A new component has been added to the ENERGYSCAN QXCI family. This is a sophisticated microphone that does not have a membrane. The skin of the patient becomes the membrane and thereby increases the function of the device by providing a biological membrane component to the microphone. The computer software then can filter aberrant noise and display the heart sounds on the screen. Royal Lee used a similar device to assess the nutritional needs of his patients. The ENERGYSCAN QXCI device is a similar but much more efficient device than the one used by Dr Lee. This was originally called an echocardiogram. This term was developed for the ultrasound Doppler device that sends sound energy into the body and then interrupts the reflection or Echo. Since our device is totally safe and sends in no energy, Echo does not apply.

The Latin name for hearing is auscalt, from which we get auscultation. So we have decided to call our device the AUSCULTCARDIOGRAM.

The Settings function on the top of the menu will allow you to select the proper com port setting for your serial port. Try the com ports till you get the proper one. The computer will save your last selection, so you only have to choose it once.

To learn about interpreting the readout there is a text on auscultation that can be procured by hitting the Auscultation line under the Information heading. There are many heart sounds that reflect disease states. The sounds come from the mechanical action of the heart valves. An ECG reflects the electrical nature of the heartbeat. The ENERGYSCAN QXCI allows you to do both so you can see the electrical nature of the beat while studying the mechanical nature the heart sounds.

The Auscultation system requires a separate device that attaches to the serial port of your computer. Since the regular system attaches to the parallel port the two can operate simultaneously. The device has a microphone, which is about 2.5 inches in diameter. There is a velcro belt provided that holds the microphone in place. There is a pressure sensor that can measure respirations in a normal patient and muscle contraction in the pregnant patient.

Put the microphone over the chest of the normal patient and over the abdomen of the pregnant patient. Make sure the rubber seal around the edge is all in contact with the skin. Plug in the power supplies (9volt dc). Turn on the switch and raise the volume till you hear the heart beat clearly. Enter the ENERGYSCAN QXCI software go to the test screen and under programs you will find the auscultation access.

The Start 1 button will let you see the heart beat of the patient or the mother. The Start 2 button will show the baby's heart beat.

The freeze button will freeze the last several hearts beats over the last five seconds. Then you can study and compare the pattern to other patterns revealed in the auscultation text.

The ECG access is under the Recording on the top menu. The harness needs to be inplace to activate this three pole ECG. The test takes one minute and the results of the analysis will appear on the panel. You can lower the panel to observe both at the same time. After reading the books on cardiology and the books on auscultation you will develop the ability to analyse the cardiology of your patients.