The doctor is in . . . your pocket. That may soon be a reality for people with a cardiovascular condition. A German company has developed a mobile phone that provides a quick and simple way to measure, record and dispatch electrocardiogram (ECG) readings to a doctor or hospital. It will be available in Europe later this year.

The Handy sana from Medical Marketing Berlin GmbH (MMB GmbH) looks a lot like an iPhone and has the usual smart phone features. What makes it unique is an application called Heart Suite. This app allows the user to take his or her ECG instantly and relay the data to a doctor or qualified medical professional. To operate, the user places two fingers against the edge of the phone for 30 seconds. The data is then whisked away to a designated monitor in an xml file.

The new mobile device will be launched in the United Kingdom later this year by Medical Marketing UK Ltd, which has signed a deal with MMB GmbH for exclusive marketing rights for the H’andy sana and other products in the MMB portfolio.

The phone is reportedly carrier agnostic and will cost between £400 and £500, according to DOTmed News. A number of leading telecommunications companies have already expressed interest in taking the H’andy sana to market, says MMB GmbH.

source:medtechinsider