Human ECG Help

CT100 and CT200 Electrocardiograph Thermal Unit
CT100 and CT200 Electrocardiograph "pen plotter" Unit
CT200 PC Link

CT100 and CT200 ELECTROCARDIOGRAPH THERMAL UNIT

POWER

PROBLEM

CAUSE

SOLUTION

The CT100 or CT200 will not turn on

The battery is flat

The unit is faulty

Plug in the plug-pack, and wait a few minutes for the battery to recover. Make charging the unit overnight your normal practice.

Call service

PRINT QUALITY

PROBLEM

CAUSE

SOLUTION

Printout is faint or patchy

The paper is the wrong type or poor quality

Use paper supplied (see
"Ordering Accessories"). Do not use thermal paper

ELECTRODE CONTACT

PROBLEM

CAUSE

SOLUTION

Printout is aborted after printing the first lead and a message 'Check lead contact'

No pulse rate detected due to one or more electrodes being disconnected.

Connect all leads to the patient or connect unused leads to the RL lead. All the leads must be connected for a good recording.

One or more leads are printed as a flat line with a message
'Check lead contact'

The lead(s) is (are) disconnected from the patient. If either of the leads V1,V3 or V6 are disconnected, then all
three will be affected in
the printout.

The lead(s) which is (are) disconnected is indicated.
Connect all leads to the patient or connect unused leads to the RL lead. All the leads must be connected for a good recording.

SIGNAL QUALITY

PROBLEM	CAUSE	SOLUTION
The measured pulse rate does not match the rate printed on the recording	The measurement did not reach its final value before the recording started. The patient moved during the recording or the quality of the recorded ECG was poor.	Wait until the displayed pulse rate is stable before starting a recording. Check the conditions below. The unit may not measure the rate correctly if it cannot "see" a good ECG signal on Lead II.
The quality of the recorded ECG is poor	The patient's skin is not clean The suction bulbs or limb straps have built up a residue of gel. Disposable electrodes have been re-used. Electrode terminals are loose or in poor contact with the patient leads Limb straps are loose The patient moved or spoke during the recording	Wash with alcohol or soap and reapply ECG Electrode Gel Wash with alcohol or soap after each use. Very dirty electrodes may need to be cleaned with a metal polish or replaced. Do not use disposable electrodes on more than one patient. If an electrode falls off, make sure it is still "sticky" before replacing it. Tighten the terminals and make sure that the electrical connections are clean Tighten the straps so that the electrodes are held firmly against the patient Make sure that the patient is warm and comfortable, and ask them to relax during the recording
Printout is aborted and the message Print Limit appears while using the 3 channel format.	The printing of some leads can surpass the allocated paper space due to a large ECG signal.	Reduce the size to 5mm/mV, or use a single channel format, or examine the lead in question with the Manual format.
The quality of the recorded ECG is poor (continued)	Not enough ECG electrode gel has been applied Disposable electrodes have dried out during storage X-Ray, diathermy or other equipment are causing interference A metal bed is causing interference The patient cable is faulty The unit is faulty	Apply more gel to the electrodes. Use extra gel if there is hair at the electrode sites. Check the "Use By" date and re-apply electrodes if required Switch off the interfering equipment or use the CT200 in another room. Also, try recording with the plug-pack disconnected Make sure that the bed is grounded. If not, ask a biomedical technician to ground it Replace the cable (see How to Order Accessories) Call service

PC LINK (CT200 ONLY)

PROBLEM

CAUSE

SOLUTION

The PC Link format does not operate

The CT200 is not connected to the PC.

The CT200 is not turned on.

The PC is not set up correctly.

Connect the CT200 and the PC using the PC Link cable.

Switch on the CT200.

Refer to the PC Link manual supplied.

CT100 and CT200 ELECTROCARDIOGRAPH THERMAL UNIT

POWER

PROBLEM

CAUSE

SOLUTION

The CT100 or CT200 will not turn on

The battery is flat

The unit is faulty

Plug in the plug-pack, and wait a few minutes for the battery to recover. Make charging the unit overnight your normal practice.

Call service

PRINT QUALITY

PROBLEM

CAUSE

SOLUTION

Printout is faint or patchy

The pen has run out

The paper is the wrong type or poor quality

Replace pens, see "Changing Pens" in the Operating Instructions section

Use paper supplied (see
"Ordering Accessories"). Do not use thermal paper

ELECTRODE CONTACT

PROBLEM

CAUSE

SOLUTION

Printout is aborted after printing the first lead and a message 'Check lead contact'

Printout is aborted after printing the first lead and a message 'Check lead contact'
No pulse rate detected due to one or more electrodes being disconnected.

Connect all leads to the patient or connect unused leads to the RL lead. All the leads must be connected for a good recording.

One or more leads are printed as a flat line with a message
'Check lead contact'

The lead(s) is (are) disconnected from the patient. If either of the leads V1,V3 or V6 are disconnected, then all
three will be affected in
the printout.

The lead(s) which is (are) disconnected is indicated.
Connect all leads to the patient or connect unused leads to the RL lead. All the leads must be connected for a good recording.

