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26
P I t cARDIOVASCULCLR EFFECTS OF VIBRATIOIU Lester B. Roberts and John H. Dines Department of Preventive Medicine National Aeronautics & Space Administration Washington D. C. 20546 Grant No. NGR 36-008-041 i' 553 Julv 66 N 0 [THRUI ~ 6 7 12980 IfiCCESSION NUW3EKI L U 0 Y > t (PAGES1 LCODEI h e _ - f f

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Page 1: ~67 12980 - ntrs.nasa.gov

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cARDIOVASCULCLR EFFECTS OF VIBRATIOIU

Lester B . Roberts and John H. Dines Department of Preventive Medicine

National Aeronautics & Space Administration Washington D. C. 20546

Grant No. NGR 36-008-041

i' 553 Julv 66

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........................................................................................ SEMI-ANNUAL .-.....

e-\. r RF Project ............. ; d w ? .........

Report No 2 ....................................

R E P O R T BY

THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION

ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE LABORATORY 1314 KINNEAR RD.

COLUMBUS, OHIO 432 12

To .............................................................................................................................................................................. NATIONAL .AERONAUTICS A N D SPACE A D M I N I S T M T I O N

....... :- ......................................... Washington ... D.,.C.. ........ 295.46 ................................................................

......................................... Grant N o . ...N. GP36-008-04.1... ....................................................

On ................................................... CARDlQVASCULAR. EJTE.CTS ... OF .... VIBRATIQN .....................

....................................................................................................................................................

For the period .................... 1.J:eb.ruaz.x. .19.6.6 .... - .... 31...~u~y...A9.66 ......................................

Submitted by .................. Lester B .... R0.b.er.t.s ... a n d . . . ~ . ~ h ~ . . H ...... D.in.e.s ......................

........................... ...................... Department .d P.r.e~.en.t.i.u.e...Medi.c.in.e

Date ... October, 1966

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

SECTION I Studies to Determine the Underlying Mechanisms of Some Cardiovascular Changes Brought About by Vibration--a continuation of previous work 1

SECTION I1 Body Vibration and the Electrocardiogram--the effects of electrode design, skin preparation, and electrode placement in reducing electrical noise in ECG signals obtained from human experi- mentd subjects during vibration 7

ii

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LIST OF FIGURES

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From top: Thoracid a o r t i c pressure, LVP, (dp/dt)- of LVP. Dye curve superimposed. Apnea a f t e r propranolol 3

From top: Thoracic a o r t i c pressure, LW, (dp/dt)ma?, of LVP. Dye curve superimposed. Apnea and v ibra t ion at 7 cps and 1/2" td after propranolol 4

Vibration 7 cps, 1/211 t d a f t e r phenoxybenzamine and propranolol. Mean blood pressure above; resp i ra tory excursions below. Time marks at bottom i n seconds. V = vibra t ion 5

Vibration 7 cps, 1/2" t d a f t e r phenoxybenzamine, propranolol, and atropine. Mean blood pressure above; resp i ra tory excursions below. T i m e marks a t bottom i n seconds. V = vibra t ion 5

Frank system of ECG electrode placement and compen- sa t ing e l e c t r i c a l network 8

Ele c t rodes 11

Schematic diagram for ECG electrode-skin res i s tance determination 1 4

Traces from a s i t t i n g subject using the Frank lead system t o obtain simultaneous recordings of a l l th ree axes 1 5

Electrode p a i r res is tance using s a l i n e - f i l l e d elec- trodes; no skin preparation 18

ECG t rac ings obtained during v ibra t ion using NASA ECG electrodes and recommended sk in preparation 19

EGG t rac ings obtained during v ibra t ion using NASA ECG electrodes and recommended skin preparation 19

Traces obtained from a female subject w i t h an elec- t rode on each breast . Subject vibrated a t frequencies and amplitudes shown 20

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SECTION I

STUDIES TO DETERMINE THE UNDERLYING MECHANISMS OF SOME CARDIOVASCULAR CHANGES

BROUGHT ABOUT BY VIBRATION

INTRODUCTION

Tachycardia, increased (dp/dt),, of l e f t v e n t r i c u l a r pressure (LVP) , and decreased per iphera l vascular res i s tance observed as e a r l y t r a n s i e n t changes occurring during v ibra t ion of anesthet ized dogs were described previously. 1

By t h e administration of propranolol and atropine it was establ ished that t h e tachycardia observed did not r e s u l t from an increase i n sympa- t h e t i c e f f e r e n t a c t i v i t y , but from a decrease i n vagal e f f e r e n t a c t i v i t y t o the hear t . Table I summarizes these r e s u l t s .

