Encyclopedia of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants

RECODRING OF THE ARTERIAL PULSE-USING PHYSIOGRAPH (DEMONSTRATION)

AIM

To record the arterial pulsation of the finger tip.

APPARATUS: - Physiograph

It is an instrument which can be used for recording several physiological parameters including arterial pulse, venous pulse, blood pressure, respiratory volumes and capacities, respiratory movements, muscle and cardiac contractions etc.

In this instrument, a transducer converts different forms of energy into electrical impulses.

The physiograph consists of a main console which has a coupler housing for lodging various copiers for different experiments.

Console Side: On one side of the console we can see 3 sockers. Top one is for the stimulator which provides electrical pulses and time base. The lower two sockets are ‘IN’ & ‘OUT’ sockets for connecting more than one physiograph to the same experiment. This side of the console also has three screw driver controls marked as ‘Gain’, Damping and offset.

On the other side of the console a ‘Fuse and a main sealed’ can be seen. In front of them there is a ‘Slot’ for paper stack.

Console front:

Here we can see - ‘Mains off/on’ sitch, speed range selector knob, speed selector push bottons and windowfor paper feeding and pen lift knob.

Console top:

On the top, are seen pens and ink wells, slot for receiving papers, paper guides thumb screw and bearing, coupler housing and the main amplifier.

The main Amplifier consists of

1. 50 Hz filter on/off

2. Sensitivity selector and

3. Pen position control

PROCEDURE:

1. After switching off the main, plug in the coupler, for recording pulse in the coupler housing.

2. Fill the ink wells, lift the pens and check the in flow.

3. Put the stack of chart in the paper receptacle through the slot. The chart side should face down and the paper end facing the window. Fold the paper end into ‘V’ and with fingers of one hand slide the paper upwards, and pull it out from the slot in the console with the other hand. Slide the paper under the two guides and under the ball bearing lifting the ball bearing manipulating the thumb screw. Depress the ball bearing on the paper by the thumb screw for paper movement.

4.Connect the pulse tranducer to the subject by wrapping it around the finger tip. Connect the other end of the transducer to the coupler.

5. Connect the physiograph stimulator to the physiograph and adjust itto record the time base.

6. Put console mains ‘ON’ select desired chart speed and sensitivity.

7. Put pens, on chart paper manipulating the pen lift knob.

8. Run paper a few centimeters, using thumb screw. Adjust pen position to centre with pen position control. Set base line while the paper is moving, stop paper, using thumb screw.

9. Put coupler ‘ON’ and run paper. Record the normal arterial pulse and calculate the rate and note the rhythm and character of the pulse.