Chapter 7: ECG
Veterinary Vital Signs Monitor Operation Manual 7-1
Chapter 7: ECG
7.1 ECG Measurement Capability
The Vital Signs Monitor provides continuous five-lead ECG processing with
standard lead selections and filtering from electrocautery discharge. The heart
rate measured value (HR) and primary lead messages are displayed in the HR
parameter box, and a waveform for the primary ECG lead is continuously
displayed.
7.2 ECG Warnings, Cautions, and Notes
WARNING! Connect only five-lead ECG lead wires from the patient to the
ECG patient cable. Do not connect any other signal source to
the ECG patient cable.
WARNING! This monitor does not identify or interpret arrhythmia events.
The indication of heart rate may be adversely affected by the
presence of cardiac arrhythmias.
CAUTION! Only five-lead ECG cable can be used to this monitor. Using the
incorrect cable for the selected mode might lead to a floating
reference or additional noise on the ECG signal.
NOTE! Follow institutional standards when applying ECG electrodes.
Silver/Silver Chloride disposable electrodes are strongly
recommended to avoid polarization effects that result in large
input offset potentials. Use of "squeeze bulb" type electrodes is
not recommended.
NOTE! Line isolation monitor transients may resemble actual cardiac
waveforms and thus inhibit heart rate alarms.
7.3 Theory of Operation
Electrical currents influenced by the cardiac impulse flow through the body
tissue around the heart. Three or five electrodes, placed on the skin on
opposite sides of the heart, transmit the electrical potentials to circuitry in the
monitor.