Atrial fibrillation – PMS Instruments

The ECG has come a long way since Nobel prize winning Willem Einthoven invented the first practical electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) in 1895. The 3 lead string galvanometer also known as the Einthoven galvanometer he introduced in 1901 was 7 metres long, required 5 operators and weighed over 270 kiliograms!

Although the original “Einthoven triangle” configuration which refers to the imaginary inverted equilateral triangle centered on the chest and the points being the standard leads on the arms and leg was chosen largely for convenience it is still in use today.

I wonder what Einthoven would make of the new AliveCor KardiaMobile 6L PMS Instruments have launched today?

Things have definitely come on in the 159 years since he was born.

The new AliveCor KardiaMobile 6L records a six lead 30 second clinically validated ECG using a smartphone or tablet and App.

At 9cm long and weighing 24 g the KardiaMobile 6L has two electrodes on the top and one on the bottom.

The two electrodes on the top are for your fingers, and the one on the bottom to contact the skin of your left leg.

To record a 6 lead ECG hold the KardiaMobile 6L in your hands, placing your fingers on the front electrodes then touch the third electrode to the skin of your left knee or ankle. It’s that easy.

Why six leads?

The 2 fingers and left leg configuration allow the KardiaMobile 6L to record Lead I, II, II, aVL, aVR, and aVF ECG leads which are known as the frontal plane leads recording vertical and lateral electrical forces. By looking at the axis through the heart each of the individual 6 leads records the ECG from a slightly different perspective giving 6 times more information than the original KardiaMobile 1 Lead.

That’s 6 more times data for the KardiaMobile App and for your Doctor to analyse and providing more visibility into certain arrhythmias that are leading indicators of cardiovascular disease

For example with the 6 leads of ECG data the KardiaMobile 6L records it could be possible to identify if there is any deviation of axis out of the normal range in the frontal plane and if P waves are present.

With the launch of the KardiaMobile 6L six really is better than one!

January 2018 sees the official UK launch of the new Meditech CardiUP!3 Holter ECG.

Continuous full disclosure Holter ECG monitors were first used in the 1970s and typically operate for 24-48 hours recording every single heartbeat during this period. This can mean that upwards of 100,000 beats are recorded over a 24 hour period. They are especially useful if the wearer does not feel or is not aware of the ECG abnormality.

Holter ECG recorders are generally used to investigate suspected symptoms of arrhythmia including palpitations, light-headedness or syncope (partial or complete loss of consciousness), which has not been detected during a shorter 12 lead, surgery based ECG.

Is there still a need for Holter ECG recorders?

NICE clinical guideline Clinical guideline CG180 on Atrial Fibrillation management recommends the use of a 24‑hour ambulatory ECG monitor in patients with suspected asymptomatic episodes or symptomatic episodes less than 24 hours apart or with suspected paroxysmal atrial fibrillation undetected by standard ECG recording.

What’s different with the CardiUP!3 Holter?

The latest generation CardiUp!3 from Meditech has a large internal memory which means it can record continuous digital full disclosure ECG from 24 hours or for up to 7 days using just 1 AA battery!

The large LCD screen displays real-time ECG which lets you verify ECG quality, ensuring accurate hook up in real time. Connection is by a new standard mini USB connection.

The CardiUP!3 has a manual programming option which means it can be programmed without connection to a PC. This can be useful if a PC is not available or a treatment room is occupied.

The Meditech CardioVisions analysis software supplied with the CardiUP!3 provides automatic beat-by-beat ECG, ST, PQ, QT and HRV analysis and includes pacemaker beat detection. The QRS detection algorithm of the software is 99.9% accurate according to the IEC 60601-2-47 International Standard and AHA and MIT databases and gives rapid automatic ECG annotation and analysis in minutes.

Running costs are minimised thanks to the latest low power electronic design techniques. The CardiUp!3 Holter uses just 1 AA Alkaline or rechargeable battery.

To find out more or to arrange a demonstration just call us on 01628 773233.