DRE Medical lets loose compact, PC-based ECG system
By Donald Melanson 
posted April 7th 2008 1:57PM
posted April 7th 2008 1:57PM
We've seen ECG systems of all sorts (homemade included), but DRE Medical has now released what it claims to be the most compact system on the market today. Dubbed simply the Universal ECG, the system relies on a Windows-based desktop, laptop or Pocket PC for its computing component, which the company says offers a number of benefits over a standalone ECG system, not the least of which is a sizable cost savings. That savings also extends to printing costs, as the system can print reports on standard computer paper as opposed to the pricey thermal paper used by regular ECG systems. Among other things, the ECG also apparently requires no calibration, and it draws all its power from the device its connected to, so if you're using it with a laptop you may want to bring along a couple of extra batteries. Of course, while it's less expensive than a standalone ECG, that still probably doesn't mean it'll come cheap -- a likelihood further backed up by the fact that you have to contact DRE for a quote if you're interested in buying one.
[Via Medgadget]
[Via Medgadget]
This device will be great for being out in the field in Africa or a doctor doing a home visit. ECG equipment has always been bulky - it'll certainly cut waiting list times back in the UK.
call me crazy but I would really not like to rely on this while having a heart attack.
BSOD, or for newbies out there stands for Blue Screen Of Death and I wouldn't want it to be literally true. Blue of my face....
What makes everyone think that the 20 year old equipment (and older in some places) that is still in use now in many hospitals/institutions throughout the world isn't anymore likely to have a critical problem when you 'need' it? By the way folks... This thing is an EKG...NOT a defribrillator. If it stops working, they just hook up another one.... It's not keeping you alive.... It's just reading the rhythm of your heart...not providing therapy...
to dmihalic
EKG's is the first line of defense in the going into a cardiac arrest, the subtle signs of the arrest is detected by EKG's 15 to 30 mins before it requires defibrillator intervention. And yes, a calibrated and PM'ed stand alone equipment made in the 60's is more reliable than Vista.
EKG is NOT the first line of defense for anything related to cardiac arrest. EKGs are a diagnostic tool only and do absolutely nothing to treat an impending fatal arrhythmia.
If an myocardial infarction or cardiac arrest is suspected, then it doesn't matter what the EKG shows - you go straight to ACLS protocols and start treating the patient presumptively. Your doom-and-gloom scenario regarding Microsoft is just nothing but FUD.
Aytunc....
I get to see those 60 year old machines daily... And I'll bet anything that those DRE devices are NOT running Vista.... Come on... What healthcare companies do you know that have implemented Vista? Yet damn near all of the software for healthcare out there (including hospital-wide med info systems) runs under XP... Those 60 year old machines don't integrate into anything, constantly false alarm, and use ancient wireless tech that a flippin' microwave can send into a downward spiral.... And, not sure what sort of demographic you see (if you're in healthcare), but how many times is someone hooked up to an EKG BEFORE a myocardial infarction?!
Imagine the mayhem were these ECG PC's to get a virus.... entrusting diagnostic data to a windows pc is a great idea, but there are some downsides to consider.
Horrific potential for 'Blue Screen Of Death'
@ Bb
Gives a whole new meaning to 'Code Blue'.
I imagine these would be turn key systems to not only insure the device works with the correct pc hardware but to be also locked down far enough so all it does is its intended task and one could not simply “surf the web” with these devices.
"beep ______/\________
beep ___________/\_______
beep _________________/\______
beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee ___________________________"
Typical of the way modern medical companies work:
1. Sell product at 1000% over cost.
2. Doctor/hospital charges 1/50 of the total purchase price to the patient each time they use it, thus getting 100% ROI in a couple of weeks.
"Its the D.R.E"
You know the rest ;)
You know, I had forgotten all about DRE before this.
How can you forgot the Doc?! :O
"Motherf***ers act like they forgot about Dre!"
Hmm...a medical tricorder...where did they think of that?
Hospital Admin Person
"Paging Dr. DRE, paging Dr. DRE....wait, is someone messing with me?"
I don't know about this... this application seems too "mission critical" for a PocketPC. Having to yank the battery every couple of days to force a hard reset is really going to piss the medics off.
Why are they using a 8-10 year old PocketPC?
answer: the pccard expansion sleeve and that reason only.
Not so revolutionary, when you consider that a similar device that comes with 4 EEG/EOG, 2 ECG/EMG channels and 2 analog inputs has been around for YEARS! http://www.gtec.at/products/g.MOBIlab/gMOBIlab.htm
That guy either hikes his pants up to his ribcage, or his heart is in his colon...
Wow....you are s-m-r-t...
Eat your heart out, so to speak...
wow an ipaq hp5555, we had problems procuring these obsolete pdas 2 years ago
unfortuately they are the only ones you can get with the PCCard expasion sleeve. someone needs to realize that there is a niche market that would pay big bucks for such functionality.
I want to buy two of this! :P
www.tativiana.com
To anyone in the medical community, any company with the name "DRE" makes you chuckle....
DRE = digital rectal exam (aka prostate exam)
As an added benefit, this baby can compute my Vitorin™-induced reduction in life expectancy!
Too bad you spelled Vytorin wrong! Trademark THAT!
Thanks, Interpol--spelling was never my strong soot...
Yeah, so? I implemented a USB based ECG in a doctor's office several years ago. Integrated with their EMR (Electronic Medical Records) system and dropped the ECG into the patient's record. I was also working on a USB Spirometer when I left the company. The medical industry is full of cutting edge stuff, we just don't usually notice it.
If they decide to sell these for $50 or less then people could easily wear them anytime or any place under their clothes. Then we'd just need a simple software utility to automatically plug the live data into the upcoming Google Health application where it could be analyzed and provide early warning predictions based on other health information.
Expensive thermal paper? I'm pretty sure they used thermal paper because it's a whole lot cheaper than printing with ink, why do you think cashregisters use it?
This was developed by Micromedical Industries a long time ago. Now owned by QRS Diagnostics.
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ANSWERS/2001/ANS01129.html
http://www.emssupply.com/pocketview.htm
To the first comment that anyone could have made these 10 years ago - in fact, I (and many of my classmates) did. Texas Instruments had a popular DSP kit that went for about $100, and it was child's play to write the software, hook up some standard electrodes, and get an ECG that looked pretty damn good.
My god you have got to be joking. No way would I leave my life in the hands of a Windows Pocket PC device!!
You're a dope. Making blanket statements like yours is simply lame.
You may be surprised to know that many current medical monitors and devices already run off Windows, whether it's NT, 2000, or XP. Examples: Pyxis, Datex-Ohmeda, Marquette.
I bet you say the same thing about certain races and creeds, right? "My god you have to be joking. No way would I leave my life in the hands of a Black man!"
Chill out man, go and have a cup of tea LOL
Is that all you can say in your defense? You're lamer than I thought.
Nar just better things to do with my life, have fun :-)
I would hope you'd have better things to do than posting unfunny snarks on Engadget.
Face it, you tried to sound cool but ended up looking like an idiot.
Find a real pc based EKG that works with all windows programs at www.medicaldevicedepot.com
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