Wearing the Actiheart

Please note: both Actiheart and Cardio are mounted in the same fashion; please click here to find out more about their differences

Actiheart chest pads

The Actiheart has two clips which attach directly to standard ECG electrodes. Usually one electrode is adhered at V1 or V2 (4th intercostals), and the second electrode is placed approximately 10cm away on the left side at V4 or V5 although this placement can be adjusted to be comfortable for the subject.

The unit is worn on two standard ECG pads on the chest. The small size of the recorder and the use of standard biocompatible ECG electrodes ensure that the Actiheart monitor is securely but comfortably attached. The Actiheart is designed for multiple day use. It is water resistant and is compatible with daily activities. Placement of the device to record accurate data is easily confirmed by a flashing heart rate signal LED.

Weighing less than 10 grams, the Actiheart is easy to wear, and can be worn by subjects of most ages. Actiheart is equipped with a rechargeable battery that is recharged using the USB reader interface or a multiple-device charging station. Data are recorded on board the monitor for future download to a computer using a standard USB connection.

It is also possible to wear the Actiheart on a chest belt, similar to a Polar wearlink belt. This alternative mounting position is ideal for short term recordings such as whilst training or playing sport.

Actiheart chest belt

Skin Preparation

It is vital that the skin is correctly prepared prior to attaching the Actiheart and before the start of any recording The process of skin preparation should remove the Stratum Corneum and scratch the surface of the next layer of skin down, the Stratum Granulosum CamNtech recommends the use of Cardio prep pads to properly prepare the skin. The Actiheart software contains an inbuilt signal test function which should be used to check the quality of the R wave signal before commencing a longer term recording.