GALIX Computerized ECG Unit

Personal Computers have been used in many application fields since their introduction in the 1980 decade. Manufacturers of medical equipment soon realized the future impact of these devices and started including PC´s in their designs.

GALIX Biomedical Instrumentation Inc. pioneered in 1990 the now well known concept of "Virtual Medical Instrumentation". Our basic ideas were simple:

1. To use the current computer tools.
2. To make good use of the high quality and capacity of laser printers.
3. To continuously update the systems based on state-of-the-art technology.

Based on the latest software development tools available to the bioengineering community our company is capable of offering highly valuable technological products at relatively low cost.

Today, physicians can perform many different studies with just one computer an one laser printer. This is the core concept of virtual instrumentation: the physician decides on the starting equipment to work with and the modules to add in further steps.

The ECG Professional Station offers:

• ECG Ambulatory (Holter) Analysis
• High-resolution 12-lead Computerized Electrocardiography
• 3/12-lead Treadmill/Bicycle Stress Testing
• Ventricular Late Potentials Analysis

High resolution Electrocardiography

The ECGalix is a complete real-time 12-lead ECG monitor/recorder with ECG storage capability.

This system displays 12-lead high resolution screens corresponding to a particular patient. This ECG data can be stored for further review. The physician can select the leads to display, print strips during real time monitoring, change gains and speed scale, freeze the display and perform measurements. Likewise, the physician can edit the diagnostic document, combining ECG with narrative interpretation and print them all together, avoiding the cumbersome tasks of ECG strips cutting and sticking.

The ECGalix module allows the physician to freeze the ECG screen, change the ECG graphic format, increase its size and perform measurements on a particular beat. The complete patient data and the physician comments and interpretation are entered into the computer and may be printed on a separate page. Every page is printed with the corresponding patient name. The ECGalix offers a great variety of print-out formats, in which the ECG strips, the physician comments and the complete patient data can be combined.

The ECGalix has the following functions:

• Selection of speed scale (25mm/sec, 50mm/sec and 100mm/sec)
• Selection of amplitude (x1, x2, x4 and x8)
• Selection of leads to display (6 formats)
• Screen freezing to analyze and measure ECG waveforms
• Measurement of time intervals and wave amplitudes by means of cursors
• Editing of patient data and diagnostic sheets
• Printing of ECG with comments, patient data or diagnostics (15 formats)
• Configuration settings, including enabling/disabling of 50/60 Hz filters.

The main features of the ECGalix are the following:

1. Simple Operation: In spite of its versatility, its operation is extremely simple. To start the ECG recording, it is only necessary to place the electrodes and press a key. The ECG will appear on the screen. The monitor will indicate whether there is a loose electrode and identify the corresponding lead. A few easy-to-understand menus help the operator to monitor, record and print the electrocardiogram on plain paper.
2. Several Display Layouts: ECG can be displayed in many formats:

Number of leads simultaneously displayed .......... 12, 6, 3, 2, 1

Gains ..................................................................... 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 mm/mV

Speeds ................................................................... 25, 50, 100 mm/sec.

3. Several Printout formats: The electrocardiogram can be printed using different gains (0.5, 1 and 2 mm/mV) and different speeds (25, 50 and 100mm/sec). All printed pages carry the patient's name. Some formats include a rhythm strip, to help the physician determine the presence of sinus arrhythmia. These formats combine the ECG strip, the complete patient data, and some lines for comments on the ECG and diagnosis. In this way, the physician can obtain, in a short while and on a single page, a complete ECG printout, with all patient data and ECG interpretation.
4. Patient Data and Diagnosis Edition: Patient data and diagnosis can be entered using the PC keyboard. If the diagnosis can be written in few lines, then only a single page is necessary to print the ECG and the report. If a longer report is needed, a separate page can be printed, containing all patient data and diagnosis.
5. Information Storage: Printouts can be stored in a work file. The physician may decide whether to route the printing to the printer or to the hard disk. When the information is stored on the hard disk it can be easily retrieved for further review or printing. Storage is performed in real-time without suspending monitoring.
6. Dynamic Status: The ECGalix detects QRS´s, measures the heart rate and identifies any electrode presenting poor electrical contact. Time and date are shown on the monitor screen and there is a set of optical and acoustic alarms for tachycardia and bradycardia.
7. Safety: The ECGalix-12 acquisition card provides electrical isolation between the patient and the computer. The leakage current through the patient fulfills AAMI SCL1278 standard (<10 mA).

The ECGalix System consists of:

• One Galix ECG Data Acquisition Board
• One 10 lead Patient Cable with hook-up accessories
• One diskette containing the ECGalix software
• One Instruction Manual
• One HardLock

System Requirements:

• Pentium (500 MHz) or higher, 64 Mb RAM (or more), 13 GB Hard Disk minimum, 3.5" Disk Drive, SVGA Video Card, Parallel Printer Port
• SVGA color monitor
• HP LaserJet 1100 with 2 MB memory

• Standard Leads: I, II, II, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, V6
• Input Impedance: 47 MW , defibrillator discharge protected
• Input Dynamic Range: 40 mV
• Electrode Offset Tolerance: 320 mV
• Common Mode Rejection: 130 dB minimum
• Patient Leakage Current: < 10 microamperes
• Chassis Leakage Current: <100 microamperes
• Frequency Response: 0.05 to 350 Hz
• A/D Conversion: 16 bits
• Sampling Rate: 1000 samples per second and per channel
• Power Supply: From PC slots