AliveCor Targets Consumers with Latest Smartphone ECG

Mobile health pioneer AliveCor has debuted its third-generation heart monitor, which is now available for $74.99. That price point is a considerably lower than that of the $199 price tag of earlier versions of the ECG technology, which could broaden adoption among consumers. A recent PwC survey found that a minority of consumers would be willing to pay more than $100 for a wearable health-monitoring device.

The AliveCor device can be used with Apple and Android mobile devices. Developed with assistance from IDEO, the latest version of the heart monitor is 50% thinner and 40% lighter than the prior version of the technology.

"The design changes in the third generation as well as our lowered the price were based on feedback from our customers and an effort to make the product more accessible for more people. Additionally we will soon be selling the new device on Amazon and through our recently announced collaboration with Omron so in addition to the price, we are expanding our distribution channels to reach more people who need this service," said Euan Thomson, president and chief executive officer of AliveCor.

The company has gradually expanded access of its mobile ECG technology to a growing number of customers, which was first limited to clinicians and later expanded to include consumers, after the company won over-the-counter clearance for the technology from FDA.

The technology could be especially beneficial for patients suffering from atrial fibrillation, which affects some 140 million people globally. The mobile ECG device can help patients with conditions like atrial fibrillation monitor their condition as well as help those with undiagnosed conditions detect irregularities.

The company boasts that its technology is now being used to record 130,000 ECGs per month.

The company earlier debuted an FDA-cleared atrial fibrillation detector algorithm, which has been used to detect more than 20,000 incidents of atrial fibrillation.

The company plans on shipping the next-generation of its heart monitor in early January 2015.

The company demonstrates how the technology works in the follow video (which shows the previous iteration of the heart monitor):

Brian Buntz is the editor-in-chief of MPMN. Follow him on Twitter at @brian_buntz and Google+.

Like what you're reading? Subscribe to our daily e-newsletter.