GE’s Marquette 12SL Algorithm Updates

When it comes to ECG analysis software, a clinician wants to ensure proper efficiency and effectiveness. GE Healthcare has continued to refine the Marquette 12SL Algorithm since its launch in 1980. The 12SL software is truly one that is timeless, as it has been sharpened and refined over the years to better give cardiology practitioners the proper tools to diagnose their patients. It surpasses modern standards for 12 and 15-lead measurements and analysis, while also implementing precise measurements of heart rate, axis, intervals, and durations.

The Marquette 12SL ECG analysis software was first updated in 1986 with its Serial Comparison Program. This helps indicate any changes in the ECG from the previous ECG reading of the same patient. It also helps develop interpretive statements, ECG measurements, and waveform comparison procedures to maximize precision in the exposure of clinically substantial changes. The Serial Comparison Program allows for consistently authenticated analysis and comparison, helping guarantee reproducibility and impartiality for improved proficiency in the procedure.

In 1991, the Marquette 12SL made another major upgrade with its Paediatric Analysis feature. This feature allows a clinician to accurately interpret ECG readings for different age groups among children. Increased right ventricular size, increased heart rate, and narrower complexes often lead to different interpretation in an adult ECG. Noting this, the Marquette 12SL program employs pediatric criteria if an age of less than 16 years is entered into the ECG. This allows for safer, more accurate pediatric specific measurement and interpretation.

One of our personal favorite advances that the Marquette 12SL software has made was their Gender-Specific Criteria feature added in the year 2000. Similar to children, there is a difference in ECG readings between men and women. With the Gender-Specific interpretation, there is criteria applied for assessing the ST segment and T-wave of the ECG waveform. This helps to enhance sensitivity to acute myocardial infarction among women, enhancing diagnostic confidence.

The next upgrade to the Marquette 12SL interpretive software was made in 2003 with the introduction of the QT Algorithm. Identification of prolonged QT waves are important in diagnosing conditions of serious arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death. Often times, it can be difficult to accurately measure QT because of various factors such as ECG noise, trouble defining the end of the T wave, and requiring correction for heart rate. GE’s QT Algorithm helps to diminish these challenges by producing a consistent and accurate measurement and interpretation. It offers multiple QT correction factors including Bazett, Framingham, and Fridericia STEMI/ACS.

In 2004, GE upgraded the Marquette 12SL Algorithm with the Hookup Advisor feature. Hookup Advisor supports high quality ECGs by assessing impedance plus the signal quality of the ECG leads. There is an easy to understand red-yellow-green signal which indicates the quality of the ECG reading. Hookup Advisor helps to indicate the cause of a possible interference, so that the root cause can be eliminating without just using higher filters. It not only considers skin contact through impedance, but it also takes a look at the ECG signal and electrode motion or noise coming from movement, AC, or muscle tremor.