NYMC Faculty Publications
A Brief History of Clinical Electrocardiography: A Century After Einthoven's Nobel Prize
Author Type(s)
Faculty
DOI
10.1097/CRD.0000000000000847
Journal Title
Cardiology in Review
First Page
178
Last Page
185
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-1-2026
Department
Medicine
Keywords
Humans, History, 20th Century, Nobel Prize, Electrocardiography, History, 19th Century, Cardiology, History, 21st Century, Arrhythmias, Cardiac
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
Abstract
The invention of the string galvanometer by Willem Einthoven in 1901 ushered in a new era of clinical investigation. Previous instruments were capable only of rudimentary measurements that were of limited utility. Advances in physiology and engineering allowed Einthoven to construct a device that was uniquely capable of recording the minute electrical currents of the heart. Early string galvanometers were massive, immovable machines. Over time, the apparatus became smaller and portable, allowing examinations at the bedside. In the decades that followed, clinicians used the now ubiquitous instrument to evaluate cardiac arrhythmias, coronary artery disease, and conduction abnormalities. The remainder of the century saw the evolution of the contemporary 12-lead electrocardiogram, with standards established regarding technique and nomenclature. Awarded the Nobel Prize in 1924 for "his discovery of the mechanism of the electrocardiogram," Einthoven's legacy endures in modern clinical medicine.
Recommended Citation
Zimmerman, F. (2026). A Brief History of Clinical Electrocardiography: A Century After Einthoven's Nobel Prize. Cardiology in Review, 34 (2), 178-185. https://doi.org/10.1097/CRD.0000000000000847
