The iRhythm Zio Patch is a discreet wearable heart monitor used to continuously record your heart’s electrical activity (ECG) over an extended period — typically up to 14 days. It’s prescribed by a healthcare provider to help detect irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias) that might not show up on short tests like a standard ECG in a doctor’s office.
You wear a small, flexible patch on your chest. It records every heartbeat continuously while you go about daily life (you can usually shower and exercise). After the wear period, the patch is returned to iRhythm for analysis and a detailed diagnostic report is provided to your doctor.
It’s mainly used for diagnosing palpitations, suspected atrial fibrillation (AFib), dizziness, near-fainting episodes, and other symptoms that may be due to intermittent arrhythmias.
The Zio system is FDA-cleared and used widely in clinical care.
Doctors typically prescribe the Zio patch when someone has symptoms like:
- Palpitations
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Unexplained fatigue
- Shortness of breath
Device Type: Single-use, continuous ambulatory ECG monitoring patch
Primary Products:
- Zio XT® – up to 14 days monitoring
- Zio AT® – real-time telemetry + clinician alert
Form Factor
- Type: Adhesive, single-lead ECG patch
- Placement: Left pectoral region (sternal-aligned vector)
- Dimensions: ~123 × 53 × 10 mm
- Weight: ~34 grams
Sensors & Electronics
- ECG Electrodes: Integrated dry electrodes (no gel)
- ECG Lead Configuration: Modified Lead I–like vector optimized for arrhythmia detection
- Sampling Rate: ~200 Hz (clinically validated for rhythm analysis)
- Resolution: 10–12 bit ADC (medical ECG class)
- Onboard Memory: Flash storage sufficient for full continuous recording period
- Battery: Integrated lithium primary cell (non-rechargeable)
3. Data Acquisition & Recording
- Recording Mode: Continuous ECG (not event-based only)
- Monitoring Duration:
- Zio XT: up to 14 days
- Zio AT: typically 7–14 days with live transmission
- Event Marking:
- Patient presses the patch button
- Symptom events logged with timestamp correlation
4. Signal Processing & Algorithms
On-Device Processing
- Noise filtering (motion artifact reduction)
- Baseline wander correction
- Signal integrity checks
Cloud-Based Analysis (iRhythm Platform)
- Arrhythmia Detection Algorithms using ML + rule-based logic
- Detects:
- Atrial fibrillation / flutter
- SVT / VT
- Bradycardia / tachycardia
- Pauses / heart block
- PACs / PVCs burden
- AF Burden Quantification: % time in AF
- Episode Duration & Frequency Analysis
Algorithms are FDA-cleared and clinically validated against Holter monitoring.
5. Data Transmission & Workflow
Zio XT (Offline)
- ECG stored locally on patch
- Patch mailed back after wear period
- Data uploaded to iRhythm cloud
- Automated + technician-assisted analysis
- Physician diagnostic report generated
Zio AT (Near Real-Time)
- Wireless Transmission: Cellular gateway
- Latency: Minutes to hours
- Clinical Alerts: Configurable thresholds for urgent arrhythmias
- Use Case: High-risk or post-procedure monitoring
6. Reporting & Output
Physician Report Includes
- Total analyzable time
- Heart rate trends (min / avg / max)
- Arrhythmia episode timelines
- AF burden graphs
- Symptom-rhythm correlation tables
- ECG strips for clinically significant events
Data Standards
- Output supports HL7 / PDF / EHR integration
- Compatible with Epic, Cerner, and major cardiology systems
7. Regulatory, Security & Compliance
- FDA Clearance: Class II medical device
- HIPAA Compliant: End-to-end encryption
- Data Security:
- Encrypted data at rest and in transit
- Role-based clinician access
- Quality Standards: ISO 13485 medical device manufacturing
8. Environmental & Usage Constraints
- Water Resistance: Shower-safe (not submersible)
- Operating Temp: Normal human body range
- Skin Sensitivity: Acrylic medical adhesive (may cause irritation in some patients)
Heart Monitor Patch & Device for Arrhythmia Detection | Zio® ECG Monitors by iRhythm