Fourth Frontier Earns FDA Approval for Wearable ECG Monitor

The device demonstrated improved signal quality during a range of motions including during intense exercise.

Frontier X Plus
Fourth Frontier

Fourth Frontier, a medical technology company based out of New York and Bangalore, announced the 510(k) clearance of the Frontier X Plus from the FDA. The Frontier X Plus is a single-lead, continuous ECG monitor that is worn around the chest and wirelessly relays the user's ECG instantly to remote dashboards. A range of advanced algorithms identify and classify cardiac rhythm as Bradycardia, Tachycardia, Normal Sinus Rhythm, or Atrial Fibrillation. The device demonstrated improved signal quality during a range of motions including during intense exercise. The wearable ECG monitor further demonstrated equivalence in the classification of cardiac arrhythmias when compared with the conventional 12-lead ECG, through clinical trials in India and the U.S.

According to the Center for Disease Control, one person dies every 33 seconds from Cardiovascular Disease (CVD), and CVDs are responsible for one in every five deaths in the US. The American Heart Association reports that between three to six million Americans have reported an incidence of Atrial Fibrillation. This number is expected to rise to 16 million by 2050. Atrial Fibrillation has been described as a global epidemic and is a key indicator of reduced morbidity and mortality in individuals of all age groups. Globally, the incidence and prevalence of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) has been increasingly observed in younger individuals and is one of the leading reasons for premature death.

"We have seen cardiac arrhythmias develop in individuals of all ages, and the incidence is significantly higher for individuals who are both active and have cardiac health risk factors. The percentage of population that falls in the confluence of these categories is continuously rising. Since the FX+ is able to capture ECGs during all kinds of motion and activity, we think this will be a game changer and significantly improve the early detection of cardiovascular disease," said Manav Bhushan, co-founder and CEO of Fourth Frontier.

With this clearance, the company plans to enter the US market as a prescription based, class II medical device. Fourth Frontier will partner with Independent Diagnostic Testing Facilities (IDTFs) and cardiac rehabilitation centers to offer at-home remote monitoring services. In the near future, the company has plans to introduce AI algorithms which analyse the ECG for early diagnosis of different kinds of heart conditions, a potential breakthrough for people using the device in their everyday lives.

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