Table I. Percentage Change from Non-Vibrating Control Value

Tot a1 Heart Cardiac Peripheral (dP/dt

Vibration Rat e output Resistance Lvp No Drugs +4% +7% -34% +20%

A f t e r Propranolol +35% +4WO -19% +lHo A f t e r Atropine 0 + % -13% + 2%

and Propanol01 0 +26% -1% + 6% A f t e r Atropine

It remained t o corroborate that changes i n (dp/dt),,, of LVP did not result from changes i n l e f t vent r icu lar end-diastolic pressure.

This point was examined using dogs i n which resp i ra tory movement had been abolished by administration of succinylcholine. a r t i f i c i a l l y resp i red between vibrat ion periods using a Harvard resp i ra tor . Measurements of h e a r t r a t e , l e f t vent r icu lar end-diastolic pressure, cardiac output, and (dp/dt),, of LVP were made during apnea and during apnea plus vibrat ion. apnea, t h e dogs were respired on l0W0 02 f o r 20 seconds before t h e pump w a s stopped.

These dogs were

I n order t o ensure adequate oxygenation during

Blood PO2 and PC02 were determined before and after apnea.

1

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RESULTS

Figure l ( a and b ) i l l u s t r a t e s t h e cardiovascular changes during v ib ra t ion i n a dog after administration of propranolol. slower i n i t i a l hea r t rate, these r e s u l t s a r e i n every way similar t o those obtained under con t ro l conditions before propranolol was given.

Apart from a

Heart rate, cardiac output, (dp/dt)max of LVP, and f luc tua t ions i n blood pressure were observed. l e f t ven t r i cu la r end-diastol ic pressure.

It i s seen t h a t t he re i s no change i n

It appears t h a t t he re i s no s ign i f i can t change i n l e f t ven t r i cu la r end-diastol ic pressure during v ibra t ion . Early t r a n s i e n t chronotrope 2nd inotrope a r e a t t r i b u t e d t o a decrease i n vagal e f f e ren t a c t i v i t y and a r e accompanied by a decrease i n per iphera l vascular res i s tance . not exclude pos i t i ve ly t h e p o s s i b i l i t y that the augmentation i n (dp/dt)max of LVP may be secondary t o t h e chronotropism (chronotropic-inotropism) .

We can-

Origin of t h e i n i t i a l stimulus has y e t t o be determined. Changes i n h e a r t r a t e and blood pressure occur almost simultaneously. onset of tachycardia a f t e r t h e per iphera l res i s tance i s decreased (by decompressing a femoral arteriovenous f i s t u l a ) begins within a bea t o r two of t h e beginning of t he pressure drop.* rap id ly , then tachycardia seen following v ibra t ion can wel l be a r e f l e x response t o a decrease i n per iphera l res is tance. ca rd ia of v ib ra t ion i s prevented by atropine, although a change i n per iphera l res i s tance s t i l l p e r s i s t s , ind ica tes a r e f l e x tachycardia. This i nd ica t ion i s fu r the r suFported by the decrease i n hea r t r a t e observed after t h e blood pressure has been restored.

The r a t e of

If t h e r e f l e x occurs so

The f a c t t h a t tachy-

Studies a r e underway t o determine t h e cause of t he decrease i n pe r iphe ra l vascular res is tance. Experiments using phentolamine as an alpha adrenergic blocking agent show tha t a drop i n per iphera l res i s tance s t i l l occurs desp i te alpha receptor blockade.

An experiment using phenoxybenzamine as an alpha blocking agent and propranolol as a beta blocking agent showed a decrease i n per iphera l vascular res i s tance during v ibra t ion , presumably i n the presence of complete sympathetic blockade (see Fig. 2 ) .

