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Session 2

Session Name: Introduction to ECG Measurement Author Name: K Palani Thanaraj Department: Instrumentation and Control Engineering Subject/Course: Biomedical Instrumentation

Session Objectives
At the end of this session, the learner will be able to: Identify and explain various physiological systems in human being. Identify and explain the importance of bioelectric potentials. Highlight and explain the importance of ECG waveform in electrocardiogram. Explain the method and function of components in ECG measurement.

Teaching Learning Material


White Board and Markers Presentation Slides ECG measuring instrument

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Introduction to ECG Measurement K Palani Thanaraj, SRM University

Session Plan
Time (in min) Content Methodology Faculty Approach Learners Activity Learning Outcome (Skill, Competency etc) Understanding Analysing Intrapersonal Linguistic Understanding Analysing Intrapersonal Linguistic Kinesthetic Spatial Understanding Analysing Intrapersonal

10

Introduction to Human Physiological System

Game

Facilitates Monitors

Participates Discusses Answers

15

Importance of Bioelectric Potentials

Role Play

Introduces Facilitates Monitors

Participates Analyses Prepares & Presents

20

Electrocardiogram

White Board Presentation Slides

Explains

Comprehends

10

ECG Measurement

Demonstration

Explains Instructs

Participates Analyses Identifies

Understanding Analysing Intrapersonal Spatial

05

Conclusion

Word Quest

Facilitates Monitors Questions

Participates Recalls Answers

Remembering Intrapersonal Linguistic

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Session Inputs
Introduction to Human Physiological System
We can start the session with the introduction to various physiological systems present in the human body with the help of game - call a friend activity. Suggested Activity: Game - Call a Friend We can ask the learners to list out the various physiological systems present in the human body. Once all the systems are listed on the board, we can randomly select a learner A and ask him/her to explain about any of the system. If the learner A answers correctly he/she would be given the opportunity to select another learner B for the explanation of the next system. Otherwise for an incorrect answer we can select the next learner and the activity goes on till all the systems of the human body are discussed. In this way the learners are facilitated to remember the physical systems of the human body in an interactive way. The human physiological systems are combination of various subsystems like circulatory system, nervous system, skeleton system, cardiovascular system, etc. Each system has a specific function to perform for the survival of the living being.

Importance of Bioelectric Potentials


After a quick introduction to human physiological system, now we can explain the importance of bioelectric potentials. Latter we can conduct a role play activity. The human body is a self organized system with various subsystems working in collaboration with each other. For the survival of the living being it is necessary to have proper communication with the neighbouring subsystems. This is done by the formation of bioelectric potentials.

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Introduction to ECG Measurement K Palani Thanaraj, SRM University

Suggested Activity: Role Play We can explain the communication process that is taking place between the brain and the heart in response to any critical situation. Call two learners to volunteer the role play for the given scenario like: Scenario 1: Normal State Learner 1 (Brain): I am the brain and I command heart to pump blood at the rate of 62 beats per minute.

Leaner 2 (Heart): Command received. Pumping heart at the rate of 62 beats per minute Scenario 2: Emergency situation (Caught by police for traffic violation) Learner 1 (Brain): I am the brain. I am in a dangerous situation. I command heart to pump blood at the rate of 100 beats per minute so that I can run and escape. Command received. Pumping heart at the rate of 100 beats per minute.

Leaner 2 (Heart):

This is the nature of communication that all physiological systems in the human body have with each other for responding to emergency situations. The communication language in the human body is through generation of bioelectric potentials.

In the human body the physiological systems generate monitoring signals which convey useful information about the functions they represent. These signals are the bioelectric potentials associated with nerve conduction, brain activity, heartbeat, muscle activity, and so on.

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Electrocardiogram
By now the learners would have developed a clear idea about the human body generates a lot of bioelectric signals from various systems. At this point, it would be appropriate to take up a particular organ of interest the human heart. The term electrocardiogram was introduced by Willem Einthoven in 1893 at a meeting of the Dutch Medical Society. In 1924, Einthoven received the Nobel Prize for his life's work in developing the ECG. The electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is a diagnostic tool that measures and records the electrical activity of the heart in exquisite detail. Interpretation of these details allows diagnosis of a wide range of heart conditions.

Generation of ECG waveform Courtesy: Merck Manuals

The picture above illustrates the formation of ECG waveform due to the rhythmic contraction and relaxation of auricles and ventricle of the heart in a sequential manner. The shape and size of the waveform is a vital parameter in studying the working of the human heart.

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Introduction to ECG Measurement K Palani Thanaraj, SRM University

The ECG has seen a lot of advancement over the years. The standard 12lead ECG is used throughout the world for heart condition diagnosis. It is called a 12-lead ECG because it examines the electrical activity of the heart from 12 points of view.

ECG Measurement
We have discussed in detail the nature of ECG signal, now we can move on to study the various electrical components required to acquire this signal for analysing the condition of the human heart with the help of demonstration. Suggested Activity: Demonstration We can showcase the ECG measurement device to the learners so that they can get more information about ECG signal acquisition process.

Courtesy: rtcmagazine.com Electrodes: These devices are placed on the patients body close to the heart to acquire the ECG signal. Signal Conditioner: These are the signal amplifiers and filters to improve the signal strength. Computer: These provide an interface between the hardware and the

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user. Output Device: These are the strip chart recorders and monitors for viewing the ECG waveform trace. Powers Management: This is required to supply power for the working of the electrical instruments.

ECG measurement and data acquisition system helps in gathering the bioelectric potentials arising from the surface membrane of the heart. This plays as an effective diagnostic tool for the physician.

Conclusion
Finally, we can conclude the session by revising the key concepts discussed in the session through an activity.

Suggested Activity: Word Quest We can tell a sentence pertaining to the concept of ECG measurement and learners are questioned to find the keyword relevant to the sentence. Sample Sentences: The communication language of human body. (Bioelectric potentials) System involved in pumping and circulation of human blood. (Cardiovascular system). Bioelectric potentials of the heart. (Electrocardiogram).

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Introduction to ECG Measurement K Palani Thanaraj, SRM University

Summary
In this session, we learnt to: Identify and explain various physiological systems in human being. Identify and explain the importance of bioelectric potentials. Highlight and explain the importance of ECG waveform in electrocardiogram. Explain the method and function of components in ECG measurement.

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Assignment
1. Sketch different types of normal and abnormal ECG waveforms.

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Introduction to ECG Measurement K Palani Thanaraj, SRM University

References
Leslie Cromwell, Fred J. Weibell and Erich A. Pleiffer, Biomedical Instrumentation and Measurements, Prentice Hall of India, 1980 Dr.M.Arumugam, Biomedical Instrumentation,2003 L.A. Geddes and L.E. Baker, Principles of Applied Biomedical Instrumentation, John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 1989 Kandpur R.S. Hand book of Biomedical Instrumentation, Tata McGraw Hill, 1987 www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biomedical_engineering www.ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Health.../LectureNotes/index.htm

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