Richard Pflanzer, Ph.D.

Biopac Student Lab® Lesson 7 Associate Professor Emeritus

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

II. EXPERIMENTAL OBJECTIVES

1) To become familiar with the principle of plethysmography and its usefulness in qualitatively assessing peripheral
changes in blood volume.
2) To observe and record changes in peripheral blood volume and pressure pulse under a variety of both experimental
and physiological conditions.
3) To determine the approximate speed of the pressure pulse wave traveling between the heart and the finger.
4) To illustrate the electrical activity associated with normal cardiac activity and how it relates to the flow of blood
throughout the body.
III. MATERIALS
• BIOPAC Electrode Lead Set (SS2L)
• BIOPAC Disposable Electrodes (EL503,) 3 electrodes per subject
• BIOPAC Pulse Transducer (SS4LA or SS4L)
• Ruler or Measuring Tape
• Ice water or warm water in plastic bucket
• BIOPAC electrode gel (GEL1) and abrasive pad (ELPAD)
• Optional: BIOPAC Skin Prep Gel (ELPREP) or alcohol prep
• Biopac Student Lab System: BSL 4 software, MP36 or MP35 hardware
• Computer System (Windows or Mac)
IV. EXPERIMENTAL METHODS

A. SETUP
FAST TRACK Setup Detailed Explanation of Setup Steps
1. Turn the computer ON.
2. If the MP36/35 unit is on, turn it OFF.
3. Plug the equipment in as follows:
Electrode Lead Set (SS2L) — CH 1
Pulse Transducer (SS4LA) or
Pulse Transducer (SS4L) — CH 2
4. Turn ON the MP36/35 unit.

Fig. 7.2 MP connections

5. Clean and abrade skin. Clean electrode sites with ELPREP Skin Prep Gel or alcohol before
abrading.
6. Attach three electrodes on the Subject
(Fig. 7.3). Always apply a drop of gel (GEL1) to the sponge portion of electrodes
before attaching.
Remove any jewelry on or near the electrode sites.

Setup continues…

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Page P-2 L07 – ECG & Pulse Biopac Student Lab 4

Fig. 7.3
▪ One electrode on the medial surface of the left leg, just above
the ankle bone.
▪ One electrode on the medial surface of the right leg, just
above the ankle bone.
▪ One electrode on the right anterior forearm just above the
wrist (same side of arm as the palm of hand.)
Note: For optimal electrode contact, place electrodes on skin at least
five minutes before start of Calibration.
7. Clip the Electrode Lead Set (SS2L) to the
electrodes, following the color code (Fig.
7.4).
• RED = LEFT ankle
• WHITE = RIGHT wrist
• BLACK = RIGHT ankle

Fig. 7.4

Setup continues…
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8. Clean the window of the pulse transducer. This will prevent any oil or dirt on the window from interfering with the
signal. Use a soft cloth, Q-tip, or other non-abrasive material to wipe it
clean.
9. Put pulse transducer sensor on tip of The transducer should be snug, but not so much that blood circulation is
RIGHT index finger (Fig. 7.5) wrap cut off—it’s a fine line between snug and too tight.
Velcro snugly around finger, but not too
tightly.

Fig. 7.5 Sensor position on RIGHT hand

10. Subject gets in proper seating position, The cables should have enough slack to not pull on the electrodes or the
facing away from monitor and adjusts the transducer when hands are in lap, and must be positioned to allow
leads and cables (Fig. 7.6). unrestricted movement when right hand is raised above the head.
Connect the electrode cable clip to a convenient location on Subject’s
clothes.
11. Start the Biopac Student Lab Program. Start Biopac Student Lab by double-clicking the Desktop shortcut.
12. Choose lesson “L07 – ECG & Pulse” and
click OK.
13. Type in a unique filename and Click OK.

No two people can have the same filename, so use a unique identifier,
such as Subject’s nickname or student ID#.
A folder will be created using the filename. This same filename can be
used in other lessons to place the Subject’s data in a common folder.
14. Set Preferences. This lesson has optional Preferences for data and display while recording.
• Choose File > Lesson Preferences. Per your Lab Instructor’s guidelines, you may set:
Grids: Show or hide gridlines
• Select an option.
Heart Rate Data: Calculate and display Heart Rate data.
• Select the desired setting and click OK.
Lesson Recordings: Specific recordings may be omitted based on
instructor preferences.

