An electrocardiograph is a clinical diagnostic medical equipment, based on the installation of a series of electrodes on the surface of the patient’s skin at the level of the thoracic region and extremities, which capture the electrical signal generated by the activity of the patient’s heart.
The electrode on the skin is connected to another electrode through the electrocardiograph, by means of a galvanometer it measures the current that passes through the device and is transmitted directly to the inscriber (style) to record the waves and complexes that reflect the electrical activity of the heart and receive altogether the name of electrocardiogram.
An electrocardiogram is used to measure any damage to the heart, whether there are abnormal heart palpitations, the size and position of the heart’s chambers, and the effects of drugs or devices used to control the heart (such as pacemakers).
Importance of an electrocardiograph
Electrocardiographs are essential medical equipment in the health sector, so it is common for us to find them in the different medical centers that exist. Its work is essential in the diagnosis of pathologies such as heart disease, arrhythmias and any type of abnormality of the heart or its cavities.
Types of electrocardiographs
Today there are multiple types of electrocardiographs, the simplest draw the tracing on a specific recording paper tape for ECG and the most modern and complex perform an analysis of what they record and store in digital format. There are 3,6 and 12 channels. The different models of electrocardiographs are based on the objectives that a specialist doctor seeks to obtain, thus we find:
- Single-channel electrocardiograph: these equipments are characterized by the fact that they record and print the results of the electrical activity of the heart from a single lead per record. However, the biggest advantage of this type of EKG machine is that it is extremely lightweight and is quite simple to use.
- Multichannel electrocardiograph: this type of device is characterized by having 3.6 or 12 channels and recording each of the 12 leads in a period of 2.5 seconds.
- Multichannel with printing: these models work the same as multichannel, the only difference is that they have a computer with recognition patterns that identifies normal and abnormal ECG signals.
Parts of an electrocardiograph
- Biopontential amplifier: It is constituted in turn by the protection circuit, calibration signal, preamplifier, isolation circuit and driver amplifier.
- Right leg circuit: This part of the electrocardiograph has the ability to generate active ground isolated from the electrical ground of the circuit on the right leg of the patient in order to reduce the voltages it receives, and consequently increase its safety. This is achieved by reducing the impedance of the ground electrode.
- Lead selector: It consists of a module that is coupled to a biopotential amplification system. The module weights the contribution of each electrode through resistors, achieving the derivation of interest.
- Memory system: It consists of a memory where the signal is stored before printing together with the data entered manually through a digital keyboard. An analog-digital converter is used in charge of converting the signal.
- Microcontroller: This device masters each of the procedures performed by the electrocardiograph. The operator can select the different modes of operation with pre-programmed processes.
- Recorder: It is responsible for printing the signal captured by the electrodes, that is, the result of the electrocardiogram. To do this, it uses pens and continuous thermal paper or inkjet.
At Kalstein we are MANUFACTURERS and we offer you new electrocardiographs at the best PRICES on the market. That is why we invite you to take a look at the Products menu. HERE
