Settings for Sampling Panels in Lt - ECG, PCG, and Pulse

The ECG, PCG, and pulse preset settings can be used with a cardio microphone, finger pulse transducer, and Bio Amp to record both the heart sounds and the mechanical and electrical activity of the heart in the same trace. You can compare the timing of the different events and distinguish between the "lub" and "dub" heart sounds.

Exercises you can do with these settings

  • During each cardiac cycle, heart valves open and close. Closure generates sounds that can be heard using a stethoscope.
  • Visualize the heart sounds in the phonocardiogram (PCG) trace and distinguish between the lub and dub sounds.
  • See how the heart sounds relate to the electrical activity of the heart, by recording the heart sounds and the ECG together.
  • Does every QRS complex that you see in an ECG result in a detectable pulse? In other words, does every electrical event result in a mechanical event?

The following instructions may be useful for you to copy and paste for your students:

Equipment setup procedure

  1. Connect the Cardio Microphone to Input 1 on the PowerLab.
  2. Connect the Pulse Transducer cable to Input 2 on the front of the PowerLab.
  3. Plug the Bio Amp Cable into the Bio Amp Connector on the PowerLab.
  4. Connect the electrode lead wires to Earth, CH1 NEG, and CH1 POS on the Bio Amp Cable.

Electrode placement

  1. Remove any watches and/or jewelry from the volunteer's wrists and ankles.
  2. Using a pen, mark where electrodes will be placed on the volunteer's right and left wrists and right leg. Lightly abrade the skin with abrasive gel and clean the area with alcohol swabs. 
  3. Snap the electrode lead wires onto some disposable electrodes.
  4. Attach the disposable electrodes to the prepared areas on the volunteer's wrists and leg: the positive electrode to the left wrist, the negative electrode to the right wrist, and the ground electrode to the right leg.