The Modern EKG Machine
by
Damian Sofsian ARTICLE REPRINTING IS PERMITTED
Perhaps one of the most useful 20th century technologies for the diagnosis of heart disease is the electrocardiogram (EKG) machine. Although much more bulky and heavy than the modern EKG machines in use today, the first device was built at the turn of the century and was considered a huge advancement in medicine. Unlike its bulky ancestors, the modern EKG machine is lightweight and portable; most clinics have them on rolling tables that can be easily transported from room to room.
The use of electrodes for an EKG reading is a relatively new procedure. In the beginning phases of EKG technology, patients were required to place their hands and feet into sodium chloride baths, a conductive method for the faint electric impulses found in the heart. Later, electrical wires were used to transmit heart signals to the machine; eventually the electrodes we use now replaced these wires. If you look at photographs from the late 1800s, the patients look as though they are strapped into an electric chair. Modern methods have made the procedure much more simple, safe, comfortable and accurate.
Today many patients lie on an examination table, although some doctors prefer the electrodes to be attached while the patient is performing moderate exercise. Some patients may be asked to ride a stationary bike or walk on a treadmill. Exercising while attached to the EKG machine may often give the technician or your doctor a better understanding of your heart-function pattern during physical strain.
The electrodes are attached to the EKG machine through cables that produce a graph of your heart's pattern. Typically 10 to 12 electrodes are attached to the patient and lead to the EKG machine. The electrodes pick up electric impulses that are emitted through various points on the body. The EKG machine converts the impulses into readable waves. The waves are then amplified and displayed on a digital screen for the technician to monitor. While monitoring heart activity, the EKG machine continuously prints the patterns onto a graph that can later be interpreted by the attending technician or your physician.
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