Medtronic CareLink

Hello Everyone,

I'm just wondering if anyone knows anything about how much pacemaker battery power is used when downloading pacemaker data via radiofrequency transmission, compared to a clinic download done by an attending Medtronic technician?

I believe remote downloads use more energy and potentially over years this could result in the pacemaker needing to be replaced sooner. But I don 't know how significant a difference this is - are we talking about months or years?  

Appreciate your help as always :)

 

 

4 Comments

home monitor

by The real Patch - 2018-02-15 10:44:56

great question...and just how do they download the data at the clinic?

One days

by marylandpm - 2018-02-15 10:48:29

 I am 100% paced and was told I use up one days worth of battery life for each transmission. A Medtronic tech told me that when I first got the remote monitor and I sent multiple transmission in at one time. 

Carelink

by islandgirl - 2018-02-15 15:57:49

Good question.  I have an ICD/pm.  I am 100% paced with SSS.  Mine downloads automatically once a month.  It supposedly does something between 12-4 am.  Occasionally my EP or the office will call or text me to send a download.  I may send an extra one myself every couple of months.  I have been seeing my EP every couple of months, and or course, they interrogate it.  My regular tech hasn't been there, so the one I've seen lately seems to be very impersonable and also seems to follow a script!  He seems inconvenienced when I ask a quesiton, so I just end up asking my EP.  Sometimes my EP calls him back into the office---and you can tell he doesn't like having to come back in.  I can't worry about reducing the battery life that way.  I am more frustrated he has my minimum pulse set at 70---used to be 60, even though I was also paced 100% at 60.  

Thank you

by Paced2017 - 2018-02-16 05:13:44

Thanks for all your comments. If it's one day's worth of battery life per transmission then over the life of a pacemaker with say 3-4 downloads per year that's not too much to worry about. I agree that techs probably vary alot in their interest and knowledge so can't necessarily be relied on for accurate information above and beyond routine questions.

Reading back over ElectricFrank's posts was interesting and a reminder how this club works because of the support  we can give each other, so thanks again.

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