Read about the latest news on ECG / EKG Machines

Coming from the GE stable, the GE MAC 3500 resting EKG machine is another high performance delivering product. It has been designed to deliver highly detailed electrocardiograph readings for clinics large and small. With a bunch of superior features that few ekg machines can speak of, this product is fairly priced at 5000 USD.

It retains the characteristic features common to all MAC series products from LG in terms of the user interface and operation schematics. Additionally a raised display screen and an ergonomic design that is aesthetically appreciable at the same time retains technical feasibility and superior quality, makes it a very attractive product.

The easy to read and colorful LCD display screen on the ekg machine, that reposes at a raised angle on the face of the machine is able to display the readings from 12 leads simultaneously. It is flexible and scalable and retains the common MAC 5500 user interface. The gender specific interpretation that is revolutionary and singular to GE systems is also a feature of this product. It administers corrective mechanisms based on Marquette Hook-up advisor signal quality analysis program to reduce poor waveform quality during data acquisition. The barcode reader enables error free data entry.

Other salient features on this piece of medical equipment include use of integrated ECG data acquisition and integrated pump for kiss system. It also detects and records data for pacemakers and renders spiked display for the same. The gold standard algorithms primarily the Marquette 12 SL analysis software is used for the interpretation and the machine comes with added data security options as well. It has an impressive internal memory that can store up to 50 ECG readings with addition external storage option on SD card. It also supports date transmission via LAN or wireless network to a PC or external device.

Most medical practitioners tend to forget that patients, regardless of how familiar they are with their diagnosis and prognosis, use medical terms and language that patients don’t understand.

When you send your patients for an EKG test, one needs to remember, especially with older patients that they are hardly familiar with commonly used medical terms. And when the patient does not know what to expect, a simple procedure like an EKG can turn into a traumatic event or can pave the way for unnecessary stress.

It is important for a patient to know that what exactly you or the EKG machine technician will be doing when an electrocardiogram is performed. Further, it is very helpful and comforting to let the patient know that an EKG procedure involves no pain or any discomfort and that the preparation only involves attaching a couple of “plasters” on them. In addition, the majority of patients feel more safe and comforted when they are informed that the actual assessment takes only about 60 seconds after which the EKG machine will print the results immediately on a graphic paper from the machine and that he or she will be able to have the results interpreted by the doctor or cardiologist.

It is also a good idea after you make a diagnosis, to inform the patient as to why you would like to perform or request for an EKG to be performed on them. Most patients think if you request for a EKG test, they are about to die. Few of them are informed that an EKG is used to follow up on an existing heart disease or condition that they might have or to follow up on the prognosis after they suffered a heart attack or when you as the medical practitioner suspect malfunctioning of the heart or a similar condition.

Well, you might realize that having a successful general practice involves having some specialized diagnostic equipment readily available. Or the other scenario might be that you’re your “old-faithful” EKG machine has decided to retire unexpectedly and it is broken with no repair possibilities.

Some things have changed since you last had a look at the technology and features provided. Listed are some factors you will need to take into consideration before buying your new EKG machine.

1. Paper Use

What paper does the new medical equipment use and what are the dimensions of the paper? You will find that certain electrocardiograph machines use 6 cm sheets or half sized sheets to do print outs on. It is even possible to find EKG machines that make use of smaller paper that are able to provide you with a full print in 3 x 4 + 1 format. However, the preferred used paper for EKG printouts by the majority of cardiologist remains the letter sized paper which is 8.5” x 11”. This may be a more expensive choice but for filing and record keeping purposes this is the best paper option to use.

2. Data Capturing Capabilities

The ideal is to have an EKG machine that allows you to enter specific patient information via a keyboard. It is common sense that an EKG are used by several medical personnel and with printed patient information on the EKG test printout it does not only serve to be more professional, but also prevents wrong identification added to a printout with obvious serious implications.

3. What View Do You Have?

With a screen at your disposal fitted to the EKG machine, you will be able to see that all leads are in good working order. This feature also allows you to ensure that the base line is stable before starting to record the EKG. If all 12 leads are visible, you will be able to view all activities in real time.