END OF SETUP
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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 seated relaxed and still, facing
away from monitor (Fig. 7.6).

Fig. 7.6 Proper seating position for Calibration and Lesson

Subject must be seated in a chair, arms at side of body and knees flexed
with feet supported.
2. Click Calibrate. Subject must remain relaxed and as still throughout calibration to
minimize baseline shift and EMG artifact.
3. Wait for Calibration to stop. Calibration lasts eight seconds.

4. Verify recording resembles the example There should be a recognizable ECG waveform with a baseline at or near
data. 0 mV, little EMG artifact and no large baseline drift. The lower channel
should display a visible pulsatile waveform.
• If similar, click Continue and
proceed to Data Recording.
• If necessary, click Redo Calibration.

Fig. 7.7 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
▪ If the Pulse Signal is not present, change the position or tightness of
END OF CALIBRATION the transducer. Some Subjects may not produce a good pulse signal
and it may be necessary to use a different Subject.
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C. DATA RECORDING
FAST TRACK Recording Detailed Explanation of Recording Steps
1. Subject is seated and relaxed, arms Three conditions will be recorded*: Arm relaxed, hand in hot or cold
supported, breathing normally, facing away water, and hand held up.
from monitor. *IMPORTANT
• Review recording steps. 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 muscle (EMG) artifact and baseline drift:
▪ Subject must be relaxed.
▪ Make sure electrodes do not peel up and that the cables and leads do
not pull on the electrodes or transducer.
Seated and relaxed
2. Click Record.
3. Record for 15 seconds. Subject remains seated and relaxed.
4. Click Suspend.
5. Verify that recording resembles the
example data.
• If similar, click Continue and proceed
to the next recording.

Fig. 7.8 Example Seated and relaxed data

• If necessary, click Redo. The data description is the same as outlined in Step 4 of the Calibration
• If all required recordings have been procedure.
completed, click Done. Click Redo and repeat Steps 2 – 5 if necessary. Note that once Redo is
clicked, the most recent recording will be erased.

Recording continues…
 Page P-6 L07 – ECG & Pulse Biopac Student Lab 4

Seated, left hand in water

6. Subject remains seated and relaxed, facing Warm water should be approximately 40° C (104 deg F,) cold water
away from monitor. approximately 20° C (68 deg. F.)
• Review recording steps.
7. Put Subject’s left (non-recording) hand
into a plastic bucket filled with water (Fig.
7.9).

WARNING
The container for the water must not
be metal, as this poses the potential
danger of bypassing the electrical
isolation of the MP unit.

Fig. 7.9 Positioning

8. Once Subject is still, click Record. In order to capture the heart rate and pulse variation, click Record as
quickly as possible after Subject’s hand is in water and they are still.
9. Record for 30 seconds. Subject remains seated, relaxed with left hand in water.
10. Click Suspend.
11. Subject removes hand from water.
12. Verify recording resembles the example
data.
• If similar, click Continue and proceed
to the next recording.

Fig. 7.10 Example Left hand in water data

• If necessary, click Redo. The data description is similar to that outlined in Step 4 of the Calibration
• If all required recordings have been procedure; however the pulse signal will most likely have a different
completed, click Done. amplitude and shape.
Click Redo and repeat recording if necessary. Note that if cold water was
used; wait for the Subject’s hand to return to normal temperature before
repeating Steps 7 – 12. Once Redo is clicked, the most recent recording
will be erased.

Recording continues…
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Seated, right hand above head

13. Subject remains seated, relaxed, facing
away from monitor.
• If cold water was used, wait for
Subject’s hand to return to normal
temperature before continuing.
• Subject raises right hand above head,
arm extended, pulse transducer
attached (Fig. 7.11).
• Review recording steps.

Fig. 7.11
Adjust any leads or cables that are pulling on the electrodes or transducer.
14. Click Record.
15. Record for 60 seconds. Subject remains seated with right arm extended above head.
16. Click Suspend.
17. Verify recording resembles the example There could be more EMG artifact in the ECG recording and there could
data. be more baseline drift than in previous recordings. The pulse recording
• If similar, click Continue to proceed to will vary greatly between Subjects; some displaying greater pulse
the optional recording section, or Done amplitude and some less.
to finish the lesson.

