, for implanted devices, procedural risks. Data privacy and device safety are guided by medical standards and regulations. The concept emerged with the Holter monitor in the mid-20th century and has since evolved into diverse monitoring options.