What Can the GE MacLab Monitor?

We get lots of questions about hemodynamic monitoring units, and none more often than the GE MacLab. The MacLab is the most widely used hemo system in the world, and for good reason: it's easy to use, and it measures an awful lot of vital parameters. In fact, the MacLab's range of capabilities is the subject of a good share of the questions asked of our team. Because of this, we've decided to lay it out for you here.

MacLab Connections & Capabilities

Between the main MacLab computer tower and the cath lab itself is a unit called the Tram Rac. The Tram Rac is a, roughly, toaster-sized box, often mounted on the floor beneath the patient table or hung on one of its rails, as pictured. All bio signal leads coming from the patient plug into the Tram Rac, which acts as a bulkhead, bundling the signals into a single cable and relaying them to the MacLab tower.   

For ease of use, GE color codes the inputs on the Tram Rac to match the cable ends that plug into them. The following list breaks down that color code and enumerates the physiological measurements the GE MacLab is capable of monitoring.

Here are the inputs, and what they are for:

On the Patient Data Module (Top Row)

• Green- Electrocardiogram (ECG), 5 or 10-lead cables

• Brown- Thermal dilution cardiac output (TDCO), or temperature cable

• Red – Invasive blood pressure (IBP), up to 3 at a time

• Black – Non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP)

On the Tram 451N Module (Second Row)

• Display- Output for an additional LCD display, not often used

• Defib. Sync- Output for invasive pressure or ECG to another piece of equipment, not often used

• Blue- Nellicor OxiMAX SpO2

On the Mainstream CO2 Module (Bottom Row)

• Yellow- Mainstream CO2 (optional module), tracks end tidal CO2

If you need to know more about the GE MacLab, or other cath lab equipment, we're ready to help with technical specs, site planning, and pricing information. Give us a call, or use the button below to get the conversation started.