Portable Computer-Based Electrocardiograph

A cable with six or 12 leads connects a patient with an electrocardiograph on a PC card to record and analyze up to 12 channels of high-resolution electrocardiogram (EKG) data on a computer. Called EKGCard, the unit is compatible with laptop and desktop computers and offers a complete narrative interpretation package.

The size and cost of the EKGCard make it well suited for a doctors' offices or alternate healthcare sites that require high portability and have limited budgets. The system, cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), was developed by QRS Diagnostic, LLC (Plymouth, MN, USA; www.QRSdiagnostic.com). The company specializes in designing software-based medical devices that integrate with off-the-shelf PCs, handheld devices, and Internet appliances. Other PC cards been developed by QRS for respiratory diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

While others have introduced PC-based EKG devices, EKGCard is by far the most portable cost-effective system available, said Spencer lien, QRS founder and CEO. EKGCard gives healthcare providers the capability of recording and analyzing EKGs from virtually anywhere.