Development Year: 1887
Inventor: Augustus Waller
Description: An Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is a medical test that records the electrical activity of the heart. The ECG machine captures the electrical signals that make the heart muscle contract and relax, creating a waveform representation on paper or a screen. This test helps doctors diagnose and monitor a variety of heart conditions, such as arrhythmias, heart attacks, and heart disease, by detecting irregularities in heart rhythm, structure, and function.
Functionality: An Electrocardiogram (ECG) works by detecting and recording the tiny electrical impulses generated by the heart each time it beats. During the test, small electrode patches are attached to the skin on the chest, arms, and legs. These electrodes are connected to the ECG machine by wires. As the heart beats, it produces electrical signals that travel through these wires to the ECG machine, which translates these signals into waveforms. These waveforms are then displayed on a monitor or printed out on paper.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12766530/#:~:text=The%20first%20electrocardiogram%20(ECG)%20from,Mary’s%20Hospital%2C%20London.