EKG Machines: Measuring the Processes of the Heart

Many healthcare professionals use EKG machines every day, but they know very little about how these diagnostic machines work. Learning more about the mechanics of EKG machines helps medical centers and clinicians make more educated decisions about the purchase and maintenance of these machines.

An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) machine graphically records the electrical impulses of the heart muscles, and it is used to identify abnormal heart rhythms. Initially introduced in the early 1900’s, it has become an invaluable device in medical diagnostics.

Basically, EKG machines function by reading the electrical signals produced by the heart’s four chambers, which are made up of two pumps. The left pump takes blood from the lungs and distributes it to the rest of the body, while the right pump receives the blood returning from the body and sends it back to the lungs. When the atrium accepts incoming blood, it contracts, transferring the blood to the ventricles, which then pump blood away from the heart.

This whole pumping process depends on the heart’s sinotrial node, or pacemaker region, which is located in the right atrium. Here, an electrical impulse diffuses various ions across the cell’s membranes. It is this impulse that causes the atria to contract and push blood to the right and left ventricles. All of this occurs within milliseconds, so it is crucial that the heart’s impulses are functioning properly. By measuring the intensity and rhythm of these electrical impulses, an EKG machine can quickly recognize irregularities that may cause the heart to malfunction, or misfire.
Because it is able to recognize potential problems with the electrical impulses of the heart, regular EKG testing is an essential part a cardiac health assessment.

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