Biomedical Engineering BE513: Biomedical Instrumentation

Course Description

This is a practical course covering the principles and practice of biomedical instrumentation. Learning is designed around student design projects covering important techniques and applications, such as:

Instructors

Dr. Chris Kirtley MD PhD, Associate Professor, Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, assisted by TA Iian Black BS

Approach

The course is based in the laboratory, with short presentations of theory interleaved with much hands-on design and fabrication work. Prototyping can be done on breadboard, but it is epected that projects will be made into a final product using printed circuit board, designed, milled and populated (soldered) by students. A T-Tech QuickCircuit mill is available for this.

Prerequisites

EE 315 or instructor permission

Textbooks/other required material

Medical Instrumentation: Application and Design, J.G. Webster, 3rd Edition 1998 -  $107 new, $80 used (not required).

The Art of Electronics. P Horowitz. Cambridge Univ. Press. Eng. library TK7815 .H67 1989 ($70)

Webster J. G. Course in Bioinstrumentation. Proceedings of the19th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. 3:1040-1043, 1997.

Introduction to ECGs.
EKG Animation
Biomedical sensors developed at ORNL.
Introduction to photoplethysmography.
Exercise testing: photoplethysmography and pulse oximetry.
Special Problems: Electromyography
Tutorials on the use of surface electromyography. http://www.delsys.com

Topics

Course Objectives related to BE Program Outcomes

(a)     Ability to understand and apply the fundamentals of life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics and engineering.
  1. Know the meaning of peak-to-peak and RMS voltage
  2. Calculate the gain of a circuit in dB
  3. Understand the physiology of the heart and its conducting system
  4. Know the Na/K ion-exchange responsible for generating bio-potentials
  5. Know the factors affecting the impedance of electrode-body interface
  6. Define the term ‘Common Mode Rejection Ratio’ (CMRR)
  7. Derive the frequency response (Bode plot) of a filter or amplifier
(b) Ability to design experiments for, make measurements on, and interpret data from living systems.
  1. Team projects based around measurement of EKG, EMG, EOG, or PPG
  2. Appreciation of the sources and characteristics of electrical noise
  3. Understand the principle of operation of the instrumentation amplifier
  4. The normal EKG waveform
  5. Calculation of the cardiac axis from a 12-lead EKG recording
  6. Know the clinical significance of rhythm, axis and ST segment abnormalities
(c) Ability to identify appropriate design specifications and to design solutions at the system, component, and/or process level to satisfy biomedical needs.
  1. Able to design a circuit for a simple bio-medical purpose
  2. Understand simple circuit diagrams (schematics)
  3. Know how to set the gain of a basic op-amp circuit
  4. Select type of filter (low/high-pass, notch) based on the bandwidth of the signal
  5. Calculate values to determine cutoff frequency of passive (RC) filters
  6. Generate a control (trigger) signal by thresholding a waveform
(d)     Ability to work in integrative teams involving engineers from various disciplines and when applicable, health care professionals.
  1. Team-based projects designing and fabricating instrumentation
  2. Trouble-shoot a circuit
  3. Fabricate a printed circuit board (PCB) using a computer-controlled mill
  4. Built an enclosure (case) and other necessary hardware for a project
(e)     Ability to identify, formulate and solve biomedical engineering problems and challenges.
  1. Satisfactorily designed and built a circuit to record a bio-medical signal
  2. Designed a circuit to meet a particular specification
  3. Used LabView for data acquisition and display of a signal
(g)     Ability to communicate effectively, in oral and written form, to interdisciplinary audiences.
  1. Ask questions in class to facilitate your understanding and circuit design
  2. Give an oral presentation on team project
  3. Write a project design report
(h)     Have an understanding of bioethics, philosophy, religion, and other broad areas to assess the impact of engineering solutions in a global and societal context.
  1. Appreciation of the importance of electrical isolation for safety
(i)     Have the recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in lifelong learning.
  1. Use product catalogs and/or datasheets
  2. Use information sources such as the internet, textbooks, journal articles
(j)     Have a working knowledge of contemporary issues in biomedical engineering.
  1. Know the principles of data acquisition and analog-digital conversion
(k)     Ability to use classical and modern engineering, mathematics, and biological tools for biomedical engineering practice.
  1. Familiarity with basic electronic components (resistors, capacitors)
  2. Familiarity with the operation and use of a digital multimeter
  3. Familiarity with the operation and use of an oscilloscope
  4. Familiarity with basic op-amp circuits
  5. Understand the use of filtering to remove noise
  6. Know how to implement a digital switch from an analog wave
  7. Prototype a circuit using project (bread) board
  8. Design a printed circuit board layout using Circuit/TraxMaker
  9. Able to solder effectively

    10.  

Class/Laboratory Schedule

Pangborn 118, Tuesdays & Thursdays 3.10 - 4.25 pm;
 
 
Week
Topic
1, 13 Jan Introduction, Revision of basic circuits and electronics - Homework1
2, 18 Jan Lab #1: RC Filters
 25 Jan Anatomy and physiology of the heart pacemaker system, electrocardiogram
3, 1 Feb Lab #2: Op-Amp, Filtering, Electrocardiogram
 3 Feb Differential & Instrumentation amplifiers
4, 8 Feb Lab #3: Instrumentation amplifier, improvement of ECG amplifier: Notes on debugging circuits
10 Feb AC Coupling, Active filters, Electromyography
5, 15 Feb Lab #4: EMG amplifier, rectification (detection) and smoothing
 17 Feb Timers, Oscillators, and the Schmidt Trigger Choose projects
6, 22 Feb Printed Circuit Board (PCB) fabrication, Lab #4: Single-rail devices
 24 Feb Lab #5: Soldering technique
7, 1 Mar
 3 Mar Revision Quiz!
8, 8 Mar Mid-term Exam
 10 Mar
9, 15 Mar LabView Data Acquisition & Display
 17 Mar Project work until end of semester
10, 22 Mar Safety considerations
24 Ma Project Presentations 3 pm (Scullen Room). Reports due.

Email list for Students, Fall 2003

Policies

Classroom attendance is required. Students will be expected to keep up with the lectures and be able to answer basic questions in class.

Expected Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the students are expected to:

Grading

Homework                    20%
Mid-term Examination   20%
Project Presentations     20%
Project Reports             20%
Project Design               20%
 

Contribution of course to meeting the professional component

The topics covered in this course are directly used in designing and maintaining instrumentation in industrial, hospital and research laboratories. Besides presenting the basic material, this course will focus on developing the students' analytical skills through effective problem solving and communication skills through design laboratories and presentations. The basic principles and problem solving skills learned in this class readies the students for immediate employment in any of the above three areas.

Relationship of course to program objectives

This is a specialized engineering science course appropriate for students in biomedical engineering. A key aspect of this course is the in-depth exposure to practical design and fabrication, measurement and analysis/interpretation.

In a broad sense, this course is tied to all primary objectives of the Biomedical Engineering Department.  These principles are presented along with biomedical measurement scenarios in order to encourage motoivation. Working in groups to solve homework problems and for the class projects fosters teamwork, leadership, and effective communication skills.

Outcome Assessment

Process of Improvement


This page last updated 1 Dec 2002 by Chris Kirtley