Firefighter, 34, who suffers from blackouts gets a Bluetooth device implanted in chest allowing doctors to remotely monitor her heartbeat
- Sian Jones, 34, of Southampton, one of the first people in Europe to have the implant fitted
- The firefighter suffers injuries due to serious injuries sustained in a car crash
- The implant will send data about her heart straight to a mobile phone app
- It is a simple ten minute operation to fit the implant
A British firefighter has become one of the first people in Europe to be fitted with a Bluetooth device which will allow doctors to monitor her heartbeat from afar.
Sian Jones, 34, had the device fitted to her ticker during a ten minute operation this week at the University Hospital Southampton.
The new device will record her heart’s activity and then send it to a smartphone which can upload the data via the MyCareLink app.
Firefighter Sian Jones with the implant which sends data on her heart to her mobile phone
The device is no larger than a standard paper clip. It is designed to be used by people who need long-term monitoring due to issues such as blackouts or heart palpitations.
Firefighter Sian Jones had the Medtronic implant fitted to record her heart’s activity
The firefighter broke her neck in a car crash when she was 18 and she has experience unexplained blackouts ever since.
Ms Jones, of Totton, near Southampton, told The Telegraph: ‘The crash was very serious. I was told I was millimetres away from being disabled or even dying from my injuries.
‘I was left with metal plates in the front and back of my neck and I’ve also had these often erratic episodes ever since.
‘I can sometimes go for months without it happening and then I will blackout numerous times.
The Bluetooth implant is the same size as a standard paperclip
Sian Jones, 34, is shown by a nurse how to view the implant’s data on her mobile phone
‘Hopefully this will help find out what is causing it as I can’t risk it happening me to when we are on a fire call.
‘I can feel the implant but not as much as I thought I would.’
Medtronic, the American technology business, designed the implant. It will share up-to-date information with Ms Jones’ health team.
Paul Roberts, a consultant cardiologist at the hospital, said the device meant that people with heart monitors would no longer need to go to hospital to have the data recorded.
He said: ‘We are one of the first in Europe to implant this pioneering device that will now allow us to see 24/7 what is happening.
‘It’s different to the Bluetooth that we have on our earphones and speakers. Bluesync technology is low-energy and a new and novel form which also has the rigorous high level cyber security measures in place.
‘Once it’s implanted we pair it up the same way you would pair up other devices, and all the patient needs to do is keep the app open in the background on their phone or tablet.’
Consultant cardiologist Paul Roberts praised the device
David Southworth, 73, from Colchester, became the first person in the world to be fitted with a Medtronic Cobalt implant that can monitor his heartbeat.
Since then several more people have been fitted with the device.