UNIT 2
BIOSIGNAL
CHARACTERISTICS AND
ELECTRODE
CONFIGURATIONS
Characteristics.
• Signals produced by biological
system are always continuous.
• Real biosignals almost always have
some unpredictable noise or change
in parameters and therefore they are
called random signals.
• Since the statistical properties or
frequency spectra of the biosignals vary
with time, biosignals are called non-
stationary signals.
• Biosignals are often very small in
amplitude. These are often masked by
other biosignals from different biological
phenomena
Types and ranges of biosignals
ECG-Electrocardiogram
• It is the procedure of recording the electrical
activity of the heart. The electrode
combination records the difference of
potential difference at two sites on the body.
The potential differences are produced due to
the electrical activity of the heart.
• Electrocardiograph is the machine
• Electrocardiogram is the record
ECG WAVE
• The characteristic shape and timing of the ECG
waves are due to the spread of wave of
depolarization and repolarization associated
with each heart beat.
Cardiac
Conduction
System
1
3
5
Purkinje
fibers
What does the ECG look alike?
Waves
R
T
P
Q
S
Wave Types
P-wave – depolarization of atria
Atria begin contracting about 25msec
after the start of the p-wave
QRS-complex – ventricular depolarization
Ventricles begin contracting shortly after
the peak of the R wave
T-wave – ventricular repolarization
Electrocardiogram intervals/segments
Segments – extend from the end of one wave to
the start of another
P-R interval: start of atrial depolarization to start
of QRS
Q-T interval: time required for ventricles to
undergo a single cycle of depolarization and
repolarization; measured from end of P-R to end
of T
Flow of current in the chest around partially
depolarized ventricles
Generation of dipole over heart
+ + + + + + + +
+ + + + + + + +
+ + + + + + + +
+ + + + + + + +
-
- - + + + + + +
- + + + + + + +
+ + + + + + + +
+ + + + + + + +
+
If the polarity is reversed?
+
- - + + + + + +
- + + + + + + +
+ + + + + + + +
+ + + + + + + +
-
-
- - - - + + + +
- - - + + + + +
- - - + + + + +
- + + + + + + +
+
-
- - - - - - - -
- - - - - - + +
- - - - - - + +
- - - - - - + +
+
-
- - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - -
+
Remember
The representation of the electrical activity of the heart
is critically dependent on the
position of the electrodes. The same electrical activity
will look different on different electrode combinations
A combination of electrodes for recording is called a LEAD
12-Lead Electrodes
• A lead is a tracing of the electrical activity between 2
electrodes
• Leads view the heart from the front of the body
– Top, bottom, right, and left side of heart
• Leads view the heart as if it were sliced in half
horizontally
– Front, back, right, and left sides of heart
• Each lead has a positive and a negative electrode
Standard 12-Lead EKG
• Six limb leads
– Leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF
• Six chest leads (precordial leads)
– V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, V6
• Information from 12 leads obtained from
the attachment of only 10 electrodes
Precordial Chest Leads
For every person, each precordial lead placed in the
same relative position
V1 - 4th intercostal space, R of sternum
V2 - 4th intercostal space, L of sternum
V4 - 5th intercostal space, midclavicular
V3 - between V2 and V4, on 5th rib
V5 - 5th intercostal space, anterior axillary line
V6 - 5th intercostal space, mid-axillary line
1st ICS
2nd ICS
3rd ICS
• Precordial
leads
Bipolar limb leads (frontal plane):
Lead I: RA (-) to LA (+) (Right Left, or lateral)
Lead II: RA (-) to LL (+) (Superior Inferior)
Lead III: LA (-) to LL (+) (Superior Inferior)
Augmented unipolar limb leads (frontal
plane):
Lead aVR: RA (+) to [LA & LL] (-) (Rightward)
Lead aVL: LA (+) to [RA & LL] (-) (Leftward)
Lead aVF: LL (+) to [RA & LA] (-) (Inferior)
ECG RECORDING
SETUP/BLOCK
DIAGRAM
Defibrillator Protection Circuit
The one end of the electrode leads are connected
along RA, LA, chest and LL of the patient. The other
end of electrode passes through defibrillator
protection circuit. The protection circuit has buffer
amplifier and over-load voltage protection circuit.
Lead Selection Logic
This block helps to select the type of electrode lead
system. We can choose either bipolar or augmented
electrode system.
Calibration Circuit
Calibration is a process that helps to
eliminate errors in the system. Here, any
changes in the lead selection circuit
results in artifacts in the ECG output.
Therefore, the calibration unit helps the
technician to correct the error in ECG
output.
Pre Amplifier
An instrumentation amplifier and a
differential amplifier with high gain
and high CMRR is used as pre amplifier
Power Amplifier
The output unit is driven with power amplifier.
After the signal is amplified using pre-amplifier it
goes to the power amplifier. The output unit is
attached with a pen motor. A high electrical power
is required to initiate recording with pen recorder.
Hence, a high power gain amplifiers are used as
power amplifier.
Feedback Network
Feedback network is used to provide damping to
the pen motor.
Auxiliary Amplifier
It is connected between the lead selection logic and the
right leg (RL) of the patient. The differential amplifier used
in preamplifier block is not sufficient to completely
eliminate the common mode signals. The output of the
auxiliary amplifier is connected with right leg. So this
output drives the body to zero common voltage. So noise is
reduced and high CMRR is achieved.
Output Display Unit
Either a CRO or a pen chart recorder acts as the output
device. Generally paper chart recorder id used. Pen motor
is used.
