User Manual for Vital Signs Monitor
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Chapter 8 Monitoring Parameter
8.1 ECG Monitoring
8.1.1 How to Obtain High Quality ECG and Accurate Heart Rate Value
The electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is primarily a tool for evaluating the electrical events within the heart.
The action potentials of cardiac-muscle cells can be viewed as batteries that cause charge to move throughout
the body fluids. These currents represent the sum of the action potentials occurring simultaneously in many
individual cells and can be detected by recording electrodes at the surface of the skin. The figure below shows
the system of the heart.
First of all, the hospital should be equipped with a 100~240V power supply system with a typical grounding
wire. If big interference in ECG continues, connect one end of the grounding wire provided with this equipment
to the grounding wire on the back panel of this monitor, and the other end to the special grounding wire, water
pipe or radiator.
A common ECG plate electrode used together with this monitor has short shelf life. Generally, the shelf life is
only one month after the package is opened. When outdated plate electrode is used, due to skin’s contact
impedance and big electrode potential, the chance of interference will be increased, and the ECG baseline will
have an unstable inclination. Therefore, always use valid plate electrodes.