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Holter monitor

Syllabification: (Holt·er mon·i·tor)
Pronunciation: /ˈhōltər/

Entry from US Dictionary

Definition of Holter monitor

noun

  • a portable device that records the rhythm of the heart continuously, typically for 24-48 hours, by means of electrodes attached to the chest.

Origin:

1950s: named after Norman J. Holter (1914–83), the American biophysicist who invented it

When a patient is fitted with a Holter monitor, the recording device may be on a strap that goes around the neck or over the shoulder. This procedure is so suggestive of wearing a halter that it is not surprising that many people, including some healthcare professionals, believe they are correct in calling the device a halter monitor. In fact, the true name has nothing to do with the way the device is worn, but refers only to the man who invented it: Norman J. Holter. Even though the pronunciations of Holter and halter differ, the mistaken identity is persistent.

Holter monitor in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of Holter monitor in the US English dictionary
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