| Ever-rising costs are becoming more and more of a | | | | upward and downward shifts or deflections using the |
| concern for medical facilities. Many hospitals, doctors' | | | | P, Q, R, S, and T labels. The atypical U wave was |
| offices and clinics are turning to used medical | | | | identified much later. In 1901 Einthoven designed the first |
| equipment to keep new health care expenses in | | | | working EKG, a galvanometer that detected these |
| check. While most of these items are refurbished, | | | | impulses. In 1924, Einthoven was recognized for his |
| some may actually be new surplus supplies, since all | | | | invention when he was awarded the Nobel Prize. |
| medical devices that are resold must be labeled "used." | | | | Modern EKG machines are quite different from the |
| Used machines often sell for much lower prices than | | | | early models, being electronic and usually fully |
| brand new models. A GE ECG machine with a full | | | | automatic. Some even give preliminary interpretations |
| warranty and never been used was recently offered | | | | although a full reading by a cardiologist is almost |
| by an online retailer for $2,699 about half the cost of a | | | | always done in practice. The first machines used six |
| new model. This is typical of used equipment which | | | | chest leads and four limb leads to the electrodes |
| usually has a warranty close to that of a new | | | | applied to the chest to pick up tiny currents and then to |
| machine. | | | | record them on a graph paper. |
| EKG machines are also called ECG machines and are | | | | Now EKG machines are able to get accurate |
| one of the most common medical devices in use | | | | recording with far fewer leads and can even be |
| today. Almost all offices today have one. The origin of | | | | wireless so that patients can be mobile and monitored |
| the difference between EKG and ECG comes from | | | | via telemetry. Old machines had to be set to every |
| the original German word, "elektrokardiogram", which | | | | section of an EKG reading but now will generate all |
| had the "K" in its spelling. The English spelling is, | | | | twelve leads automatically and most can be set to |
| "electrocardiogram", which replaces both of the letters | | | | interpret or not. |
| "K" in German with the letter "C". Both EKG and ECG | | | | EKG machines are such essential medical office |
| are named for the same device. | | | | equipment that finding the best price for quality |
| The term "electricity" was first used to describe | | | | equipment makes a great deal of sense. Using |
| electrical currents in 1600. However, the term | | | | reputable online and physical used and refurbished |
| "electrocardiogram" was coined hundreds of years | | | | equipment vendors can help to reduce medical care |
| later, in 1893, by Willem Einthoven, a Dutch researcher. | | | | costs for everyone. |
| In 1895, Einthoven identified the heart's electrical impulse | | | | |