Nick Mark, MD Nov 19, 2022

Here’s a fun ICU puzzle: what is causing this crazy spiking pattern on the ECG waveform of both an intra-aortic balloon pump & ICU monitor?

A #MedEd 🧵 on an important clinical artifact, medical pumps, & the triboelectric effect.

We’ll need to go back 2500 years to understand the cool physics behind this important effect! #FOAMed #FOAMcc #PhysicsInTheICU

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Show threadKevin
@nick Unidirectional movement of one nonconducting surface against another transfers an electrical charge. When that charge reaches a certain level it can discharge to earth - maybe the spikes are small electrostatic discharges thru the blood flowing in the tube?
Nov 19, 2022 at 6:13amWeb
Show threadNick Mark, MD Nov 19, 2022
@kevh exactly