Final answer:
Conductive gels or sensors used with EKG machines all share the common purpose of facilitating the transmission of the heart's electrical signals to the EKG equipment. These gels help to ensure clear readings by reducing skin impedance and are utilized in various EKG devices, including portable and wearable monitors.
Step-by-step explanation:
All of the conductive gels or sensors on the market for use with EKG machines have the capability to facilitate the transmission of electrical signals from the body to the machine. These gels and sensors are crucial in obtaining an accurate electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), which is a recording of the heart's electrical activity. The gels aid in reducing the impedance between the skin and the electrodes, ensuring that the skin conducts electricity effectively, especially at the high voltages used in medical equipment like defibrillators.
Electrodes, whether for standard EKG machines that use 3, 5, or 12 leads or for continuous monitoring through devices like the Holter monitor, must be placed carefully on the body to record the electrical signals accurately. The composition of EKG conductive gels is designed so that they don't absorb the energy but rather allow it to pass through to the heart. As EKG technology has advanced, it has been possible to integrate EKG sensors into portable and wearable devices, increasing the versatility and accessibility of heart monitoring.