The ActiveECG leadwires are connected to the patient's chest, and they feed the data into the ActiveECG device itself. The ActiveECG hardware connects to the HotSync port on the Palm OS handheld, and the data it collects can be viewed on the handheld screen with the ActiveECG Palm OS application. The ActiveECG Monitor screen is shown in Figure B.

FIGURE B

The heart rate indicator displays the current heart rate.

The heart rate indicator in the middle gives a continuous display of the current heart rate. If you then tap on the Strips tab, you see a list of previously recorded strips for each patient, as shown in Figure C.

FIGURE C

Patient records can be viewed under the Strips tab.

You can then select a particular record, and the strip can be reviewed right on the Palm handheld itself, as shown in Figure D.

FIGURE D

Review patient strips right on the Palm handled.

Once strips have been transferred to a Windows PC, the ActiveECG Viewer application can be used to view, annotate, print, and archive them. Strips on a PC can be saved to a file and transferred to another user with the ActiveECG Viewer application. It was very important to the Siegels that, should a patient record his own data, he should be able to email the data to his doctor and have her be able to view it as well. Therefore, all the software is free at the Active Corporation Web site. That way doctors and patients can access the same data without incurring extra cost.

Healthcare on-the-go
EMS workers (paramedics and EMTs) can carry ActiveECG in their jumpkit or pocket, so it's always at hand. It can also be used in cramped situations where bulkier ECG devices wouldn't be practical. However, its use does not extend only to EMTs. The device and software are being adopted for use in personal healthcare, in home healthcare, and even by veterinarians.

Personnel healthcare
Thanks to ActiveECG's low cost and ease-of-use, patients are able to monitor themselves at home. Just as a diabetic patient can monitor his or her sugar levels, cardiac patients monitor themselves by recording ECG data and sending it to their physician via fax or email.

Home healthcare
Many healthcare workers are still making regular housecalls, visiting patients who are unable to make regular trips to the doctor's office or hospital. When these healthcare workers carry ActiveECG with them, they can routinely monitor patients. That way they can catch problems sooner and save lives.

Veterinarians
Imagine trying to monitor the cardiac health of, say, a rambunctious dog. With an immobile cardiac monitor, the animal would need to be held down in order not to break the connection. Not only will this be difficult for the veterinarian and upsetting for the animal, it's sure to increase the dog's heart rate, skewing the results. With a small, inexpensive ActiveECG monitor, the wires could be attached to the dog, and the device could be attached to the dog's collar in a pouch. The pooch could then scamper about at will while the monitor does its work.