Electrocardiograph machines are called as ECG machines or EKG machines. They get the name EKG machine because it is an abbreviated form of the German word “elektro-kardiographie”. The EKG machine is used to determine the normal and abnormal heartbeats by recording the electrical impulses of the muscles of the heart.

Initially these EKG machines were huge and bulky, however, these days they are smaller and easy to handle. While using this medical equipment to test the heartbeats of a patient, electrodes are connected to the body of the patient who is made to lie flat on a bed. These electrodes help in transmitting the electrical impulses to the electrocardiogram machine to which they are connected. These electrical impulses are then amplified and displayed on the monitor of the machine for the doctor to monitor. This test can be performed within a span of just five minutes.

By performing an EKG using the EKG machine can prove to be very informative to the doctor who is analyzing a patient with heart problems.

1. The doctor can know if the patient has had a heart attack before.
2. The doctor can see if the patient has fallen prey to the coronary heart disease.
3. This machine also gives information on the thickness of the muscles of the heart which can be very useful to the doctor while treating the patient.
4. The doctor can also find out about the heart rate and rhythm.

Though the EKG machines are extremely beneficial, they also have some drawbacks. Some of the results obtained through EKG need to be confirmed by performing various other tests and diagnoses. The EKG machine helps us determine the heart rate and rhythm of the person only when the EKG test is being done. Sometimes, certain types of heart diseases in their initial stages cannot be detected using the EKG machine.

An electrocardiogram, known as an EKG, is one of the first tests ordered by physicians for patients that are suspected of having heart problems. The EKG machine assesses the electrical activity of the heart by measuring time intervals and the amount of activity that passes through the muscles of the heart. Every time the heart beats, it sends an electrical wave through the heart. These electrical impulses trigger the heart muscles to compress, forcing the heart to pump out blood. Measuring the length of time it takes for the electric impulses to travel to the different areas of the heart allows physicians to determine if the activity is in the normal range. It can reveal abnormalities if electrical activity is irregular.

These electrical waves are recorded by the EKG machine and then displayed on a graph paper that is printed out by the physician.

This noninvasive procedure is performed by applying sticky electrodes to the patient’s body. Electrodes are placed on the chest, arms, legs and depending on the type of EKG machine used, may be placed on the shoulders and hips as well. The patient is connected to the EKG machine via the wires that are attached to the electrodes. The patient is instructed to remain still during the procedure to allow for an accurate recording of the EKG. Once all of the electrodes are applied and the test is administered, the actual recording will take only a few moments.

There are no risks associated with an EKG stress test. It is a safe and pain free procedure with no reports of serious reactions. The most common minor side effect is skin irritation at the site of the electrodes after they are removed. Occasionally, normal recordings occur in patients that have substantial heart disease. Additionally, an EKG may present as abnormal while the heart is functioning properly with no abnormalities. For this reason it is always best to obtain a second opinion. It is recommended that patients presenting with an abnormal EKG test or patients with normal results that are presenting with abnormal cardiac symptoms should make an appointment with a cardiac specialist.

The normal kind of EKG test is done while in a resting position. This is when you lay down on a bed, the EKG technicians attach the electrodes to your arms, legs, and chest area and you lay down for a short while the test is done. This is for about one minute. In the event when this type of EKG does not provide sufficient or significant results, the doctor or cardiologist will request one of the following three types of EKG machine tests:

In many instances serious heart diseases or heart malfunctioning can not be diagnosed when you are in a resting phase. This means, only when there is some strain on your heart like when you perform some kind of activity and your heart needs to work harder, these problems shows up and can be diagnosed effectively and accurately. With a normal stress test you will be walking on a treadmill or pedal on a fitness bicycle.

Now this is all very well if you are able to walk and perform some kind of action, but what happens to patients that cannot walk for instance? With the advancement of medical technology, these patients are injected with a chemical that causes the heart to beat faster and cause your blood to flow faster, resembling the affect normal exercise will have on your heart. In these events, an echocardiography or a nuclear heart scan is done to trace the functioning of the heart.

The process of nuclear heart scanning requires a radioactive tracer to be injected into the bloodstream while a special radiology camera follow the tracer as it travels through your heart and different arteries.

When an echocardiography is used, it makes use of sound waves to indicate the flow of your blood through the heart chambers, functioning of the heart chamber valves and the amount of strength your heart muscle uses to perform these different actions.