ELECTROCARDIOGRAM PROTOCOL ©David B. Fankhauser, Ph.D., Professor of Biology and Chemistry University of Cincinnati Clermont College, Batavia OH 45103
Placement of electrodes. negative to the right	This page has been accessed  times since 16 April 2002.  3 April 1990, rvsd 31 March '94, 28 Mar '95, 22 March 1996, 1 April '97, 28 March 01	EKG tracing: normal sinus rhythm

The electrical activity of the heart is intimately connected with heart function. Monitoring and recording this activity provides valuable insights into the health of a subject's heart. You will want to carefully review lecture notes and your text book on the significance of each of the waves of the typical EKG tracing so that the importance of this exercise will be clear. Work in teams of three: one reads directions for set up, one performs set up and operations, one is subject. Rotate roles for all three.

NEW MACHINE FOR EKG: For years students ragged on us about using ancient equipment for recording EKGs. We finally got a computer-based system for recording EKGs (as well as EEGs, etc).
Here are the directions for recording EKGs using the BioPac system:
Using BioPac Student Lab, Version 3.6.7
1) Turn on computer, login: USERBL
2) Open BioPac Student soft ware
3) Choose Lesson: click on LO5- ECG-1
4) Type your file name (LASTNAME_X) (X = first initial), enter
5) Connect electrodes
a) If skin is moist or oily, wipe skin at electrode placement sites with 95% EtOH, dry well.
b) Apply electrodes to the right and left fifth intercostal spaces, about 2-3 inches below nipples. Weak tracings result if electrodes are over a rib. The third electrode is placed on the inside R wrist. (If necessary, tape down with masking tape.)
c) Clip lead harness securely to belt or clothing, attach leads to electrodes:
i) red lead to left fifth intercostal space
ii) white to right fifth intercostal space
iii) black to inside of wrist (either R or L)
6) Holding still with regular breathing, click on CALIBRATE. Look for even, regular heart tracings. If they are missing, erratic or contain much “static,” check for secure electrode placement and repeat calibration. Tape down securely if necessary.
7) When satisfied with a completed calibration tracing, click on record.
8) Record for 35 seconds, holding still and with relaxed breathing.
9) After 35 seconds, click button SUSPEND.
10) If the tracing is satisfactory, click on DONE.
11) It asks if you are finished recording segments, click YES.
12) A new menu appears, highlight ANALYZE CURRENT DATA FILE to select, click OK.
13) Click FILE, select DISPLAY PREFERENCE, highlight SHOW GRIDS, click OK.
14) Click arrow button in lower right side of screen
15) Left click the space below the graph (next to “seconds”).
16) A menu appears, enter 30 in the seconds space for upper scale range, click OK.
17) Click FILE, select PRINT.
18) Select PRINT GRAPH, click OK.
19) The Print Options menu appears. Enter “4" in the plots per page space.
20) Click on PRINT.
21) Collect printed tracing from the Lab printer. Label P, QRS and T waves, and label which events are occurring in the heart during each wave. At the print conditions described in #16-20, 1 inch equals 1 second. Mark the one second intervals below the graph (printed numbers are erroneous...) Indicate how many beats per minute. Cut in half and mount in notebook.

I inadvertently deleted the updated version of this page, including thumbnails. Until I rewrite the page, here is the collection of thumbnails associated with the EKG. The machine shown is no longer in use. Stay tuned for an update with the computer-based EKG...

Created using Thotor - Photo Thumbnail Generator!

In case anyone is interested, here is the protocol for using the twenty-year old apparatus which we used until recent years:

MACHINE SET-UP (See protocol on EEG for more info on the apparatus used):

PROTOCOL:

1. Apply 1/4 inch sized drop of electrolyte salve to each of three electrodes.
2. Strap one electrode onto the inside of the left ankle with an 8 inch rubber strap.
3. Insert the other two electrodes approximately 7 inches apart at the end of a long rubber strap (30 inches long), and strap around rib cage level and on either side of the base of the sternum (over the R & L fifth intercostal spaces).
4. Insure that the recorder coupling is on ground before when making the following connections:
5. Attach the negative lead to the right chest electrode, the positive lead to the left, and theground to the left ankle. Make sure that the clamp screws are snug on the leads, and that the leads are flat and snug against the skin. Have subject remain still (the tracing will otherwise wander).
6. Switch recorder coupling to DC, and note any deflection of the recorder needle. It should be regular and heart-beat like. If it is erratic, check for a loose connection.
7. Adjust height of tracing with pen control position so that peaks are all on the chart.
8. Switch on the chart drive (at 5 mm/sec).
9. Adjust pen darkness with the pen heat control for thin but dark tracing.
10. Switch the chart speed to 25 mm/sec. Re-check for proper darkness and position of tracing. After you have recorded at least 10 seconds of good tracings (10 to 15 clear heart beats), turn off chart drive, then switch coupling to ground.
11. Draw out recording paper so that all tracings can be torn off.
12. Detach leads, wash electrodes and rubber straps in hot soapy water.
13. Attach a strip of at least eight seconds of good tracings into your notebook with scotch tape at the edges. Label P, QRS and T waves, label electrical events occurring in the heart during each wave. At 25 mm/sec, the hatch marks at the top of the paper are 3 seconds apart. Indicate how many beats per minute.