When t h i s experiment was repeated a f t e r a vagolyt ic dose of a t ropine was administered a marked fa l l i n blood pressure was seen, again w i t h t h e usua l recovery toward t h e end of v ibra t ion (Fig. 3). With hea r t r a t e f ixed and sympathetic e f fe ren t a c t i v i t y blocked, it is a matter of i n t e r - e s t i n g speculat ion as t o what mechanism i s responsible f o r t h e r e s to ra t ion of blood pressure. blockades were complete.

O f course one must f i rs t be c e r t a i n t h a t t h e various These experiments a re t o be repeated and if t h e

2

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fliidirrgs are c~nfi,med ose m x t conchde thak the effectx of vibration on the peripheral vascular resistance result from

(a) comprising the high-resistance circuit,

(b) metabolic changes, or

a direct effect on smooth muscle components of arterioles

an indirect effect on smooth muscle as a sequel to local

(c) mast cells.

a release of a histamine or a histamine-like substance by

6

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SECTION I1

BODY-VIBRATION AND THE ELECTROCARDIOGRAM

--The e f f e c t s of e lectrode design, sk in preparation, and electrode placement i n reducing e l e c t r i c a l noise i n e lec t ro- cardiograph s igna ls obtained from human subjects during v ibra t ion

INTRODUCTION

ECG t r a c i n g s obtained from experimental human subjects while they a r e being v ibra ted contain more o r l e s s e l e c t r i c a l noise, depending on t h e v i b r a t i o n i n t e n s i t y and a v a r i e t y of other f a c t o r s . Since the noise i s of ten s u f f i c i e n t t o make research c l i n i c a l i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of t h e t r a c e s d i f f i c u l t or impossible, it i s des i rab le t u determirle t h e fac tors contr ibut ing t h e noise and t o f i n d ways t o reduce it. of t h i s study.

This i s t h e object

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURF:

I n a s e r i e s of experiments, ECG electrodes of conventional and var ied design were applied t o the skin of human experimental subjects using various skin preparation and electrode appl icat ion techniques. ECGs were recorded with subjects standing and seated, and a t r e s t and while being v ibra ted a t various v ibra t ion i n t e n s i t i e s .

The Frank2 orthogonal lead system which w a s generally used requires leads t o be placed on t h e body a t locat ions i l l u s t r a t e d i n Fig. 4. s igna ls from the three orthcgonal leads were recorded on magnetic tape and on photosensit ive paper. Some exploratory recordings were made using standard l e a k and conventional ECG recording equipment. Recordings were evaluated on t h e bas i s of noise content and general f i d e l i t y as compared w i t h cont ro l (no v ibra t ion) recordings.

ECG

P r e l i m i n a a t e s t s , specif ic reported observations of others, 3,4,5 and a general review of the per t inent l i t e r a t u r e , l e d t o t h e following t e n t a t i v e conclusions:

(A) When ECGs of vibrat ing human subjects a r e being recorded there a r e a t l e a s t four s igna ls t h a t can contr ibute t o t h e s i g n a l seen a t the ECG amplif ier input. These signals a r e

(1) t h e desired noise-free ECG s igna l ;

( 2 ) undesired e l e c t r i c a l noise, generally mostly random i n nature, which i s generated o r picked

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H R Right --

e+ 2.32 R Left

3.74 R

4.59 R e "

"l Front 1.28 R * -

6 vz a

4 1 M - 6 .56R

1.18R

2.90R Foot

F *

H e - R

Head

Fig. 4 - Frank system of' e lectrode placement and compensating e l e c t r i c a l network

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up i n t h e eieckrode system ( a ) a t t h e electrode paste-skin in te r face , (b ) at t h e electrode paste- e lectrode in t e r f ace , ( e ) at t h e electrode paste- e lectrode housing in t e r f ace , (d) a t t h e electrode l ead w i r e junction, o r ( e ) i n the electrode leads ;

undesired e l e c t r i c a l noise from muscle; and (3)

(4) undesired e l e c t r i c a l noise of unknown o r i g i n , which probably emanates from within t h e body, which seems r e l a t ed t o the v ib ra t ion , and which takes t h e general shape of t h e v ib ra t ion pa t t e rn .

