ECG machines come in different types with varying features, but all are used to detect heart rate abnormalities. The number of leads determines the amount of information collected, and some machines have interpretation built-in. ECG machines with fewer leads and recording capabilities are also available.
Electrocardiography (ECG or EKG) machines come in a variety of different types that offer different features, from the most basic portable devices to full-featured machines for use in cardiac centers. All ECG machines work basically the same and are used to perform EKG tests looking for heart rate abnormalities. The main difference between the types lies in the amount of information they collect, the information they display and record, their portability and their usability characteristics.
ECG machines are a type of medical diagnostic equipment used to monitor heart rate, specifically the electrical current produced by the heart as it beats. They are indicated by the number of leads they have, i.e. the number of electrical signals that are being monitored at a time. The standard full ECG is 12-lead, using six electrodes on the chest and one on each limb for a total of 10 electrodes. The configuration of the electrodes produces 12 conductors from the way signals are transmitted between them. The electrodes themselves are sometimes called conductors, but that isn’t technically accurate because a conductor is actually made up of a group of electrodes.
Each lead transmits information to the master machine, which produces a graph representing the signals. This graph can be interpreted to determine whether a patient has any cardiac abnormalities, such as those produced by a myocardial infarction – a heart attack. Some machines have interpretation built into the device, making them easier to use. A patient’s most recent ECG results can be compared to their previous ECG results to track heart changes.
ECG machines with fewer leads are also available, such as two- or three-lead EKG devices, which are particularly useful in mobile or low-resource environments. Other useful ECG features in these settings include the option to transmit results to a remote clinician over a telephone line or send results wirelessly to a printer or computer. Wearable ECG machines are also available and are useful when a patient has symptoms only intermittently, so that abnormalities are not noticed during a clinic visit but could be detected if the ECG was taken at another time.
Recording capabilities also vary depending on the type of machine. Some machines are primarily used to monitor heart rate in real time, such as during surgery, and may not keep logs. Some older models print results automatically on ticker paper, some models print like a normal printer, and some models need to transmit their data to other devices before they can print. Digital recordings are also kept on some types of ECG machines.
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