Nuclear scientists develop credit-card size ECG machine for rural India

MUMBAI – A group of scientists at the Bhabba Atomic Research Centre have developed a 12-channel ECG (electrocardiogram) machine which is the smallest of its kind and offers a low-cost, affordable health solution for the rural masses of India.

The credit card-sized Tele-ECG machine, which costs just Rs4,000, can transmit an ECG over mobile phones. Imported commercial models are much bigger, heavier and 10 times more expensive.

The machine can be recharged via a mobile charger and the data transmitted via mobile network.

Research scientist Vineet Sinha said the Tele-ECG can take 300 ECGs on a single charge. It currently works on an Android-platform, and can be used in conjunction with any smartphone.

It is estimated that one person in India dies due to heart attack every 30 seconds. While adequate facilities exist in urban areas, rural and remote areas do not have even basic electro-cardiogram (ECG) machines, or specialists who can read them. (ATI).