Fig. 7.12 Example Hand raised above head data

• If necessary, click Redo. The data might be different for the reasons detailed in Step 4 of the
Calibration procedure.
Click Redo and repeat Steps 13 – 17 if necessary. Note that once Redo is
clicked, the most recent recording will be erased.

Recording continues…
Page P-8 L07 – ECG & Pulse Biopac Student Lab 4

OPTIONAL ACTIVE LEARNING PORTION With this lesson you may record additional data by clicking Continue
following the last recording. 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 or
transducers 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 much
data as necessary for your experiment.
Click Done when you have completed all of the recordings required
for your experiment.
Analyze Your Experiment
F. Set measurements relevant to your experiment and record the results
in a Data Report.
18. After clicking Done, choose an option and If choosing the Record from another Subject option:
click OK. ▪ Repeat Setup Steps 5 – 10, and then proceed to Calibration.
19. Remove the electrodes and the transducer. 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
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V. DATA ANALYSIS
FAST TRACK DATA ANALYSIS DETAILED EXPLANATION OF DATA ANALYSIS STEPS
1. Enter the Review Saved Data mode and If entering Review Saved Data mode from the Startup dialog or lessons
choose the correct file. menu, make sure to choose the correct file.
• Note Channel Number (CH) The data window should resemble Fig. 7.13.
designations:
Channel Displays
CH 1 ECG
CH 40 Pulse
• Note measurement box settings:
Channel Measurement
CH 1 Delta T (time interval)
CH 1 BPM (rate) Fig. 7.13 Example data
CH 1 P-P The measurement boxes are above the marker region in the data window.
CH 40 P-P Each measurement has three sections: channel number, measurement type,
and result. The first two sections are pull-down menus that are activated
when you click on them.
Brief definition of measurements:
Delta T: Displays the amount of time in the selected area (the
difference in time between the endpoints of the selected area.)
BPM: The Beats Per Minute measurement first calculates the
difference in time between the beginning and end of the selected area
(seconds/beat,) and divides this value into 60 seconds/minute.
P-P (Peak-to-Peak): Subtracts the minimum value from the maximum
value found in the selected area.
Rate Mean: If CH 40 Heart Rate data was recorded, use the Rate Mean
measurement, which is designed specifically for rate data and calculates
accurate statistical means using one value only for every cardiac cycle.
This avoids any unintentional weighting due to time variation in heart
rate, unlike the amplitude "Mean" measurement.
The “selected area” is the area selected by the I-Beam (inc. endpoints.)

Note: The append event markers mark the beginning of each recording.
Click on (activate) the event marker to display its label.
Useful tools for changing view:
Display menu: Autoscale Horizontal, Autoscale Waveforms, Zoom Back,
Zoom Forward
Scroll Bars: Time (Horizontal); Amplitude (Vertical)
Cursor Tools: Zoom Tool
Buttons: Overlap, Split, Show Grid, Hide Grid, -, +
Hide/Show Channel: “Alt + click” (Windows) or “Option + click” (Mac)
the channel number box to toggle channel display.
2. Zoom in on a small section of the “Seated Be sure to zoom in far enough so that you can easily measure the intervals
and relaxed” data. between peaks, approximately 4 cardiac cycles.
3. Using the I-Beam cursor, select the area Try to go from R wave peak to R wave peak as precisely as possible (Fig.
between two successive R waves (one 7.14).
cardiac cycle).
 A
Data Analysis continues…
 Page P-10 L07 – ECG & Pulse Biopac Student Lab 4

4. Repeat the above measurements for each

of the data recordings.
A

Fig. 7.14 R-R interval selected

5. Using the I-Beam cursor, select the area

between two successive pulse peaks (one
cardiac cycle).
A
6. Repeat the above measurements for each
of the data recordings.
A Fig. 7.15 Area between two successive pulse peaks

7. Select individual pulse peaks for each Use the P-P (CH 40) measurements.
recording and determine their amplitudes. Note: It is best to take measurements on data immediately following the
B start of the recording (after marker) because the body’s homeostatic
regulation of blood pressure and volume occurs quickly. The increase or
decrease in your results will be dependent on the timing of your data
relative to the speed of physiological adjustments.

