An electrocardiogram is a non-invasive test that helps doctors detect problems with a person’s heart rate or rhythm. But there is some prep work involved that some patients find uncomfortable and makes the process longer.
EKG stickers need to be placed on a person’s chest, arms and legs, and for accurate readings, body hair in those areas often needs to be removed.
That can be difficult in rushed situations, like when EMTs are performing lifesaving care in the back of an ambulance, or in fast-moving environments like a hospital emergency room, explains Northeastern University graduate Jason Xu.
Sometimes the stickers fall off because of sweat or movement and need to be reapplied, wasting critical moments the patient may not have.
For his senior capstone, Xu and a group of bioengineering students at Northeastern developed a solution — the Flextab, a circular silicon-based EKG tab that medical professionals can use in place of stickers.
