AliveCor KardiaMobile 6L ECG |FDA-Cleared | Wireless 6-Lead EKG | Detects AFib or Normal Heart Rhythm in 30 Seconds

I am a cardiologist, and to me this device is incredible.

As background, a true EKG done in a doctor’s office has 12 leads. I had the first AliveCor device from 5-6 years ago — and it was revolutionary, allowing you to see ONE of the 12 EKG leads. The AppleWatch released last year also gives you ONE of the 12 leads of a normal EKG. For most purposes — one lead is all you need for determining things like irregular heart rhythms (usually “atrial fibrillation”). But for anything else – you need more leads. So with this new device giving 6 out of 12 leads, this is simply fantastic. Now a doctor can see this and determine not only heart rhythm, but axis, conduction abnormalities, and even ischemic changes (ie. early signs of a heart attack).

Honestly for an average person, I don’t know if it is necessary to take an EKG repetitively. But for clinicians, it’s incredible to be able to take EKGs with this device. I have used it when I travel abroad and at parties with friends and family. The other day I was able to pick up an asympatomatic EKG abnomality (“WPW”) in a friend at dinner. I can also see a scenario in the future, where doctors prescribed this device medically in selected people who had racing heartbeats — since existing EKG monitors only give one lead, this could conceivably give much more information – if the patient had the device nearby at the time of the event.