Emergency cardiac intervention is an important but under-researched topic within emergency medicine. Prehospital EKGs on diaphoretic, or sweaty, patients have electrode adhesion problems leading to worsened patient outcomes. Surveying local paramedics and conducting tests on simulated scenarios revealed an obvious engineering need. The KLAA delivers consistent pressure to each precordial electrode simultaneously without interfering with the EKG tracing. Designed for EMS programs in lower resource settings, the KLAA is a one-time purchase that meets universal design specifications. Clinical feasibility testing showed that the KLAA is non-inferior to normal dry EKG acquisition and provides statistically superior tracings in diaphoretic settings. With short deployment time and no interference with existing EKG acquisition the addition of the KLAA is a feasible and life saving possibility.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Gallagher, Abigail
• Averka, Lauren
• Poland, Abbigail
• Bushe, Kellie

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042524-123409
• 121700

Keyword

• EMS
• 12 Lead EKG
• Electrocardiogram
• Electrode adhesion
• Emergency Cardiac Intervention
• Diaphoresis

Advisor

• Faber, Brenton

Year

• 2024

Date created

• 2024-04-25

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biomedical Engineering

Source

• E-project-042524-123409

Rights statement

• In Copyright