David Baldock, 68, had the injectable Medtronic Reveal LINQ device inserted into his chest at the Eastbourne District General Hospital. It is injected close to the heart in a procedure lasting between two and five minutes using local anaesthetic, meaning the patient does not have to undergo a full operation.
The device is primarily used to help pinpoint why a patient was suffering blackouts or an irregular heartbeat. Using WiFi technology, the mini-monitor tells cardiologists what their patient's heart is doing, leading to faster and more accurate diagnoses, experts said.
Retired locksmith Baldock, from Uckfield, said: "All I felt was quite a bit of pressure as they inserted the device in my chest, and that was it. It was very straightforward.
"It's a heart monitor so it just records the heartbeat and any irregularities, but it's working 24 hours a day. I'm quite used to hospitals after several accidents so I...