Company with Oklahoma ties gets FDA approval on heart monitor

AliveCor, which was founded in Oklahoma City but now is based in San Francisco, made the announcement Monday at the 4th annual mHealth Summit in Washington, D.C. Dr. David Albert, AliveCor founder, and co-founders Bruce Satchwell and Kim Barnett were also granted a patent for the device and technology, which they began working on in 2008.

“We believe that mobile ECGs and other breakthroughs in mobile health can significantly change the way medicine is delivered,” Albert said.

AliveCor's heart monitor is initially intended for use by physicians. It can record, display, store, transfer and evaluate electrocardiogram rhythms via the device, which incorporates electrodes into a case that snaps onto the back of an iPhone 4 or 4S. To use the heart monitor, users launch the AliveECG app on the iPhone and either press the patient's fingers on the electrodes or place it on the chest. It can detect a heart blockage or unstable heartbeat, or monitor heart rate during exercise.

For more information, visit www.alivecor.com.