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Human Research Facility Holter Monitor (Holter)
02.27.09
Scientists and payload developers can get more information on International Space Station research facilities by contacting the ISS Payloads Office or at 281-244-6187.

Overview | Description | Applications | Operations | Results | Publications | Images

Facility/Payload Overview

Brief Facility Summary

The Human Research Facility Holter Monitor (Holter) is a battery powered electrocardiogram (ECG) device which can accurately and non-invasively measure the heart rate of crewmembers over an extended period of time (up to 24 or 48 hours). ECG information is stored on a Portable Computer Memory Card International Adapter (PCMCIA) card and downlinked to Earth for analysis after the monitoring period.

Facility Manager(s)

  • Cindy Haven, Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX

    • Co-Facility Manager(s)

    Information Pending

    Facility Developer

    Johnson Space Center, Human Research Program, Houston, TX

    Sponsoring Agency

    National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

    Expeditions Assigned

    |13|14|15|16|17|18|19|20|21|22|

    Previous ISS Missions

    Information Pending

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    Facility/Payload Description

    Facility Summary

    • The Human Research Facility Holter Monitor (Holter) is a modified commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) device that accurately and non-invasively records the electrical activity of a crewmember?s heart (electrocardiogram or ECG) over an extended period of time (up to 24 or 48 hours) and is available to support future science experiments.


    • The Holter is a 3-channel, seven-lead ECG that can be placed in a variety of configurations, powered by one, two, or three 9 Volt alkaline batteries depending upon the length of recording and desired sampling rate.


    • The Holter contains a removable Portable Computer Memory Card International Adapter (PCMCIA) card for data storage which allows the data to be downloaded to a PC and then downlinked.

    Description

    The Human Research Facility Holter Monitor (Holter) measures and records the electrical activity of the heart of a crewmember. The Holter is a battery-powered data collection device; it consists of a digital recorder, capable of recording the ECG data continuously for up to 24 or 48 hours. The Holter currently in use on the ISS is manufactured by Spacelabs Healthcare, Incorporated of Issaquah, Washington.

    The Holter can measure heart rate within the range of 0 beats per minute (bpm) to 240 bpm at a sampling rate of 128 Hz or 256 Hz. It measures ECG signals within the range of -2.5 mV to +2.5mV (normal mode) and -5 mV to +5 mV (half gain mode) at a sampling rate of 128 Hz or 256 Hz with an accuracy of +/- 2 percent of full range.

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    Operations

    Facility Operations

    During launch and landing, the HRF Holter Accessories Kit is stowed. For a session using the Holter, the crewmember un-stows the HRF Holter Accessories Kit, uses the razor to shave the electrode sites, wipes the area clean with biocide wipes, and applies electrode pads to the chest in the appropriate configuration depicted in a the placard. The crewmember then dons the hardware, attaches the Holter Harness to the main unit, and activates/checkouts the hardware. At the end of the recording period, the crewmember deactivates, doffs, and stows the hardware. For data download, the crewmember removes the hard disk card assembly from the main unit, plugs the card into the HRF PC, and downloads the data to the HRF PC. Downlink of the Holter data is accomplished as part of HRF Rack activities.

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    Results/More Information

    Information Pending

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    Availability

  • On-Board ISS

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    Related Web Sites

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    Publications

    Results Publications

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      Related Publications

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        Images

        imageNASA Image: JSC2006E01969 - Expedition 14 training for Holter Monitor operations of Astronaut Clayton Anderson at Johnson Space Center in Houston, with Instructor Ashley Weaver.
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        Information Provided and Updated by the ISS Program Scientist's Office
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