Medtronic recently announced a new cellular accessory for its M-Link, which provides cardiac device patients the ability to send information stored in their implanted devices to their clinics via the CareLink Network. The new accessory would enable that transmission to take place over a cellular network instead of through the user's landline phone connection.

“The M-Link cellular accessory is making remote monitoring accessible to a greater number of eligible patients,” Pat Mackin, president of the Cardiac Rhythm Disease Management business and senior vice president at Medtronic stated in a company release. “Now patients without a telephone landline have a convenient option to access the CareLink Network and take advantage of the benefits that come with remote monitoring, including fewer in-clinic visits and peace of mind from knowing their device data can be transmitted using cellular technology, without the need for a landline.”

Here's more from Medtronic's release: "The M-Link cellular accessory provides patients with a convenient option to stay connected with their clinic from home, work, or while traveling globally. The M-Link cellular accessory securely connects to any CareLink Patient Monitor and allows patients to transmit data from their implanted device directly to their clinic through the secure CareLink Network. It also allows Medtronic CareAlert Notifications to be transmitted when any of the programmable alert conditions from a patient’s implanted device has occurred. Physicians and nurses can view the transmitted data through a secure Web site, giving them the opportunity for a “real-time” look at how the patient’s device is functioning. The information transmitted is comparable to that provided during an in-clinic device follow-up visit."

Read the full press release here