Quick Start

General Tips

1. When you clicked on the Quick Start in the Settings in LabScribe-DL, the program automatically set itself up for you to do the Tutorial experiment. To choose any of the other labs, just click Settings and choose the lab you want to do. For example, Heart -> ECG-Rest&Recovery. When clicked, both the software will change and directions for that lab will open automatically.
2. Create a folder on your Desktop where you will save your data files - name it LabScribe Data (all your data will be saved here).
3. Keep your cell phone out of reach while you are collecting data. This will keep your recordings looking much cleaner.
4. Snap the leads onto the stickie electrodes before putting them on your body.
5. Make sure your hands are clean and dry when using the system.
6. Follow all directions carefully and...
7. If you have any problem using the software or the REACH, please email or contact your professor.

ECG Cable Setup

1. Plug the red, black and green leads into the REACH color coded ports.
2. Snap the leads onto the stickie electrodes, then place the stickie electrodes like this:
• The black lead goes under the right clavicle.
• The red lead goes on the lower left abdomen.
• The green (ground) lead goes on the lower right abdomen.
3. Make sure you snap the leads onto the stickie electrodes before putting them on yourself.

4. When you are ready to start recording data, just make sure the you relax and sit very still so there is no movement interference on the data.

NOTE - There are many different positions to place the ECG electrodes on the human body to get good ECG signals. You are putting the electrodes in the Lead II configuration, which generates a stronger and cleaner ECG signal. Alternate placement, Lead I configuration, would be to have the red electrode under the left clavicle, opposite the black electrode. This configuration works but may not be as nice looking as the Lead II positioning.

Practice Exercise: The ECG in a Resting Subject

Aim

To measure ECG and Heart Rate while resting.

Procedure

1. While sitting and resting click on the Record button.

2. Click on the AutoScale button.
3. Type "Resting" in the Mark box and click the Mark button. This will make a black mark with text on your screen.
4. Record for 5 minutes then click Stop.
5. Click File ---> Save As, name the file "Tutorial", and save your data to your LabScribe Data folder on your Desktop.

Data Analysis for the Practice Exercise

1. Go to the beginning of your recording by clicking on the down arrow just to the right of the Mark Button and click the mark "Resting".
2. Make sure to have at least 10 ECG waves on screen. Double or half the display time by clicking the mountain icons once.
3. You will be moving the vertical red cursors into position by clicking and dragging on them to get them into the right locations.
• Place the cursors to measure the amplitudes (V2-V1) and time intervals (T2-T1) of the ECG cycles.

4. Use the mouse to click on and drag the cursors to specific points on the ECG recording to measure the following:
• The R wave amplitude. Place one cursor on the baseline that precedes the R wave and the second cursor on the peak of the R wave. The value for V2-V1 on the ECG channel is this amplitude. Measure this amplitude for four additional ECG waves and then calculate the mean by adding the values and dividing by 5.

• The beat period, which is the time interval between two adjacent R waves. To measure the beat period, place one cursor on the peak of a R wave and the second cursor on the peak of the adjacent R wave. The value for T2-T1 is the beat period. Measure the beat period for four additional pairs of ECG waves and then calculate the mean.
5. Determine your average heart rate.
• Click the "two-mountain" icon to double the display time to show the entire 5 minutes of data. You may have to click it a few times.
• Once you can see all your data, move the cursors to either side of the recording.
• Look at the right side of the Heart Rate channel and read the MEAN value of your resting Heart Rate.

Note: Always write all your values on a data table or in the Journal so you can refer back to them when answering the questions.

To open and close the Journal, click the "Notebook" icon. You can make a table and answer any questions from the labs right in here. You can print the Journal as a PDF and email it to your professor.