Richard Pflanzer, Ph.D.

Biopac Student Lab® Lesson 5 Associate Professor Emeritus

Indiana University School of Medicine
ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY (ECG) I Purdue University School of Science
42 Aero Camino, Goleta, CA 93117
Procedure
Rev. 12292017 William McMullen
www.biopac.com Vice President, BIOPAC Systems, Inc.

II. EXPERIMENTAL OBJECTIVES

1) To become familiar with the electrocardiograph as a primary tool for evaluating electrical events within the
heart.
2) To correlate electrical events as displayed on the ECG with the mechanical events that occur during the cardiac
cycle.
3) To observe rate and rhythm changes in the ECG associated with body position and breathing.
III. MATERIALS
· BIOPAC Electrode Lead Set (SS2L)
· BIOPAC Disposable Electrodes (EL503,) 3 electrodes per subject
· BIOPAC Electrode Gel (GEL1) and Abrasive Pad (ELPAD)
· Optional: BIOPAC Skin Prep Gel (ELPREP) or alcohol prep
· Mat, cot or lab table and pillow for Supine position
· Biopac Student Lab System: BSL 4 software, MP36, MP35 or MP45 hardware
· Computer System (Windows or Mac)
IV. EXPERIMENTAL METHODS
A. SETUP
FAST TRACK Setup Detailed Explanation of Setup Steps
1. Turn the computer ON.
· If using an MP36/35 unit, turn it OFF.
· If using an MP45, make sure USB
cable is connected and “Ready” light
is ON.
2. Plug the equipment in as follows:
Electrode Lead Set (SS2L)—CH 1
3. Turn ON the MP36/35 unit.

Fig. 5.5 MP3X (top) and MP45 (bottom) hardware connections

4. Clean and abrade skin. Clean electrode sites with ELPREP Skin Prep Gel or alcohol before
5. Attach three electrodes on Subject as abrading.
shown in Fig. 5.6. Always apply a drop of gel (GEL1) to the sponge portion of electrodes
before attaching.
Remove any jewelry on or near the electrode sites.
Place one electrode on the medial surface of each leg, just above the
ankle. Place the third electrode on the right anterior forearm at the
wrist (same side of arm as the palm of hand).
For optimal electrode contact, place electrodes on skin at least 5
Setup continues… minutes before start of Calibration.

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Page P-2 L05 – Electrocardiography (ECG) I Biopac Student Lab 4

6. Clip the Electrode Lead Set (SS2L) to the

electrodes following the color code
(Fig. 5.6).
· RIGHT forearm = WHITE lead
· RIGHT leg = BLACK lead (ground)
· LEFT leg = RED lead

Fig. 5.6 Lead II Setup

The pinch connectors work like a small clothespin, but will only latch
onto the nipple of the electrode from one side of the connector.
7. Subject gets in supine position (lying Position the electrode cables so that they are not pulling on the
down, face up) and relaxes (Fig. 5.7). electrodes. Connect the electrode cable clip to a convenient location
on Subject’s clothes.

Fig. 5.7 Positioning (supine)

8. Start the BIOPAC Student Lab program. Start Biopac Student Lab by double-clicking the Desktop shortcut.
9. Choose lesson “L05 –
Electrocardiography (ECG) I” and click
OK.

10. Type in a unique filename and click OK. A folder will be created using the filename. This same filename can be
11. Optional: Set Preferences. used in other lessons to place the Subject’s data in a common folder.
· Choose File > Lesson Preferences. This lesson has optional Preferences for data and display while
recording. Per your Lab Instructor’s guidelines, you may set:
· Select an option.
Grids: Show or hide gridlines
· Select the desired setting and click ECG filter: Set bandwidth
OK.
Heart Rate Data: Calculate and display Heart Rate data
Time Scale: Set the full screen time scale with options from 10 to 20
seconds.
Lesson Recordings: Specific recordings may be omitted based on
END OF SETUP instructor preferences.
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B. CALIBRATION
The Calibration procedure establishes the hardware’s internal parameters (such as gain, offset, and scaling) and is critical for
optimal performance. Pay close attention to Calibration.