(B) The undesired electrode system noise referred t o i n A(2) above i s more o r less s e n s i t i v e to:

(1) electrode design, f ab r i ca t ion , and maintenance;

( 2 ) s e c u r i t y of' electrode attachment;

(3) sk in preparation;

(4) electrode pas t e formulation and physical char- a c t e r i s t i c s ;

e lectrode l ead s t a t i c e l e c t r i c a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s ; and

b

( 5 )

(6 ) e lec t rode l ead magnetic pickup.

(C) The undesired muscle noise r e fe r r ed t o i n A(3) above va r i e s with v ib ra t ion character and in t ens i ty ; and e lec t rode loca t ion on the body i n r e l a t i o n t o muscle mass and tone, muscle voluntary a c t i v i t y , t h e muscle groups used t o dei'end against v ibra t ion , and t h e muscles a f l e c t e d by v ib ra t ion .

(D) The Undesired e l e c t r i c a l noise of unknown o r i g i n r e fe r r ed t o i n A(4) above va r i e s with electrode loca t ion , v ib ra t ion cha rac t e r i s t i c s , and v ib ra t ion in t ens i ty . physiological i n t e r e s t . )

(Further study of' t h i s noise might be oi '

TESTING AND DEVELOPMENT PROGFAM

Using the above t e n t a t i v e conclusions as a guide, a program of evaluation by t e s t i n g and development of spec i i f c equipment and proced- u r e s w a s i n i t i a t e d .

A. Electrode Evaluation

The following electrodes were evaluated as described using conventional p l a t e e lectrodes as references ( see Fig. 5E) :

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(1) NASA electrodes as described by Day and Lippi t t3 (Fig. 5 4 D),

5B) , ( 2 ) Beckman #350069 biopotent ia l skin electrode (Fig.

(3) Avionics Metretel disc type electrode (Fig. 5 C ) , and

(4) Conductive Paint e lectrode as described by Roman" (not shown),

The Conductive Paint e lectrode, which possesses the a t t r a c t i v e advantage of low mass, d i d not perform w e l l f o r us under v ibra t ion condi- t i o n s , probably because of noise generated a t the lead-paint junction. Further t e s t i n g of t h i s electrode i s contemplated.

The Avionics electrode i s a v a s t improvement over t h e conven-- t i o n a l e lectrode but i s n o i s i e r than the two electrodes t o be discussed below. The design ( s m a l l f lange) does not permit f i r m attachment t o the skin without immobilizing a large skin area.

The Beckman and NASA electrodes a r e considered together s ince they a r e of s imi la r design and both a r e superior with regard t o low noise generation and pickup. The combination of wide flanges and the use of double-adhesive tape f a c i l i t a t e s firm attachment of the electrodes t o t h e skin. Both electrodes have r e l a t i v e l y low mass and both provide protect ion of the electrode lead-electrode junction. When i n prime condi- t i o n both electrodes can give excellent ECG t r a c e s , even under severe v ibra t ion conditions, i f lead combinations a r e chosen which are r e l a t i v e l y f r e e of muscle noise and if the skin a t t h e electrode s i t e i s properly prepared .

1.l our t e s t s the NASA electrode performance de ter iora ted f a s t e r a f t e r repeated use than t h e Beckman electrode. However, t h e NASA elec- t rode can be e a s i l y reconditioned (reanodized) . Both electrodes can be pre- tes ted f o r noise using t h e method described by Day and L i ~ p i t t . ~ I n our opinion t h e NASA electrode i s e a s i e r t o clean; however, cleaning i s not a ser ious problem with e i t h e r electrode.

