Kettering Study Guide RPSGT Review
Section B Latest Updated
EEG, EOG, EMG, and ECG minimum sampling rate - ANSWER-200 samples per
second (Hertz)
Maximum sampling rate for EEG, EOG, EMG, and ECG - ANSWER-500 samples per
second (Hertz)
Thermocouple/Thermistor - ANSWER-Responds to temperature change, detects the
rate of temperature change between expired air and room air known as the Seebeck
effect. Detects airflow at the nostrils and mouth.
Respiratory inductive plethysmograph (RIP belts) - ANSWER-Uses a piezo-electric
sensor, one belt goes around the upper abdomen just above the belly button and one
belt goes around the chest. Considered the gold standard.
Piezo belts - ANSWER-Contain a piezo crystal device that is located on a very small
portion of the belt. Ineffective if the patient were to lie on the sensor. Ineffective if the
belts become loose.
Mercury strain gauges - ANSWER-Contains a tube with mercury. Not used often
because of possible breakage and leaking of the mercury.
Intercostal EMG - ANSWER-Least expensive, rarely used during PSG, Likely to contain
ECG artifact.
Esophageal pressure (Pes) - ANSWER-Invasive, Esophageal manometry, esophageal
catheters, esophageal balloons, water filled catheters. Rarely used in routine PSG and
very uncomfortable. Very accurate method of measuring intrathoracic breathing effort.
Measures upper airway resistance.
Cardio-pneumographs - ANSWER-Heart rate and respirations on one channel. Batter is
required.
Pulse oximetry - ANSWER-Most appropriate noninvasive technique for continuous
monitoring of oxygen saturation (SPo2) and pulse. Normal Spo2 on room air is 95%-
97%. Spo2 decreases with respiratory events.
, Troubleshooting pulse oximetry - ANSWER-Motion artifact (most common problem),
dark skin pigmentation, nail polish, ambient light, may need to be re-attached if it falls
off or malfunctions.
Nasal pressure transducer - ANSWER-Detects fluctuations in pressure from inspiration
and expiration. Measure airflow through a nasal cannula. Very accurate in detecting
hypopneas and RERA's. Best used with a DC amplification system.
Capnography/End tidal C02 (ECO2, EtCO2, PetCO2) monitoring - ANSWER-A graphic
display of CO2 levels as they change. Measures exhaled carbon dioxide content using
infrared absorption.
Amplitude - ANSWER-the height of a waveform measured in mV (millivolts or
microvolts). EEG, EOG, and EMG are measured in microvolts (uV). Higher amplitude
signals such as ECG are measured in millivolts (mV).
Gain - ANSWER-increases or decreases the signal size of the amplifier signal.
Example: increase gain = larger deflections.
Sensitivity - ANSWER-amount of output to a given input voltage. Determines the
amplitude (height) of the pen deflection. A low sensitivity setting produces a large
deflection (signal change). The higher the sensitivity setting, the smaller the deflection.
Watts - ANSWER-A measure of the amount of work done by a certain amount of current
at at certain voltage (pressure)
Formula to calculate voltage - ANSWER-Voltage (V) = Pen deflection (PD) x Sensitivity
(S)
Formula to calculate sensitivity - ANSWER-Sensitivity (S) = Voltage (V) / Pen deflection
(PD)
Formula to calculate pen deflection - ANSWER-Pen deflection (PD) = Voltage (V) /
Sensitivity (S)
Impedance (resistance) - ANSWER-Total opposition to current (flow). Measured in
ohms. Low impedance-metals (conductors)
High impedance- pottery, dry wood (insulators)
Capacitance - ANSWER-A stored charge
Q (charge) / Volts = C (capacitance)
Electrical circuit - ANSWER-electrical current flows in the path of least resistance
Section B Latest Updated
EEG, EOG, EMG, and ECG minimum sampling rate - ANSWER-200 samples per
second (Hertz)
Maximum sampling rate for EEG, EOG, EMG, and ECG - ANSWER-500 samples per
second (Hertz)
Thermocouple/Thermistor - ANSWER-Responds to temperature change, detects the
rate of temperature change between expired air and room air known as the Seebeck
effect. Detects airflow at the nostrils and mouth.
Respiratory inductive plethysmograph (RIP belts) - ANSWER-Uses a piezo-electric
sensor, one belt goes around the upper abdomen just above the belly button and one
belt goes around the chest. Considered the gold standard.
Piezo belts - ANSWER-Contain a piezo crystal device that is located on a very small
portion of the belt. Ineffective if the patient were to lie on the sensor. Ineffective if the
belts become loose.
Mercury strain gauges - ANSWER-Contains a tube with mercury. Not used often
because of possible breakage and leaking of the mercury.
Intercostal EMG - ANSWER-Least expensive, rarely used during PSG, Likely to contain
ECG artifact.
Esophageal pressure (Pes) - ANSWER-Invasive, Esophageal manometry, esophageal
catheters, esophageal balloons, water filled catheters. Rarely used in routine PSG and
very uncomfortable. Very accurate method of measuring intrathoracic breathing effort.
Measures upper airway resistance.
Cardio-pneumographs - ANSWER-Heart rate and respirations on one channel. Batter is
required.
Pulse oximetry - ANSWER-Most appropriate noninvasive technique for continuous
monitoring of oxygen saturation (SPo2) and pulse. Normal Spo2 on room air is 95%-
97%. Spo2 decreases with respiratory events.
, Troubleshooting pulse oximetry - ANSWER-Motion artifact (most common problem),
dark skin pigmentation, nail polish, ambient light, may need to be re-attached if it falls
off or malfunctions.
Nasal pressure transducer - ANSWER-Detects fluctuations in pressure from inspiration
and expiration. Measure airflow through a nasal cannula. Very accurate in detecting
hypopneas and RERA's. Best used with a DC amplification system.
Capnography/End tidal C02 (ECO2, EtCO2, PetCO2) monitoring - ANSWER-A graphic
display of CO2 levels as they change. Measures exhaled carbon dioxide content using
infrared absorption.
Amplitude - ANSWER-the height of a waveform measured in mV (millivolts or
microvolts). EEG, EOG, and EMG are measured in microvolts (uV). Higher amplitude
signals such as ECG are measured in millivolts (mV).
Gain - ANSWER-increases or decreases the signal size of the amplifier signal.
Example: increase gain = larger deflections.
Sensitivity - ANSWER-amount of output to a given input voltage. Determines the
amplitude (height) of the pen deflection. A low sensitivity setting produces a large
deflection (signal change). The higher the sensitivity setting, the smaller the deflection.
Watts - ANSWER-A measure of the amount of work done by a certain amount of current
at at certain voltage (pressure)
Formula to calculate voltage - ANSWER-Voltage (V) = Pen deflection (PD) x Sensitivity
(S)
Formula to calculate sensitivity - ANSWER-Sensitivity (S) = Voltage (V) / Pen deflection
(PD)
Formula to calculate pen deflection - ANSWER-Pen deflection (PD) = Voltage (V) /
Sensitivity (S)
Impedance (resistance) - ANSWER-Total opposition to current (flow). Measured in
ohms. Low impedance-metals (conductors)
High impedance- pottery, dry wood (insulators)
Capacitance - ANSWER-A stored charge
Q (charge) / Volts = C (capacitance)
Electrical circuit - ANSWER-electrical current flows in the path of least resistance
