String Galvanometer (part of) - Einthoven

Written for Brought to Light by: Aimee Edgington. Student Research Group: Aimee Edgington, Jethro Catalan, Joanna Brookman, Aisha Petticrew, James Vlachoulis.

Part (only) of a string galvanometer. The string galvanometer was one of the earliest instruments capable of detecting and recording the very small electrical currents produced by the human heart and provided the first practical Electrocardiogram (ECG).

This particular instrument fits onto an Einthoven String Galvanometer; a tool mainly used for detecting electronic currents produced by the human heart. In addition to being an electrocardiogram, this device can also be used in wireless telegraphy and other adaption in the physical sciences. The Einthoven String Galvanometer was manufactured by the Cambridge Scientific Instrument Company and said to be the first electrocardiogram, being first used to record a human heart beat in 1902.

It was reported by the Adelaide Hospital Board Chairman Mr W.G. Coombs in 1913 that, after visiting an exhibition of medical equipment in London, he would have liked the Royal Adelaide Hospital to have a string galvanometer. However, due to lack of authority he was unable to purchase the electrocardiogram at that point in time. Therefore, it can be speculated that the University most likely received this string galvanometer after the hospital would have, dating accession possibly in the 1920s.

The galvanometer consists of a thin thread conducting electric current in a magnetic field. As current is passed through, the thread is displaced from position of equilibrium in right angles to direction of lines of magnetic force. Amount of displacement is proportional to strength of the current passing through the thread, current can then be recorded and measured.