Medtronic Goes All In for Wireless Patient Monitoring

By Jordan Manser, Technical Writer

Medical device giant Medtronic is said to be in the final stages of acquiring Corventis, a medical sensor company, for more than $150 million. Neither company has commented on the merger, but it is expected to be formally announced in the coming weeks. Medtronic’s acquisition of Corventis enables the company to get a footing in wireless patient monitoring, a growing trend in healthcare.

With Corventis comes two FDA-cleared products, the Nuvant Mobile Cardiac Telemetry System (MCT) and the AVIVO Mobile Patient Management System (MPM). Both wireless patient monitoring products continuously measure, record, and periodically transmit physiological data. Nuvant MCT provides continuous monitoring of cardiac abnormalities and transmits data to a wireless receiver worn on a clip or belt so physicians can detect problems in a timely way. Via peel-and-stick sensors, AVIVO MPM continuously monitors the health status of ambulatory patients so healthcare providers can proactively identify concerning trends and intervene before problems progress.

According to a Fierce Markets article titled, “Medtronic Eyes Peel-and-Stick sensor company with a $150M Deal”, Medtronic is not the only company eyeing the wireless patient monitoring market. Companies like Philips, IRhythm, and Sorin are all building up their product offerings in that market.

So, what does this shift to wireless patient monitoring mean for the healthcare industry? Wireless patient monitoring is a growing trend in healthcare and contributes to the vision of the Connected Hospital. The Connected Hospital is a fully integrated hospital where wireless technology allows caregivers and patients to roam throughout the hospital while providing accurate and timely monitoring. In a Connected Hospital caregivers can focus on providing the best quality of care to their patients, instead of on administrative tasks. As the number of patients per nurse will unfortunately grow due to ever increasing nurse shortages, these gained efficiencies will be crucial to providing quality patient care.

Patient safety, data accuracy, and mobility will all be fueled by wireless technology. In the Connected Hospital, every device is connected and communicating with EHRs (Electronic Health Records) for accurate patient records and real-time data analysis. Nurses can monitor many patients remotely from one main station, receiving alerts and observing data captured each second on the patients’ health, and doctors can make more informed decisions with accurate and up-to-date patient information, leading to better patient outcomes. Patients and their family can feel safe, knowing that they will always receive the correct dosage of the right medication, will always receive the greatest care from medical staff, and will feel more comfortable not being tied down by wired medical devices.

For more detailed information and resources such as videos, white papers, articles, and links to documentation visit the Connected Hospital webpage.

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