
Interior of the electrocardiogram, complete with Game Boy. / Image: @JanHenrikH
A recent article from The Verge gave some insight into how medical device companies can get resourceful when developing products. Apparently a woman opened an electrocardiogram measurement instrument to discover a Game Boy Advance. Apparently at the time the device was constructed, single-chip computers were rare and the Game Boy provided an inexpensive, hackable option for programming devices.
A 1997 patent actually illustrates the benefits of integrating a Game Boy into electrocardiograms for its abilities including modular functionality, portability, ease of use, and affordability.