© Midmark Corporation 2016
Recommendation/Possible Solution
DATA FORMAT ERROR
Message appears after starting a
new ECG.
A format error has occurred in the ECG data collected.
• This error message can be cleared by clicking on Settings, then Cancel.
• Verify that the Low Battery LED on the ECG Module is not blinking. If it is, install new
batteries.
• Switch to the 4 leads display format. Refer to the section on Live ECG for Display setting
changes.
If an error message appears consistently at the beginning of a new ECG, verify that the ECG
module is connected to the correct serial port. Refer to “Software Installation” and “Configuring
IQecg®”.
DISPLAY DIAGNOSTICS:
Delays in the ECG display have been
detected. Click Help to diagnose this
problem.
Message appears while running an
ECG.
A. The graphics display adapter in the computer is too slow displaying the live ECG for the
current display settings.
B. The computer might also be too slow or too busy running other programs in the background.
C. If you are a running live ECG in a thin-client environment, the bandwidth maybe too low.
• Click Help and follow the recommendations on the Help screen.
• Verify that no other tasks or programs are running. Exit IQmanager
®
and close all running
programs. Restart IQmanager
®
without restarting the computer.
ECG MODULE NOT RESPONDING!
Message appears after starting a
new ECG test. No ECG tracing is
displayed on the screen.
The program cannot communicate with the ECG module because it is not on, not connected to
the computer, or is connected to the wrong port.
NOTE: For Touchscreen Display users: If you are using the same COM or USB port for both
the ECG module and the touchscreen display, close or disable the touchscreen driver before
running the IQecg
®
program.
Incorrect diagnostic interpretation.
• Refer to ECG signal quality problems above.
• The patient’s Date of Birth, Sex, and Medications must be accurately entered. Refer to
Section III-E, Testing a New Patient.
• Edit the diagnostic statements accordingly. See Section III-E, Reviewing Patient Reports/
ECG Report Review.
No error message and no ECG trace
on Live ECG screen.
• Refer to ECG MODULE NOT RESPONDING above.
Prints slowly when printing live ECG
tracing or printing automatically after
analysis.
Depending on the computer, print jobs may be slower if the ECG module is still actively
collecting live ECG data.
• Verify that Print after Analysis is not checked. Refer to ECG Settings, Section II-D,
Configuring IQecg/Printer Settings and RR Variability Settings.
• Uncheck the Grid setting. Printing ECG reports without the grid will expedite the print jobs.
Recommendation/Possible Solution
ECG signal quality problems such as
a low amplitude, wandering baseline,
noisy signal, etc.
• For a good signal quality, the patient must be properly prepped; the lead placements must be
correct, and the electrodes and lead wires firmly must be secured. See Section III-B, Patient
Preparation for best practices.
• For the Valentine ECG: Verify that the Low Battery LED on the ECG module is not blinking; if
it is, install new batteries.
• For the IQecg
®
: Verify that the LED is not red, and that the Low Battery message is not
displayed. If the LED is red, or the message is displayed, install new batteries.
• Verify that the electrodes are fresh, moist, and sticky, not dry or hard. Check the electrode
expiration date on package.
• Verify that the patient lead wires and cables are not damaged or worn out.
• Inspect the connections between the electrodes, clips, lead wires, lead cable, and the ECG
module.
• The exam room should not be too cold; if it is, the patient may shiver, causing a noisy signal.
• If any I, II, III, aVR, aVL, and aVF leads on the screen are noisy or flat-lined, check the limb
lead electrodes for proper contact in this order: RL, LL, RA, and LA. If a precordial lead is
noisy or flat-lined, check the limb lead electrodes first, and then check the corresponding
chest lead electrode for proper contact. Once the problem is identified, discard and replace
the used electrode. Prepare the problem site again, or try a new electrode site in close
proximity to the original site. Note any site variance on the test report.
• Test the filter settings on the ECG screen. Turn the AC filter to ON if you see 50/60Hz noise.
Turn the Muscle filter to ON if the patient produces muscle tremor. Turn the Drift filter to ON
if the ECG baseline is drifting. While these digital filters can improve the signal quality, they
cannot correct hookup problems.
• NOTE: As with any ECG measuring device, turning on the Muscle filter may alter
measurements, which may affect the diagnostic statements. Do NOT turn on the Muscle filter
for pacemaker patients.
• Verify that the patient’s bed is properly grounded.
• Verify that the patient or examination room is not susceptible to energy interference, such as
electromagnetic fields from high-power equipment like X-ray machines, power generators,
power compressors, etc.
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