Course syllabus for Biomedical instrumentation

Course syllabus adopted 2021-02-10 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameMedicinsk elektronik
  • CodeSSY091
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerMPBME
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • Main field of studyBioengineering, Electrical Engineering
  • DepartmentELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 10111
  • Maximum participants64
  • Block schedule
  • Open for exchange studentsYes

Credit distribution

0114 Examination 7.5 c
Grading: TH
3.5 c4 c0 c0 c0 c0 c
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Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

The course Medicine for the engineer must be taken during the same quarter.

Aim

This course teaches basic knowledge in how to use traditional engineering disciplines, sensors, actuators and complex systems for clinical diagnosis and therapy, and the investigation of the physiological basis of diseases.

The learning outcomes of this course are partly applicable to other areas where sensors and actuators are combined for surveillance and control of a complex system for example the automotive sector.


Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

  • describe physiological functions of the human body, from their molecular origin to how and why they are measured, as well as describe the molecular origin of disease states; 
  • explain how sensors and measurement systems can be used to monitor physiological functions of the human body, how these data can be used to improve and support decisions by health care personnel, and in some applications analyze what is limiting the system performance;
  • describe how a biomedical instrumentation system is used in selected applications;
  • describe, simulate, construct and operate an ECG biopotential amplifier and analyze the result;
  • estimate and describe safety aspects of biomedical instrumentation systems;
  • in oral presentations and written report in English, describe and motivate biomedical systems to technical as well as non-technical specialists;
  • seek and acquire information from relevant scientific publications when working in a project team; 
  • discuss ethical aspects on research and development of selected biomedical instrumentation systems.

Content

The course provides an overview of the biomedical engineering field from a system-oriented perspective, primarily in clinical diagnostics using examples from clinical physiology (for example ECG, EEG, EMG, respiratory function, blood pressure) and radiology. Principles and techniques used in electro-physiological measurement equipment is analyzed, designed, and verified. Most electronic equipment for biomedical use comprises sensors, amplifiers, and instruments for storage and presentation of the signal. Aspects of these units and their usage for various medical applications are discussed. A laboratory part of the course is the design and verification of electronics for electro-physiological registrations of the heart i.e. an ECG amplifier. Some state-of-the-art applications are discussed with invited experts in seminars. In most areas the latest findings and discoveries regarding clinical rehabilitation methods and devices are briefly presented.

Organisation

This course is given over two quarters. The first quarter is composed by: lectures, hand-in problems and laboratory exercise. The second quarter is composed by: invited lectures from experts in different fields, hand-in problems and a minor project work with eligible subjects.

Literature

Preliminary literature: J.G. Webster, A.J. Nimunkar, ed: Medical Instrumentation: Application and Design, 5th ed, 2020. Tortora & Derrickson, Introduction to the Human Body, Wiley & sons, 11th ed. 2020.

Examination including compulsory elements

To pass (grade 3) the following should be passed: hand-in problems; laboratory exercise including a written laboratory report; project task including written report and oral presentation; and attendance on the invited lectures and on mandatory workshops. For a possible higher grade, a written home exam is required at the end of the course.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.