FAST TRACK Calibration Detailed Explanation of Calibration Steps

1. Subject is supine and relaxed, with eyes
closed.
2. Click Calibrate. Subject must remain relaxed and as still throughout calibration to
· Subject remains relaxed with eyes minimize baseline shift and EMG artifact.
closed.
· Wait for Calibration to stop. Calibration lasts eight seconds.
3. Verify recording resembles example data. There should be a recognizable ECG waveform with a baseline at or
· If similar, click Continue and near 0 mV, little EMG artifact and no large baseline drift.
proceed to Data Recording.
· If necessary, click Redo
Calibration.

Fig. 5.8 Example Calibration data

If recording does not resemble the Example Data

§ If the data is noisy or flatline, check all connections to the MP unit.
§ If the ECG displays baseline drift or excessive EMG artifact:
o Verify electrodes are making good contact with the skin and
that the leads are not pulling on the electrodes.
o Make sure Subject is in a relaxed position.

Click Redo Calibration and repeat Steps 1 – 3 if necessary.

END OF CALIBRATION
Page P-4 L05 – Electrocardiography (ECG) I Biopac Student Lab 4

C. DATA RECORDING
FAST TRACK Recording Detailed Explanation of Recording Steps
1. Subject remains supine and relaxed, with Four conditions* will be recorded: Supine, Seated, Breathing deeply, and
eyes closed. After exercise. Subject performs tasks in the intervals between
· Subject must remain still. recordings.
· Review recording steps. *IMPORTANT
This procedure assumes that all lesson recordings are enabled in Lesson
Preferences, which may not be the case for your lab. Always match the
recording title to the recording reference in the journal and disregard any
references to excluded recordings.
Hints for obtaining optimal data:
To minimize EMG artifact and baseline drift:
§ Subject’s arms and legs must be relaxed.
§ Subject must remain still and should not talk during any
recordings.
§ Make sure electrodes do not peel up and that the leads
do not pull on the electrodes.
Supine
2. Click Record.
3. Subject remains supine and relaxed, with
eyes closed.
4. Record for 20 seconds.
5. Click Suspend.
6. Verify recording resembles the example The ECG waveform should have a baseline at or near 0 mV and should
data. not display large baseline drifts or significant EMG artifact. The Heart
Rate (BPM) data will not be accurate until after the first two cardiac
· If similar, click Continue and
proceed to next recording. (ECG) cycles after which there should not be sporadic variations that
go out of the visible range.

Fig. 5.9 Example Supine data

· If necessary, click Redo If recording does not resemble the Example Data
· If all required recordings have been § If the data is noisy or flatline, check all connections to the MP unit.
completed, click Done. § If the ECG displays excessive baseline drift or EMG artifact, or if
the Heart Rate (BPM) data shows sporadic values:
o Verify electrodes are making good contact with the skin and
that the leads are not pulling on the electrodes.
o Make sure Subject is in a relaxed position.
§ Click Redo and repeat Steps 2 – 6 if necessary. Note that once Redo
is clicked, the most recent recording will be erased.

Recording continues…
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Seated
· Review recording steps. Subject should sit with arms relaxed at side of body and hands apart in
7. Subject gets up quickly and then settles lap, with legs flexed at knee and feet supported for seconds 21 – 40.
into a seated position (Fig. 5.10).

Fig. 5.10 Positioning (seated)

8. Once Subject is seated and still, click In order to capture the heart rate variation, click Record as quickly as
Record. possible after Subject sits and relaxes.
9. Record for 20 seconds. Subject remains seated, relaxed, and breathing normally.
10. Click Suspend.
11. Verify recording resembles the example
data.
· If similar, click Continue and
proceed to the next recording.

Fig. 5.11 Example Seated data

· If necessary, click Redo. The data description is the same as outlined in Step 6.
· If all required recordings have been Click Redo if necessary. The Subject must return to the Supine position
completed, click Done. for at least 5 minutes before repeating Steps 7 – 11.
Note that once Redo is clicked, the most recent recording will be erased.

