FDA APPROVES WIRELESS MEDICAL DEVICE

The FDA recently approved a wireless in-home medical monitoring device that will allow physicians to remotely monitor patient health. Guidant's LATITUDE Communicator allows doctors to read implantable device information, including blood pressure and weight, in order to help patients at risk of heart failure and sudden cardiac death.

The device transmits the data to a secure Internet server, from which the physician can access this medical information at any time. In addition to wireless, automatic device data uploads, the Communicator enables LATITUDE Active Monitoring, a daily confirmation of the patient's device status.