B. Skin Preparation

,The following methods of skin preparation were t e s t e d :

(1) NO preparation,

(2) Scrubbing with alcohol,

(3) Scrubbing with acetone,

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NASA electrodes with adhesive collar Beckman #350069 biopotential skin electrodes with adhesive collar Avionics Metretel disc-type electrodes NASA electrode modified for use with saline solution as an electrolyte Cambridge conventional electrodes

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(4) Application of s i l v e r n i t r a t e ,

(5) Pricking skin with needle,

(6 ) "Dril l ing, '13 and

(7) Transparent tape s t r i p p i n g . A s expected, it was observed t h a t during v ibra t ion low-level

ECG noise i s associated w i t h l o w electrode-skin resis tance. I n order t o obtain low electrode-skin resis tance, it i s necessary t o prepare t h e skin electrode s i t e by decornif icat ion of t h e skin t o penetrat ion of the e p i d e r m i ~ . ~ Application of alcohol or acetone as t h e only sk in prepara- t i o n , which, of course, does not involve epidermis penetrat ion, general ly r e s u l t s i n an electrode-skin resis tance i n excess of 10KR. ECGs obtained during v ibra t ion with electrode s i t e s so prepared a r e noisy.

Electrode s i t e s prepared by t h e appl icat ion of a spot of sat- urated s i l v e r n i t r a t e r e s u l t i n high electrode-skin res i s tance but the ECGs obtained during vibrat ion a r e l e s s noisy than would be expected t o be associated with t h e high resistance.

Preparation of electrode s i t e s by pricking t h e skin w i t h a needle has been recommended f o r e lectrodes t o be used on exercis ing subjec ts , Multiple needle pricks a r e required t o be e f fec t ive f o r ECG noise reduction during vibrat ion. skin s i t e being prepared and the person administering the needle pricks. Short of f rank trauma, it i s duf f icu l t t o pre-estimate the probable effect iveness of t h i s skin preparation procedure.

The effect iveness v a r i e s w i t h the

The d r i l l i n g method which uses a high-speed r o t a t i n g dental b u r r f o r skin decornif icat ion requires a degree of s k i l l on the p a r t of t h e operator t o obtain the desired epidermis penetration without excess trauma. The effect iveness i s d i f f i c u l t t o pre-estimate.

A method of skin decornification with inherent control over cornium removal was suggested t o us by Dr. Ralph Carr (Associate Profes- sor, Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, m e Ohio S t a t e University). Layers of cornium a r e s t r ipped off by repeated appl icat ion and removal of t h e s t icky s ide of t ransparent tape t o the skin. As developed f o r e lectrode preparation, the procedure i s given below.

A :,lask i s prepared by c u t t i n g a hole one-quarter-inch iil d i - m e t e r i n a -7iece of transparent tape approximately one inch wide and two inches long. The hole of the mask i s placed a t t h e electrode s i t e and t h e mask stuck t o t h e sk in . A s t r i p of t ransparent tape i s placed on t h e mask and skin. This s t r i p of tape i s s t r ipped o f f , a f r e s h piece of t ransparent tape put on and s t r ipped off and t h i s process repeated u n t i l t h e desired amount of decornification and epidermis penetration has been a t ta ined . Normally 10 t o 1 5 s t r ippings a r e required, depending on t h e nature of the skin at the selected locat ion. More s t r ippings a r e

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required above the ankle and at the back of the neck than elsewhere. experience it is possible to pre-estimate accurately from the appearance of the skin the amount of stripping required. adequately prepared when the skin first appears moist and shiny patches appear .

With

The area is considered

The resistance (determined by a technique to be described) of a pair of electrodes prepared in this manner is often less than 6oon. The subject will feel some discomfort when the decornification is carried to the appearance of a shiny patch. and persist on the skin for a few days, with or without slight scab fo r - mation. extreme vibration intensity. intensities require relatively less decornification with correspondingly less severe preparation.

A red circular area will be prominent

The above treatment gives ECG noise reduction adequate for Investigations limited to lower vibration

An unconventional method of measuring electrode pair resistance was tried and found to be convenient. The method is based on the conven- tional method of determining internal resistance of a practical emf source. First the voltage output is measured with a very high impedance voltmeter. A variable shunt resistance is then applied across the voltage source and adjusted until the resistance is one-half the original value. The shunt resistance is then equal to the internal resistance. In ECG applications the heart is the emf source and the ECG is the voltmeter. Shunt resistance (decade box) is adjusted until the ECG-recorded R wave is one-half its amplitude with no shunt resistance connected. The shunt resistance is then equal to the total resistance between electrodes, including electrode resistance. The method is illustrated in Fig. 6. Since using the method we have found that it is also in use in Great Britain at the Medical Research Council.

