Straight From The Heart

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31113, 16 July 1966, Page 13

Straight From The Heart

\ SYSTEM which makes it possible to transmit an electrocardiogram of a patient’s heart-beats over the telephone has been devised by Professor H. Payne, of the Royal College of Surgeons, London.

Speaking about it in a 8.8. C. "Science and Industry" programme. Professor Payne explained that this was a very different matter from simply sending heart-beats over the telephone, which could be done by merely positioning a receiver against the patient’s chest.

With his system the electrical impulses from the heart were sent, starting off as an ordinary electrocardiogram, then being converted into a sound impulse, sent over the wire by means of a transmitter, and at the other end received and converted back into the ordinary electrical complex, which was presented on an oscilloscope band. There was some modification to the ordinary electrocardiographic leads used in picking up the impulses, which consisted of metal plates attached to the skin

with a layer of jelly in between. They had worked on eliminating the jelly, which limited the length of time for placing the electrodes in position, and the length of time for recording. And by using small radio-transmitters applied directly to the patient, they eliminated the need for wires as well. Besides its obvious application in the operating theatre.

Professor Payne said, the system nad particular value in the monitoring of patients during the post-operative period. “And, of course, in any ward where intensive care and therapy are carried out, it means that you have an instant record of what is taking place at any particular moment.”

Blood pressure was another of the fundamental measurements needed both in clinical medicine and research which he would like to see monitored in this way. It had been suggested. Professor Payne said, that there might in time be some form of heart monitoring service on the lines of the mass radiography service. And if a stage was reached when a group practice was provided with (this type of equipment, it would make diagnosis more accurate.

“It is obvious that the general practitioner does not have the experience necessary to interpret all the electrocardiograms, and, therefore, if he has one which puzzles jhim, it’s a simple matter to ring up his local cardiologist and get an opinion on the i spot. A lot of time will be saved, diagnosis will be more precise, and the patient will benefit”