HARCO ECG Monitor Model HAR-17

Circa 1974

A medical instrument used for real-time cardiac monitoring.

Use Cases:

• Intensive Care Units (ICUs) & Coronary Care Units: It was frequently used at a patient's bedside to monitor heart rhythm constantly, allowing staff to respond immediately to life-threatening events like cardiac arrest.

• Operating Rooms (OR): Anesthesiologists used these monitors to track a patient’s heart function during surgery, especially to monitor the effects of anesthesia.

• Recovery Rooms (PACU): Patients were monitored here as they woke from surgery to ensure their heart rate remained stable.

• Emergency Departments: It would be used for the initial assessment and stabilization of patients presenting with chest pain or trauma.

Early Paramedic Services:

• Mobile Intensive Care Units (MICU): In the early 1970s, pioneering paramedic programs began placing these units in large, van-style ambulances.

• The "Weight" Factor: Because this unit weighs approximately 15–20 lbs and lacks a battery, its "mobile" use was difficult. It was typically bolted to a counter in the ambulance and powered by a vehicle inverter. 

(H-20cm x W-25.5cm x D-36cm)