C. Electrode PlaceKent

Using the Frank orthogonal lead system, better tracings are generally obtained from the X and Z axis than are obtained from the Y axis.

Generally X-axis electrodes which are placed around the chest at approximately the fifth intercostal space are reiativelyfree of noise during vibration.

Skin movement per se does not generally generate excessive noise. noisy than nearby electrodes over muscle or "tight" skin. recorded from a 267-pound, 18-year-old male student contained little noise although the electrodes were undergoing remarkable excursions at table frequencies near body resonance (see Fig. 7).

Electrodes placed over fleshy parts of the body are usually less Tracings

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Fig. 6 - Schematic diagram for ECCT electrode-skin resistance de terminat ion

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Pre cont rol

II I II I II I I I II I I I I II ,, iI I I I

s, , .' II I I I I R

II I II I I I I I I I I 1 I 1

. --. .. -1 .

5cps

3cps , . -u --I -

.;. I I 1 I I .I . I

7cps

Fig. 7 - Traces from a s i t t i n g subject using the Frank l ead system t o ~hutai:: z i z ~ ~ l t a n e ~ l . s rernrdi n g s of a l l th ree axes

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1 . 1 1 . 1 1 1 1 1 I I\ 1 n I I I II I1 I

A'_ .U ,

-_ . - . I . I I . , . .. I n **?**I 11 I I I II I 1

i n n

* I. . Y I I - - I Scps

Fig. 7 - (Continued)

16

Postcon t rol

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Eleztrcde Lead Wires

Microdot shielded lead wires espec ia l ly designed t o minimize noise generation during wire movement were used f o r a l l electrode leads. No s p e c i a l precaution was taken t o sh ie ld or pro tec t against e l e c t r i c a l pickup caused by W i r e movement i n t h e Earth o r l o c a l magnetic f i e l d s .

Electrode Paste

Generally t h e electrode pas te recommended by the electrode suppl ie r was used although there was some interchange. t rodes were modified (see Fig. 5D) so t h a t they could be f i l l e d with l i q u i d . The electrodes were f i l l e d with various concentrations of s a l i n e and the res i s tance measured. aga ins t s a l i n e concentration. with the concentration of Saline i n NASA J e l l y ; i.e., 1 O N NaC1 .

Two NASA elec-

Figure 8 shows t h e res i s tance p l o t t e d The lower res i s tance agrees q u i t e wel l

SUMMARY

By using t h e NASA electrodes described3; preparing t h e skin electrode s i t e using t h e t ransparent tape technique; a t taching the electrodes as recommended; using noise-supressing electrode wire; and, using a l l of t h e above with normal high-quality electrocardiograph equipment, E C G s recorded from human subjects being vibrated can be expected t o contain a minimum of e l e c t r i c a l noise usually associated with E C G s recorded during vibrat ion.

D I S C U S S I O U

E C G s f o r monitoring s o far obtained, using the above equipment and techniques, have been c l i n i c a l l y acceptable without f u r t h e r treatment for research subjects being vibrated a t i n t e n s i t i e s beyond short-term "tolerance" l e v e l s (severe v ibra t ion) . Representative t racings a r e shown i n Fig. 9-11. A systematic survey of more subjects i s contemplated. Usually a low-amplitude background s igna l , which has the general charac- t e r i s t i c s of t h e v ibra t ion pat tern, remains i n the recorded t race. This i s t h e s i g n a l of unknown origin re fer red t o e a r l i e r . I t s amplitude i s frequency-dependent and s ince it i s usually asynchronous with pulse r a t e , it appears t o wander or flow i n the ECG background. Thus it i s generally poss ib le , by s,tudying a s t r i p of recording, t o discount t h i s unwanted s ignal .

For c r i t i c a l s tud ies , s tudied, f u r t h e r treatment be desired. I n such cases

and espec ia l ly when orthogonal leads a r e being of the s igna ls t o remove addi t ional noise may t h i s may be accomplished by using t h e magnetic

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80

70

60

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Fig. 8 - Electrode pair resistance using saline-filled electrodes; no skin preparation

- 18

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I- z 0 0

u) Q 0

In

v) CL 0 r-

h 0 V

u) 0. 0

a

0 r(

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i .

