Applied Instrumentation Lab

Experiment No. 7

8EI7

Object: - To obtain ECG of a resting human subject and verify the algebraic relationship amongst units leads. Apparatus: - Heart rate monitor cum ECG Simulator ST2351, ECG Electrodes, PC,
RS 232 Cable, Oscilloscope, Banana Connector

Theory: - The heart is basically a hollow muscular pump, which pushes the blood
throughout the body via the blood vessels. It is located between the lungs and slightly to the left of center. The heart is an involuntary muscle that has approximately seventy to ninety contractions per minute during a restful state. It begins to pump early in the life of a foetus and will continue unceasingly until death. The heart wall is divided into three layers: Pericardium, Myocardium and Endocardium. The heart is divided by a partition or septum into two halves. The halves are in turn divided into chambers. The upper two chambers of the heart are called atria and the lower two chambers are called ventricles. Valves allow blood to flow in one direction between the chambers of the heart. The heart has four distinct chambers. 1. Right atrium is the thin-walled area that receives the venous or "used" blood returning to the body by the veins. 2. Right ventricle is the "pump" area of the heart's right side. The atrium dumps the blood into the ventricle where it is then pumped out the pulmonary arteries and to the lungs. 3. Left atrium receives the oxygenated blood returning from the lungs. 4. Left ventricle has the thickest walls of all. It is from this chamber the blood is pumped out of the heart, into the aorta and out to the rest of the body.

Fig. 1.1 Human Heart Construction

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Heart valves: 1. Tricuspid valve is the one located at the entrance of the right ventricle. It prevents the blood from washing back into the right atrium. 2. Pulmonary semi lunar valve is located between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery. 3. Mitral valve is made of very heavy cusps and is located at the entrance of the left ventricle. This is a powerful valve that closes as the left ventricle begins each of its contractions to ensure the oxygenated blood doesn't re-enter the left atrium. 4. Aortic valve is located, as its name would imply, between the left ventricle's exit and the aorta itself. Electo Cardio Gram (ECG): - As the heart undergoes depolarization and repolarization, the electrical currents that are generated spread not only within the heart, but also throughout the body. This electrical activity generated by the heart can be measured by an array of electrodes placed on the body surface. The recorded tracing is called an Electrocardiogram (ECG, or EKG). A "typical" ECG tracing is shown below. The different waves that comprise the ECG represent the sequence of depolarization and repolarization of the Atria and Ventricles.

Fig. 1.2 ECG Wave form PQRST The P wave represents the wave of depolarization that spreads from the SA node throughout the atria, and is usually 0.08 to 0.1 seconds (80-100 ms) in duration. The QRS complex represents ventricular depolarization. The duration of the QRS complex is normally 0.06 to 0.1 seconds. This relatively short duration indicates that ventricular depolarization normally occurs very rapidly.

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The T wave represents ventricular repolarization and is longer in duration than depolarization (i.e., conduction of the repolarization wave is slower than the wave of depolarization). Typically the total time required for one complete cycle of the heart electrical activity ranges from approximately 0.4 to 0.6 second. A healthy ECG shows a normal sinus rhythm. This is when each depolarization of the cardiac conduction system creates a P wave, followed by a QRS complex, followed by a T wave. During a normal sinus rhythm, the atria are contracting first (around the time of the P wave), and the ventricles contract second (around the time of the QRS complex). Ventricular relaxation occurs around the time of the T wave. Electrodes and Standards ECG Leads:- The Bio Electric signal generated on the surface of body is picked up by using the electrodes. The electrodes make electrical conduction, which is necessary for making measurements. The surface electrodes picked up potentials from the surface when placed over it without damaging the tissues; whereas deep-seated electrode senses the potential difference arising inside the live tissue or cell. The most common types of electrodes routinely used for ECG recording are circular or rectangular surface electrodes. An electrode conductive jelly is applied between the body and the electrode to reduce contact impedance. Floating are suitable and effective for long term monitoring they consists of Agcl3 metal electrode and flat plastic washer which does not allow metal to make contact with the body directly. This arrangement reduces the effect of motion artifacts. Floating electrodes are placed on the chest with electrodes conductive jelly and fixusing sticking plastics. The voltage generated by the pumping action of the heart is actually a vector whose magnitude, as well as spatial orientation, changes with time. Because the ECG signal is measured from electrodes applied to the surface of the body, the waveform of this signal is very dependent on the placement of electrodes. To record the ECG pattern of a subject (human body) it is necessary to apply ECG metal electrodes to the patient's limbs in special formats called leads, on each arm and leg, and six electrodes are placed at defined locations on the chest. These electrode leads are connected to a device that measures potential differences between selected electrodes to produce the characteristic electro-cardio-graphic tracings. 1. Limb Leads (Bipolar) 2. Augmented Limb Leads (Unipolar) 3. Chest Leads (Unipolar)

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Fig. 1.3 Verify the algebraic relationship amongst units leads

Procedure: 1. Connect the Heart-rate monitor cum ECG Trainer ST2351 to AC mains. 2. Switch ON the trainer by Mains switch. 3. Now place the electrodes in Lead I of standard Bipolar lead configuration Positive electrode (yellow) in left arm of subject, negative electrodes (Red) in right arm, and common (reference) electrode (Black) in the right leg of subject properly with ECG Gel and connect the cables to the kit. 4. Observe the ECG waveform in Lead I configuration at test-point Amplifier block (TP3) of trainer. (Adjust gain of the amplifier if required). Or Make a serial Connection between RS232 port on Training kit and RS232 port (COM1) available on PC. And observe the waveforms and analyze them with Real time ECG Analysis Software. 5. Then observe ECG waveforms at outputs of the different blocks of Heart-rate monitor cum ECG Trainer ST2351.

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Fig. 1.4 Real Time ECG Analysis Software Heart-rate monitor cum ECG Trainer ST2351 provides in-depth study of Electrocardiogram), ECG standard leads configuration, and the measurement of heart rate i.e. number of ECG pulses (heartbeats) per minute. ST2351 enables the Electrocardiogram observation by affixing Biomedical Electrodes to the human body in standard bipolar leads configuration. The Heart-rate monitor receives each ECG observation (heartbeat) i.e. detects the electrical action executed by heart of subject (human body) and displays the heart-rate as number of heartbeats per minute. ST2351 also monitors the abnormalities occurs in human cardiovascular system tachycardia (faster heart-rate) and Bradycardia (slower heart-rate) using visible controls. It also facilitates real time acquisition of raw data (ECG) and their corresponding measurements by its real time Analysis Software.

Result: - Thus we have obtained Electro Cardio Gram (ECG) of a resting human
subject, verify the algebraic relationship amongst units leads and also monitor heart rate. Global Technical Campus, Jaipur Page 5