The CB-12L: a new device for transtelephonic transmission of a 12-lead electrocardiogram.

The value of transtelephonic transmission of ECG information is well established, and technological advances have continuously provided improved state-of-the-art equipment. Shahal Medical Services provides professional care to subscribers who call the medical center and describe their symptoms, whereupon therapeutic measures are decided upon. A new 12-lead patient controlled device for telephonically transmitting an ECG (GB-12L) has become available; the aim of this study was to evaluate its accuracy and practicability. Forty tracings (20 standard ECG tracings obtained under medical supervision in the physician's office and 20 by the patient in his home using the new CB-12L ECG device and transmitted by telephone to the center) from 20 subjects with various electrocardiographic pathologies were reviewed by 19 experienced physicians who were asked to interpret the results and identify the recording device. In 82% of the possibilities, the interpretation of the tracings was identical for both those recorded by the standard ECG recorder and the CB-12L ECG. An equal number of physicians could not identify the means by which device the tracings were taken. Proper placement of the electrodes did not prove to be a problem for the patient. Thus, the CB-12L ECG was found to be an easily operable and reliable tool which may be of value for early and prompt diagnosis of threatening cardiac situations in the prehospital setting.