Cardiovascular Response Measures With Simple Integrated Circuit Amplifiers.

Physiological amplifier-recorders often are bulky and difficult to interface with the programming equipment used in cardiovascular conditioning studies. Two amplifiers are described which are small, easily constructed, portable, and interface easily with programming equipment. The amplifiers are constructed from integrated circuit operational amplifiers. A filter is also described which removes 60 Hz interference and attenuates movement artifacts and respiration fluctuations in the output signals of the amplifiers. Two amplifier circuits are described, one for electrocardiogram signals and one for photoplethysmogram signals. Used separately or in combination, these amplifiers can be employed to investigate the conditioning (or functioning) of beat-to-beat heart rate, blood pressure, or particular components or frequencies of the electrocardiogram and photoplethysmogram waves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]