Read about the latest news on ECG / EKG Machines

For many years, ECG (electrocardiogram) machines, also known as EKG machines, have helped physicians monitor the health of their patients’ hearts. They do this by detecting abnormal heart rhythms and unusual electrical impulses. People with a history of heart disease are regularly tested by their cardiologist with an EKG test, which is done by strategically attaching electrodes to the patient’s body. After a period of monitoring, the results of the test are shown on a computer monitor for the doctor to see, and then printed out or sent to a digital file for later review.

The best way to describe a doctor’s analysis of EKG / ECG testing is that they compare it to the way a healthy heart would look. This is the easiest way for them to see differences in heart rhythm, heart rate and other patterns of the heart’s electrical impulses. In cases where a patient’s heart shows abnormalities, additional testing is usually ordered to determine the nature of the problem, but first doctors will try to identify recurring patterns over time.

Heart rate is the first indicator that a doctor will look at, which can be seen my viewing the spikes and dips on the EKG graph. The “P” spike is the first one, and it represents the impulses generated by the upper chamber of the heart. The flatter of the two lines is the “PR” line, which represents the amount of time between the heart’s contraction and the relaxation of the atria. In cases where this fluctuation happens too quickly, it is called atrial fibrillation. By analyzing the results from EKG machines, doctors are able to quickly diagnose heart abnormalities and recommend medications and lifestyle changes.

In today’s clinical settings, most doctors are using an EKG machine that is centered on strategically placed electrodes. These sensors allow physicians to see a clearer picture of the heart very quickly and assess what kind of cardiac issues are occurring.

In order to detect certain types of heart issues, doctors often place the electrodes from an EKG machine onto a patient while they are walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bicycle. This allows doctors to see learn about what is happening in a patient’s heart while they are undergoing physical strain.

The EKG machine works by graphing the rhythms and bodily functions that relate to the placement of each electrode, and representing the heart’s impulses through a series of lines that show the speed and intensity of these amplified electrical impulses. The doctor can then read the monitor and use this information to diagnose a patient’s heart problems.

Using EKG machines, doctors have been able to save the lives of millions of patients, and today there are a number of well known companies who make these machines. The machines are commonly used in clinical settings and hospitals throughout the world.

Modern technology has allowed doctors to make EKG machines smaller and smaller every year, which is a major benefit to the medical community and patients undergoing frequent testing. In the past these machines were bulky and difficult to use, and they required massive amounts of physical wiring to accurately detect and transmit signals from the heart, but today’s machines are much smaller and more intuitively designed. In fact, some ECG/EKG monitors are so small and portable; they can be worn discreetly under clothing all day long, with data being transmitted wirelessly to a hospital.

Just when you thought there couldn’t be many more technological advances in medical equipment, Japan’s National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) has developed an electrocardiograph that displays measurable data on a mobile phone. That’s right, an EKG machine that can be worn like an accessory.

This electrocardiograph machine uses a wireless, short-distance communication system and can perform EKG machine testing around the clock while transmitting data wireless, but the best part is, it can be worn like a necklace. The NICT expects this new electrocardiograph to become a staple of personal health management as it will help patients monitor their heart rhythms during everyday life.

Not only can this new device perform an electrocardiogram, it can also measure temperature changes on the surface of the body and overall body posture. Lightweight and portable, it also requires no conductive gel, so it can be worn around the neck all day without making the patient feel uncomfortable. Additionally, this portable EKG machine has a low-power security function, which encrypts the data dynamically for each user and helps reduce power consumption by using only the amount of power needed to remain operable.

Researchers at NICT expect this new device to be sold to medical practitioners who work with chronically ill heart patients and people who require extensive testing to diagnose a heart abnormality. As the demand increases for this portable EKG monitor, global medical equipment manufacturers are expected to offer devices like this at more competitive prices. Look for more information to be released by NICT as the product completes its final round of clinical trials.

Because most heart attacks occur somewhere other than a hospital setting, emergency medical treatment is a crucial element in saving lives. For this reason, hospitals are always striving to improve their “door to balloon” ratio. According to some EMTs, the total time must be less than 90 minutes in order to ensure the best chance of survival.

Ninety minutes may sound like a lot of time, but not when you consider what this includes: the time for an ambulance to arrive, for emergency lifesaving procedures to be administered, and for the patient transferred into a mobile lifesaving unit and transported to the nearest hospital. Once on board, EMTs must stabilize the patient, hook them up to an EKG machine, and communicate with the hospital prior to their arrival.

Mobile EKG machines now play an important role in reducing the “door to balloon” time. Thanks to bluetooth technology, paramedics can now use a 12-lead EKG machine while the patient is en route to the hospital, and transmit the results directly to the hospital emergency room. This information gives emergency personnel a head start on preparing for the patient’s arrival. In a situation where every minute counts, the importance of mobile EKG units cannot be discounted.

One hospital with a real interest in improving their response time is Loyola University Hospital in Illinois. Their Heart Attack Rapid Response Team ensures that an emergency team is available at Loyola, 24/7. This team includes an intervening cardiologist at all times.

Through their partnership with emergency management services, Loyola hopes to dramatically shorten the time it takes them to respond – from the time the 911 call is placed until the heart attack patient arrives is gets the necessary treatment. In most cases, this requires a balloon catheter to be positioned in the blocked artery, which reopens the flow of blood through the heart. Being able to get a patient to this stage of treatment within three hours is crucial, because after that time the risks associated with the procedure may be too high. The sooner the clogged artery can be opened, the better the chance of survival.