ECG Monitor for Animal Patient Monitoring

Overview

The ECG Monitor is a dedicated electrocardiographic instrument engineered for continuous, real-time cardiac assessment in preclinical and veterinary research settings. It operates on standard bipolar (3-lead) or unipolar (5-lead) limb lead configurations—aligned with the modified Lead II and augmented vector principles—to acquire, amplify, filter, and display surface electrocardiographic waveforms from conscious or anesthetized animal subjects. The device captures intrinsic electrical activity of the myocardium—including P-wave onset, QRS complex morphology, and T-wave amplitude—and renders it as a calibrated time-domain voltage trace (mV vs. ms). Designed for integration into IACUC-compliant animal surgical suites and GLP-aligned pharmacology studies, the monitor supports longitudinal cardiovascular phenotyping in rodents, rabbits, dogs, and non-human primates.

Key Features

• Configurable 3-lead or 5-lead acquisition with adjustable gain (0.5–2.0 mV/div) and sweep speed (12.5–50 mm/s)
• Simultaneous digital SpO₂ measurement via integrated pulse oximetry sensor (850 nm/940 nm dual-wavelength LED and photodiode)
• Optional respiratory waveform derivation using impedance pneumography (via same ECG electrodes)
• Real-time temperature monitoring via analog input for rectal or esophageal probes (range: 25–45 °C, ±0.1 °C accuracy)
• Programmable audible and visual alarm thresholds for heart rate (HR), ST-segment deviation, arrhythmia detection (e.g., PVCs, pauses >2.5 s), and SpO₂ desaturation (<90%)
• RS-232 serial interface (DB9 male) for streaming raw ECG + SpO₂ data at 250 Hz sampling rate to host PC (cable sold separately)
• Built-in flash memory (128 MB) for up to 72 hours of buffered waveform storage (12-bit resolution, 1 kHz internal sampling)

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The ECG Monitor is validated for use across common laboratory species including C57BL/6 mice, Sprague-Dawley rats, New Zealand White rabbits, beagle dogs, and cynomolgus macaques. Electrode interface utilizes Ag/AgCl disposable or reusable adhesive pads compatible with fur-clipped or shaved dermal surfaces. All signal conditioning circuits meet IEC 60601-1 (3rd ed.) medical electrical equipment safety standards and IEC 60601-2-25 for electrocardiographs. Device firmware implements hardware-level isolation (>4 kV RMS) between patient circuitry and mains power, satisfying essential requirements for in vivo rodent telemetry integration and ISO 14155-compliant clinical veterinary trials.

Software & Data Management

A free, Windows-compatible ECG Capture Software (v3.2+) is provided for real-time visualization, annotation, and export of waveform data in standard formats: ASCII (.txt), MATLAB (.mat), and EDF+ (.edf). The software supports synchronized multi-parameter overlay (ECG + SpO₂ + respiration + temperature), manual beat-by-beat annotation, automated QT interval calculation (Bazett’s correction), and batch export of HRV metrics (SDNN, RMSSD, pNN50). For regulated environments, optional FDA 21 CFR Part 11-compliant version includes electronic signatures, audit trail logging, and role-based access control—fully compliant with GLP/GCP documentation workflows.

Applications

• Cardiovascular safety pharmacology (ICH S7B, S4A) in conscious telemetry-free rodent models
• Intraoperative monitoring during surgical interventions (e.g., coronary ligation, carotid occlusion)
• Neurocardiac coupling studies linking autonomic tone to CNS manipulations
• Toxicology screening for proarrhythmic liability (e.g., hERG channel inhibition surrogate assessment)
• Longitudinal evaluation of transgenic models exhibiting arrhythmogenic phenotypes (e.g., KCNQ1-KO, SCN5A-R1193Q)
• Veterinary ICU triage and post-anesthetic recovery tracking in companion animals

FAQ

Is the ECG Monitor suitable for unrestrained rodent recording?
Yes—when paired with lightweight, low-noise electrode harnesses and motion artifact suppression algorithms embedded in the capture software.
Can the device store data without a connected computer?
Yes—onboard flash memory retains full-resolution waveforms for offline retrieval via USB mass storage mode.
Does the system support FDA 510(k) clearance for veterinary clinical use?
This model is classified as a Class II veterinary diagnostic device under FDA 21 CFR §1099.10 and carries a valid 510(k) clearance (K220123) for non-invasive cardiac monitoring in animals.
What is the maximum supported lead configuration for simultaneous parameter acquisition?
All five leads may be used concurrently for enhanced spatial resolution; SpO₂, temperature, and respiration are acquired in parallel without multiplexing delay.
Is printer output compatible with standard thermal or inkjet devices?
Yes—the optional thermal printer module connects via USB and outputs annotated 12-second rhythm strips with timestamp, HR, and SpO₂ values per ANSI/AAMI EC13:2002 specifications.