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BACKGROUNDER
Medtronic
CareLink
Network
Overview
The Medtronic CareLink Network is the leading Internet-based system to help physicians and
patients better manage chronic cardiovascular disease treated by implantable device therapy,
such as pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs). The service provides an
efficient, safe and convenient way for specialty physicians to remotely monitor the condition of
their patients. Medtronic launched the CareLink Network in the United States in 2002 and it
was made available in Europe in 2007.
Physician Benefits
Remote monitoring of devices allows clinicians to quickly and thoroughly review the status of a
patient’s heart condition and any changes that may have occurred since the last in-person
appointment or remote transmission. The CareLink Network also helps facilitate a timely
exchange of device information between various physicians involved in treating heart failure
patients, including the electrophysiologists who implant and monitor CRT devices and
cardiologists who follow the patient’s heart failure condition.
Patient Benefits
Because patients can transmit critical data from their heart device using a phone line from
home, work or while on vacation, they enjoy freedom from time-consuming travel to the
physician’s office for device monitoring. The service also provides peace of mind for the patient
and family members, knowing that if a health concern arises between scheduled in-person
appointments or remote data transmissions, patients have the option to transmit data for special
clinician review if directed by their physician.
Who Can Use It?
More than 500,000 patients affiliated with more than 4,000 cardiology clinics in 30 countries
currently are using the service. Those with a wide variety of Medtronic implantable cardiac
devices and who are followed by a physician that has chosen to offer the Medtronic CareLink
Network can use the service today. In the future, the system will be used with additional
device-based therapies to achieve disease management benefits.
The following Medtronic ICDs, CRT-Ds, Pacemakers and ICMs can be used with the
CareLink Network:
Protecta™ XT CRT-D
Protecta™ XT DR and
VR
Virtuoso® ICDs
EnTrust® ICDs
Concerto® CRT-Ds
InSync Sentry® CRT-Ds
Sensia® pacemakers
EnPulse pacemakers
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Protecta™
CRT-D
Protecta™ DR and VR
Vision 3D™:
Secura™ ICDs
Vision 3D™:
Maximo® II ICDs
Vision 3D™:
Consulta™ CRT-Ds
Vision 3D™:
Maximo® II CRT-Ds
Intrinsic® DR ICDs
Marquis DR and VR
ICDs
Maximo® DR and VR
ICDs
GEM III DR and VR
ICDs
GEM II DR and VR
ICDs
GEM and GEM DR
ICDs
InSync Maximo® CRTDs
InSync Marquis CRTDs
InSync II Marquis
CRT-Ds
InSync ICD CRT
Adapta® pacemakers
Kappa 900
pacemakers
Kappa 800
pacemakers
Kappa 700
pacemakers
Kappa 600
pacemakers
Reveal® DX ICM
Versa® pacemakers
Reveal XT™ ICM
How the Medtronic CareLink Network Works
The CareLink Network provides the most flexible alert system in the industry that offers
customizable and color-coded alert notifications for devices with Conexus Wireless Telemetry.
Through this network, patient data are transmitted from their implantable device using a
portable monitor that is connected to a standard telephone line. Within minutes, the patient’s
physician and nurses can view the data on a secure Internet Web site. Available information
includes arrhythmia episode reports and stored electrograms along with device integrity
information, which is comparable to the information provided during an in-clinic device followup visit, and provides the physician with a view of how the device and patient’s heart are
operating.
The CareLink Network also serves as the communications platform for Medtronic’s distance
wireless telemetry, Conexus® Wireless Telemetry with SmartRadio™, which allows for remote
and automatic transmission of device data to physicians at preset dates and times, or if the
system detects a notable change in the patient’s condition. Conexus Wireless Telemetry
currently is available with the Medtronic Vision 3D™ portfolio of cardiac resynchronization
therapy-defibrillators (CRT-Ds) and ICDs, and the Concerto® CRT-D and Virtuoso® ICDs.
About Medtronic
Medtronic, Inc. (www.medtronic.com), headquartered in Minneapolis, is the global leader in
medical technology – alleviating pain, restoring health, and extending life for millions of people
around the world.
CONTACTS:
Wendy Dougherty
(763) 526-2853
[email protected]
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Brief Statement
Medtronic ICDs and CRT-ICDs
Medtronic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs) are indicated for ventricular antitachycardia pacing and ventricular
defibrillation for automated treatment of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. Medtronic Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
(CRT) ICDs are indicated for ventricular antitachycardia pacing and ventricular defibrillation for automated treatment of lifethreatening ventricular arrhythmias and for the reduction of the symptoms of moderate to severe heart failure (NYHA Functional
Class III or IV) in those patients who remain symptomatic despite stable, optimal medical therapy and have a left ventricular
ejection fraction less than or equal to 35% and a prolonged QRS duration.
Contraindications
Medtronic ICDs and CRT-ICDs are contraindicated in patients whose ventricular tachyarrhythmias may have transient or reversible
causes, patients with incessant VT or VF, or patients who have a unipolar pacemaker. Medtronic ICDs are also contraindicated for
patients whose primary disorder is bradyarrhythmia.
Warnings and Precautions
Changes in a patient’s disease and/or medications may alter the efficacy of the device’s programmed parameters. Patients should
avoid sources of magnetic and electromagnetic radiation to avoid possible underdetection, inappropriate sensing and/or therapy
delivery, tissue damage, induction of an arrhythmia, device electrical reset, or device damage. Do not place transthoracic
defibrillation paddles directly over the device. Additionally, for CRT-ICDs, certain programming and device operations may not
provide cardiac resynchronization.
Potential Complications
Potential complications include, but are not limited to, rejection phenomena, erosion through the skin, muscle or nerve stimulation,
oversensing, failure to detect and/or terminate tachyarrhythmia episodes, acceleration of ventricular tachycardia, and surgical
complications such as hematoma, infection, inflammation, and thrombosis.
See the device manuals for detailed information regarding the implant procedure, indications, contraindications, warnings, precautions, and
potential complications/adverse events. For further information, please call Medtronic at 1 (800) 328-2518 and/or consult Medtronic’s website at
www.medtronic.com.
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