CONTROL

fltd 15 cps

9cps

f td 9cps

PECTORAL CONTRACTION NO VIBRATION

Fig. 11 - Traces obtained from a female subjec t with an electrode on each breast. Subject vibrated a t frequencies and amplitudes shown

20

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recording-computer signal averaging technique previously described. ' Signals should be averaged during periods of uniform pulse rate t o avoid excessive d i s t o r t i o n of t h e pre (p) wave and l a t e (t) wave segments of t h e t race . t h e averaging process i s accomplished by f i rs t superimposing R.waves then adding and averaging signals on e i t h e r s ide of the R wave.

D i s to r t ion i n t h e QRS complex i s minimized s ince f igu ra t ive ly

CONCLUSIONS AND STATUS

Subject t o t h e results of the systematic survey of more subjec ts r e fe r r ed t o above, it appears from t h e developments described here and i n a previous report ' t h a t equipment and techniques necessary t o obtain q u a l i t y ECGs from humans while they a r e being v ibra ted a re avai lable . ,Tnis should permit t h e ECG t o be i izaful 8 s a reczarch t o o l i n evzluatine; certain human cardiovascular physiological responses t o v ibra t ion , and use fu l i n evaluat ing c e r t a i n s t r e s ses normally r e f l ec t ed i n t h e ECG which a r e not necessar i ly of v ib ra t iona l o r ig in , bu t which must be measured i n a v ibra t ion environment.

REFERENCES

1.

2.

3.

4.

5 .

6 .

7.

Roberts, L. B., and Dines, J. H. , "Cardiovascular Ef fec ts of Vibra- t i on , " Semi-Annual Report No. 1, NASA Grant No. NGR 36-008-041, The Ohio Sta t e University Research Foundation, 18 March 1966.

Frank, Ernest , "An Accurate, C l in i ca l ly P rac t i ca l System For Spa t i a l Vectrocardiography," Circulat ion, - 13 (1956 ) , 737-749.

Day, J. L., and L i p p i t t , M. W . Jr., "A Long-Term Electrode System f o r Electrocardiography and Impedance Pneumography," Psychophysiology, - 1 (1$4), 174-182.

Day, J. L. , "Electrocardioeram-Pneumo~raph Electrode Application Techniques," NASA Manned Space Center, Houston, Texas.

Boter, J.;Den Hertog, A.; and Kuiper, J., "Disturbance Free Skin Electrodes f o r Persons During Exercise," Med. and Biol. EnRrR., -- Vol. 4, Pergmon Press , Great Br i t a in (1966), 91-95.

Roman, J., "Long-Range Program t o Develop Medical Monitoring i n F l igh t : The F l igh t Research Program - I," Aerospace Medicine, -- Vol. 36, No. 6 (June, 1s5).

Rothman, Steven, Physiology and Biochemistry of the Skin, "E lec t r i ca l Behavior," Chicago Press, pp. 9-25.

Ch. 2,

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Lester B. Roberts B.S., Adjunct Professor, Department of Preventive Medicine (Co-Principal Investigator and Supervisor)

John H. Dines

Robert L. Hamlin

H. P. Pieper

William W. Hunter

E. J. Whitehead

A. R. Olhoeft

C. K. Badger

M.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Preventive Medicine (Co-Principal Investigator)

D.V.M., Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Veterinary physiology (Co-Investigator)

M.D., Department of physiology (Consultant)

D.V.M., Research Assistant, Department of Preventive Medicine

Research Assistant, Department of Preventive Medicine

Technical Assistant, Senior, Department of Electrical Engineering

Technical Assistant

........ Investigator ..... ...... L . & C C . ; I ) .......... &$& date ......... >k+. ,...q .!.f d...c? .................................................................... ......................................................................................................

Supervisor ..................... $, L..L ..... RZ .: ..... k ~ : . L . i + . . ~ a t e ..........._ J.L...,...q.! ..... ..MU .

For The Ohio State University Research Foundation

Executive Direct Date. .......... f2 &[..: ................................. /PLb

22