SIGNAL QUALITY

PROBLEM	CAUSE	SOLUTION
The measured pulse rate does not match the rate printed on the recording	The measurement did not reach its final value before the recording started. The patient moved during the recording or the quality of the recorded ECG was poor.	Wait until the displayed pulse rate is stable before starting a recording. Check the conditions below. The unit may not measure the rate correctly if it cannot "see" a good ECG signal on Lead II.
The quality of the recorded ECG is poor	The patient's skin is not clean The suction bulbs or limb straps have built up a residue of gel. Disposable electrodes have been re-used. Electrode terminals are loose or in poor contact with the patient leads Limb straps are loose The patient moved or spoke during the recording	Wash with alcohol or soap and reapply ECG Electrode Gel Wash with alcohol or soap after each use. Very dirty electrodes may need to be cleaned with a metal polish or replaced. Do not use disposable electrodes on more than one patient. If an electrode falls off, make sure it is still "sticky" before replacing it. Tighten the terminals and make sure that the electrical connections are clean Tighten the straps so that the electrodes are held firmly against the patient Make sure that the patient is warm and comfortable, and ask them to relax during the recording
Printout is aborted and the message Print Limit appears while using the 3 channel format.	The printing of some leads can surpass the allocated paper space due to a large ECG signal.	Reduce the size to 5mm/mV, or use a single channel format, or examine the lead in question with the Manual format.
The quality of the recorded ECG is poor (continued)	Not enough ECG electrode gel has been applied Disposable electrodes have dried out during storage X-Ray, diathermy or other equipment are causing interference A metal bed is causing interference The patient cable is faulty The unit is faulty	Apply more gel to the electrodes. Use extra gel if there is hair at the electrode sites. Check the "Use By" date and re-apply electrodes if required Switch off the interfering equipment or use the unit in another room. Also, try recording with the plug-pack disconnected Make sure that the bed is grounded. If not, ask a biomedical technician to ground it Replace the cable (see How to Order Accessories) Call service

PRINTER LINK (CT200 ONLY)

PROBLEM

CAUSE

SOLUTION

Printer Link formats do not operate

The CT200 is not connected to the printer.

The printer is not switched on and On-Line.

The printer is out of paper.

The printer has not been set up for serial input.

Connect the CT200 and printer using the cable supplied.

Turn on the printer and press the On-Line key.

Insert paper, cancel and re-start the recording.

Set up the printer according to the printer manual and the Specifications section of this manual.

Incorrect characters appear in the Printer Link recording

The printer did not receive all data from the CT200

Check the connection, reset the printer and start a new recording.

CT200 PC Link

INSTALLATION

PROBLEM

CAUSE

SOLUTION

Failed to complete installation

Some MS Windows files are in use at the time, not permitting copying of all installation files.

Insufficient hard disk space

Damaged installation disks

Ensure no applications are running before installing PCLink.
Check that the 'Start Up' group or folder does not activate any applications which may interfere.

Make more space available

Use MS Windows FileManager or Explorer to check installation disks are readable.

RECORDING AN ECG - PROBLEMS

PROBLEM	CAUSE	SOLUTION
"COM port is not available. Please check that the port is present in your computer, and that no other application is using it." dialog box appears	PCLink recognises that the serial port is not available	Try another serial port, use a suitable 25 pin to 9 pin converter if necessary. Ensure no other application is using the serial port. Consult your PC supplier.
" CT200 not responding "dialog box appears with " Please check: 1. CT200 is linked to PC's Com port. 2. Cable used is the one supplied with CT200. 3. CT200 is turned on."	PCLink recognises that the serial port is working, yet the CT200 is not responding.	Check the " CT200 not responding " dialog box suggestions. Check CT200 battery level. CT200 may require servicing.
"Timeout waiting for transmission" dialog box appears	CT200 has identified itself to PCLink but data has not arrived. CT200 may have been busy (internally) Serial Port may be incorrectly configured.	Check CT200 battery level. CT200 may require servicing. Re-attempt recording. Try another serial port, use a suitable 25 pin to 9 pin converter if necessary.
" Lead I data corrupted" dialog box appears.	An Interpretive CT200 (CT200 I/D ) has been used with a pre- Version 5 PCLink.	Upgrade to at least PCLink Ver 5.
" Parity Error" dialog box appears	Serial port may be incorrectly configured.	Try another serial port, use a suitable 25 pin to 9 pin converter if necessary. Consult your PC supplier.

MAILING AN ECG

PROBLEM

CAUSE

SOLUTION

After mailing an ECG(s) the computer freezes.

The modem is already in use by another application.

Several applications are open at once, draining available resources.

Ensure the modem is setup for MS Mail 3.5 for Win 3.11

Close any unnecessary applications before mailing.

The ECG appears to have been sent ( the status changes to S ) yet the destination has not received it.

The modem may not be installed correctly. Check that your recently composed ECG message is not still in the MS Mail Outbox.

There may be a System Message in the MS Mail Inbox indicating a mailing problem

Consult the Send/Mail ECGs chapter.

Contact M.M.S.