Fig. 7.16 Selection for amplitude measurements

8. Using the I-Beam cursor, select the Record two time intervals (Delta T;) one from “Seated and Relaxed” data
interval between the R-wave and pulse and “Seated, right hand above head” data.
peak.
C

Fig. 7.17 R-wave to next pulse peak

9. Answer the questions at the end of the An electronically editable Data Report can be found in the journal
Data Report. (following the lesson summary,) or immediately following this Data
10. Save or Print the data file. Analysis section. Your instructor will recommend the preferred format for
your lab.
11. Quit the program.
END OF DATA ANALYSIS
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
END OF LESSON 7
Complete the Lesson 7 Data Report that follows.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
©BIOPAC Systems, Inc. L07 – ECG & Pulse Page P-11

ECG & PULSE

• Mechanical Action of the Heart, Peripheral Pressure Pulse, and Plethysmography
DATA REPORT
Student’s Name:
Lab Section:
Date:

I. Data and Calculations

Subject Profile
Name: Height:
Age: Gender: Male / Female Weight:

A. Comparison of ECG with Pulse Plethysmogram

Complete Table 7.1 with data from three cycles from each acquired recording and calculate the Means.
Table 7.1
Condition Selected Area Measurement Cycle I Cycle 2 Cycle 3 Mean
Arm Relaxed R-R Interval DeltaT CH 1
Heart Rate BPM CH 1
Pulse Interval DeltaT CH 1
Pulse Rate BPM CH 1
Temp. Change R-R Interval DeltaT CH 1
Heart Rate BPM CH 1
Pulse Interval DeltaT CH 1
Pulse Rate BPM CH 1
Arm Up R-R Interval DeltaT CH 1
Heart Rate BPM CH 1
Pulse Interval DeltaT CH 1
Pulse Rate BPM CH 1
B. Relative Volume Changes
Complete Table 7.2 with data from each acquired recording.
Table 7.2
Arm Temperature Arm Up
Resting
Measurement
QRS Amplitude
CH1 P-P
Relative Pulse Amplitude (mV)
CH 40 P-P
Page P-12 L07 – ECG & Pulse Biopac Student Lab 4

C. Calculation of Pulse Speed

Distance between Subject’s sternum and shoulder? ___________________cm
Distance between Subject’s shoulder and fingertip? ___________________cm
Total distance? __________________cm

Data from ‘Arm relaxed’ recording of the recording (measure with I-Beam)
Time between R-wave and Pulse peak? ____________________secs

Speed?____________________________________________cm/sec

Data from ‘Arm up’ recording of the recording (measure with I-Beam)
Time between R-wave and Pulse peak? ____________________secs

Speed?____________________________________________cm/sec

II. Questions

D. Referring to data in table 7.1, are the values of heart rate and pulse rate similar for each condition? Yes / No
Explain why the values might differ or be similar.

E. Referring to Table 7.2 data, how much did the amplitude of the QRS complex change between conditions?
Extreme temp – Arm Resting? __________ mV
Arm up – Arm Resting? ____________ mV
F. Referring to Table 7.2 data, how much did the pulse amplitude change between arm positions?
Extreme temp – Arm Resting? __________ mV
Arm up – Arm Resting? ____________ mV
G. Referring to Table 7.2 data, does the amplitude of the QRS complex change with the pulse amplitudes? Why or why not?

H. Describe one mechanism that causes changes in blood volume to your fingertip.

I. Referring to data from section C of this report, how would you explain the difference in speed, if any?

J. Which components of the cardiac cycle (atrial systole and diastole, ventricular systole and diastole) are discernible in the
pulse tracing?
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K. Would you expect the calculated pulse wave velocities of other students to be very close if not the same as yours? Why
or why not?

L. Explain any amplitude or frequency changes that occurred with arm position.

III. OPTIONAL Active Learning Portion

A. Hypothesis

B. Materials

C. Method

D. Set Up

E. Experimental Results

End of Lesson 7 Data Report