title: Maintaining Accurate Long-Term Sensing Ability Despite Significant Size Reduction of Implantable Cardiac Monitors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Reveal LINQ™ implantable cardiac monitor (ICM; Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA) is obviously smaller than its precursor (the Reveal XT™), but little is known about its long-term safety. Here, we investigated the long-term R-wave sensing reliability of the Reveal LINQ™ ICM.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed the sensing quality of the Reveal LINQ™ ICM over time between March 2014 and January 2015.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 30 patients underwent Reveal LINQ™ implantation. The main reason for implantation was unexplained syncope (60%). We evaluated a total of 305.8 patient-months (median, 10.7 months) of R-wave sensing quality. A comparison of baseline and follow-up R-wave sensing values revealed no difference (0.401 mV ± 0.244 mV vs 0.447 mV ± 0.323 mV; P = 0.225).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The consistent detection of events is an important safety feature of an ICM and linked to secure R-wave sensing. Despite the noticeable size reduction, the Reveal LINQ™ ICM retains reliable sensing quality over time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, West-German Heart and Vascular Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lortz
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, West-German Heart and Vascular Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Varnavas
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Varnavas
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, West-German Heart and Vascular Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Wilko
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: WEIßENBERGER
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Raimund
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Erbel
authors.affiliation: Division of Electrophysiology, Department of Internal Medicine I and Cardiology, Alfried Krupp Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Nico
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Reinsch
mesh_terms: D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D004868:Equipment Failure; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008904:Miniaturization; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013575:Syncope / Q000175:diagnosis; D059015:Wireless Technology / Q000295:instrumentation*
keywords: R-wave sensing; implantable cardiac monitor; signal quality