WPI Biological Signals Amplifier, Instruction Manual, Page: 12 / 16

8 World Precision Instruments
Setting up the ECG Amplifier
The ECG amplifier is designed to record the ECG signals from as many as three
different positions (leads I, II, III) on an animal using standard electrodes or surface
potentials from the muscle fibers of an isolated heart using wire electrodes. This
amplifier is appropriate for use on species in size from rats to dogs. The amplifier
also has an internal rate meter which allows the heart rate to be recorded as ECG
signals or surface potentials are also recorded.
If you are interested in recording ECG signals or other types of biopotentials, contact
WPI at sales@wpiinc.com or 941.371.1003 to speak with one of our representatives
regarding the type of electrodes that would be best for recording the biopotentials of
interest. The type of electrodes (plate, pellet, needle, wire, etc.) determine the type of
lead wires needed to connect the electrodes to the input cable of the ECG amplifier,
and the preparation required to attach the electrodes to the animal and promote
conduction of the signal.
Fig. 8—ECG Amplifier, front and back.
If the ECG amplifier is going to be used:
1. Plug the connector on the end of the ECG input cable into the
ECG-IN 15-pin
Canon (D-sub) socket on the back panel of the amplifier.
2. Plug the connector on the end of the ECG output cable to the ECG-OUT 9-pin
Canon (D-sub) socket below the ECG-IN socket. Connect the other ends of the
output cable, which are labeled with numbers that correspond to standard ECG
limb leads [I (1), II (2), III (3)] to the analog inputs on the data recorder that are
needed.
TIP : If only one pair of electrodes are needed to record a surface potential from
heart muscle, then only one of the leads (I, II, or III) needs to be connected to
the data recorder.