Electrocardiac System Aids Heart Attack Diagnosis

A noninvasive electrocardiogram (ECG) mapping system that provides a more complete picture of the heart's electrical activity than conventional ECG systems is designed to aid the early diagnosis of heart attacks or other heart disorders. The new system has been cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The new system, called Prime ECG, features a disposable electrode vest that incorporates 80 leads, compared to only 12 in traditional devices. The increased diagnostic detection area encompasses the entire torso to produce a more complete view of the heart's electrical activity. Software processes heart signals to create full-color images that can be more easily interpreted.

In clinical studies, Prime ECG has been found to identify more than 90% of heart attacks in minutes, compared to a sensitivity of only 45-68% for a conventional ECG system as shown in other studies. Prime ECG has been studied in more than 4,000 patients in the United States and Europe, including an international multicenter study, says its developer, Meridian Medical Technologies (Columbia, MD, USA).

"The electrode design, computer technology, and diagnostic graphics all come together in the Prime ECG system to deliver a level of performance never seen before,” said Jamil LaHam, general manger of cardiopulmonary systems at Meridian.




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