Every ECG machine sold for clinical use records the standard 12-lead ECG. What changes between a 3-channel, 6-channel and 12-channel machine is how many of those leads are printed or displayed side by side, and what else the machine does with the recording.
What “channel” means
A 3-channel machine prints three leads at a time, so a full 12-lead ECG comes out in four groups. A 6-channel machine prints six leads at a time in two groups. A 12-channel machine prints all twelve leads side by side, usually on a single A4 page with a rhythm strip, which makes comparison between leads quicker.
Which suits whom
- 3-channel: GP clinics, health check-up centres, small nursing homes and camps. Compact, economical and often battery powered.
- 6-channel: nursing homes, wards and emergency rooms that record ECGs often and want a faster, clearer printout.
- 12-channel: hospitals, cardiology clinics, diagnostic centres and corporate health checks, where reports are read by cardiologists and stored electronically.
Interpretation and connectivity
Many machines offer automatic measurement and interpretation, which gives a provisional reading and flags abnormalities. It supports, but does not replace, a doctor’s reading. Higher-end machines add a large colour screen, PDF or XML export, Wi-Fi or LAN transfer to an EMR, and a built-in report memory.
Other points to check
- Paper size and the cost and availability of paper rolls or Z-fold paper
- Battery life and charging time for bedside and camp use
- Filters for muscle tremor, baseline wander and mains interference, which keep tracings clean
- Paediatric use and pacemaker detection
- Availability of cables and electrodes for your brand
What about Holter monitors?
A resting ECG records about ten seconds. A Holter monitor records the ECG for 24 hours or longer while the patient goes about normal life, and software analyses the recording for arrhythmias. Clinics that investigate palpitations or fainting often add a Holter system alongside a 12-channel ECG.
See our ECG machines and Holters from BPL, Niscomed, Contec, RMS and others.