Recording continues…
Page P-6 L05 – Electrocardiography (ECG) I Biopac Student Lab 4

Deep Breathing
· Review recording steps. Subject remains seated.
12. Click Record.
13. Subject inhales and exhales slowly and Note It is important to breathe with long, slow, deep breaths
completely as possible for five prolonged to help minimize EMG artifact.
(slow) breath cycles. If possible, the Subject should breathe through nose so the Recorder can
· Recorder presses F4 at the start of clearly observe the start of each inhale and exhale.
each inhale.
· Recorder presses F5 at the start of
each exhale.
14. Click Suspend.
15. Verify recording resembles the example
data.
· If similar, click Continue and
proceed to the next recording.

Fig. 5.12 Example Deep Breathing data

· If necessary, click Redo. The data description is the same as outlined in Step 6 with the following
· If all required recordings have been exception:
completed, click Done. § The ECG data may exhibit some baseline drift during deep
breathing which is normal and unless excessive, does not
necessitate Redo.
Click Redo and repeat Steps 12 – 15 if necessary. Note that once Redo is
clicked, the most recent recording will be erased.
After exercise
· Review recording steps. Subject should perform an exercise to elevate his/her heart rate fairly
16. Subject exercises to elevate heart rate. rapidly, such as running up stairs, push-ups, or jumping-jacks.
· If electrode leads were unclipped, Note You may remove the electrode cable pinch connectors so that
clip them back on. Subject can move about freely, but do not remove the
electrodes.
· Following exercise, Subject sits
If you do remove the cable pinch connectors, you must
down and relaxes.
reattach them following the precise color placement in Fig. 5.6
prior to clicking Record.
When seated, Subject’s arms must be relaxed and at sides of body, with
arms relaxed and feet supported.
In order to capture the heart rate variation, it is important that you
resume recording as quickly as possible after Subject has performed the
exercise. However, it is also important that you do not click Record
while Subject is exercising or you will capture motion artifact.
17. Record for 60 seconds.
18. Click Suspend.
19. Verify recording resembles the example
data.
· If similar, click Continue to proceed
to optional recording section, or
click Done if finished.

Fig. 5.13 Example After Exercise data

Recording continues…
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· If necessary, click Redo. The data description is the same as outlined in Step 6, with the following
exception:
§ The ECG data may exhibit some baseline drift which is normal
and unless excessive, does not necessitate Redo.
Click Redo and repeat Steps 16 – 19 if necessary. Note that once Redo
is clicked, the most recent recording will be erased.

OPTIONAL ACTIVE LEARNING PORTION With this lesson you may record additional data segments by clicking
Continue following the last recording segment. Design an experiment
to test or verify a scientific principle(s) related to topics covered in this
lesson. Although you are limited to this lesson’s channel assignments,
the electrodes may be moved to different locations on the Subject.
Design Your Experiment
Use a separate sheet to detail your experiment design, and be sure to
address these main points:
A. Hypothesis
Describe the scientific principle to be tested or verified.
B. Materials
List the materials you will use to complete your investigation.
C. Method
Describe the experimental procedure—be sure to number each step
to make it easy to follow during recording.
Run Your Experiment
D. Set Up
Set up the equipment and prepare the subject for your experiment.
E. Record
Use the Continue, Record and Suspend buttons to record as many
segments as necessary for your experiment.
Click Done when you have completed all of the segments required
for your experiment.
Analyze Your Experiment
F. Set measurements relevant to your experiment and record the
results in a Data Report.
20. After clicking Done, choose an option and If choosing the Record from another Subject option:
click OK. § Repeat Setup Steps 6 – 9, and then proceed to Calibration.

21. Remove the electrodes. Remove the electrode cable pinch connectors and peel off all electrodes.
Discard the electrodes. (BIOPAC electrodes are not reusable.) Wash the
electrode gel residue from the skin, using soap and water. The electrodes
may leave a slight ring on the skin for a few hours which is quite normal.

END OF RECORDING