Where can I get the 3V Lithium CR123 battery?

These batteries were selected because they are very common. Most supermarkets, drug stores, hardware stores, etc. have them in stock. There are many Internet web sites that have these batteries in stock from different manufactures. Even the corner store here in Castine carries this battery!

How long will batteries last?

ActiveECG uses battery power very sparingly. Using it every day, monitoring multiple patients, and recording multiple strips per patient, you can expect more than 6 months of use from a single battery. With normal usage, a single battery will last about a year. If you will not be using ActiveECG for a month or more, you should remove the battery from the enclosure and store it in a cool, dry place.

I have a Handspring model. Will it work with ActiveECG?

Yes, the Handspring models of Palm OS handhelds work with ActiveECG. The only issue is the cable between the Handspring handheld and the ActiveECG hardware. Handspring uses non-standard data signal levels for their serial port. This has caused connectivity issues with most serial devices such as GPS units, modems, etc.

Purple Data Cables has created a cable for connecting a Handspring device to ActiveECG. Active has tested this cable (PDCH-F3W) with the Handspring Visor and it works perfectly. If you need a serial cable for your Handspring device, Purple Data Cables is the place to look first.

Does ActiveECG need to be removed before a patient is defibrillated?

No. ActiveECG meets all AAMI EC-13 standards for defibrillation protection. For proper defibrillation, the paddles or electrodes should not be placed directly over ECG electrodes or leadwires.

Why is the "ActiveECG Not Connected" status message or "not connected" icon displayed?

The ActiveECG Palm OS software is not able to determine that the ActiveECG hardware is connected. This can happen if the battery is missing, depleted, or inserted backwards in the ActiveECG hardware. It can also happen if the serial cable between the handheld and the ActiveECG hardware is not connected properly or an improper cable is being used.

Why is the "Check Electrodes" status message displayed?

The ActiveECG hardware does not sense that the electrodes are properly attached to a patient. Check for proper electrode-to-patient adhesion, leadwire snap disconnection, leadwire disconnection from ActiveECG, broken leadwires, or faulty electrodes.

What does the "Self-Test Error" status message or icon mean?

The ActiveECG hardware is continually running self-tests. If it detects any error, it will force one of these error displays to show on the handheld. If this occurs, you should perform an extended self-test and report the results to Active Corporation. See Appendix C in the User's Manual for more information.

Why are one or more extended self-test items failing?

The extended self-test performs very detailed tests on eight subsections of the circuit board. The tests are very sensitive to any noise and should only be done in an electrically quiet environment away from other electronic devices. A/C adapters, especially those used with portable computers create too much noise for the sensitive ECG tests. Make sure you are at least 100 feet away from any electronic device.

If you find that the extended self-test is failing in a quiet environment, make sure that you have the latest version of the ActiveECG Palm OS application. To find out the version you are currently running, tap the menu button and select the "About ActiveECG..." item under the Help menu. The version number under "Software" is the version number of the Palm OS application. If you are not using the latest ActiveECG software, download it from the Downloads section and re-try the extended self-test.

If after all of this you are still having an extended self-test failure, write an email to support@activecenter.com for help. This will be the quickest way to resolve the test problem.