I just wanted to let you know about the new Internet project named openECGproject.
The openECGproject is essentially an online community conceived around a simple, but challenging and worthy goal - to develop an open source hardware and software solution for electrocardiography. More precisely, to develop an open source, low cost, and clinically functional 12-lead PC-based ECG with interpretive software.
The idea was conceived to help those hospitals and doctors, mainly from the Third World, who cannot afford similar currently available and expensive commercial products. Development of a free alternative could, I believe, have a profound impact on health care not just in poor countries, but in others too.
The whole project is philanthropic and depends on the efforts of volunteers who want to make a difference. Be sure to visit the site, open-ecg-project.org. Some people have already started discussing about the potential use of Arduino.