User's Manual Part 2

6-4
6.1.3. ECG Patient Application
6.1.3.1. ECG Electrode Site Selection
A general guideline for non-neonatal applications, when placing the electrodes the RA and LA
electrodes should be placed just above the imaginary nipple line avoiding fatty breast tissue.
The RA and RL electrodes should be placed just to the left side of the sternum. The bottom
electrodes LA, LL should be placed along the bottom of the rib cage with the optional V lead
placed for the vector desired.
The purpose of such electrode placement is to minimize the loop area of the lead wires thereby
reducing gradient artifact, magneto hydro-dynamic artifact and possible RF energy pickup.
However the resultant ECG waveform with such placement becomes non-standard, though the
lead selector utilizes conventional standard lead designations of I, II, III, AVR, AVL, AVF, V.
! WARNING
The lead placement recommended in 6.1.3.1 above is non-standard though the lead selector
naming designations refer to the standard names of I, II, III, AVR, AVL, AVF, and V. The
placement in 6.1.3.1 is a reduced area of Eindhoven’s triangle and produces a non-standard
(per AHA) electrical view of heart activity which may vary significantly from the AHA standard.
Leads wires laid in straight and shortest path Leads spread wider than needed and not straight
L R
Imaginary Nipple Line
Rib Cage Bottom
Good Placement
Bad Placement