Objectives and competences

This curricular unit aims to develop essential skills in instrumentation and measurement of quantities and signals of biomedical interest and in conceiving and designing medical devices through the application and integration of multidisciplinary knowledge of engineering and biomedical sciences.

The learning objectives and outcomes are focused on the following skills to acquire:

• learning technical concepts of measurement, instrumentation and use of their technologies in the biomedical area;
• development of reasoning to analyse and solve measurement problems in systemic, critical and creative ways;
• development of work skills in multidisciplinary teams;
• development of engineering capabilities, such as design, implementation and testing of biomedical devices.

Teaching Methodologies

Presentation and discussion with audio-visual support of the subjects under study with exemplification of resolution of exercises of analysis and synthesis.

Performing experimental activities of measurement and calculation of biomedical parameters.

Conducting a research and study work on one of the themes with written report (article).

Implementation of a small practical project with elaboration of technical documentation, oral presentation and demonstration.

Syllabus

1. Basic concepts of biomedical measurement and instrumentation. Instrumentation systems. Accuracy and uncertainty in measurement.
2. Biopotentials: bioelectrical phenomena, biomedical signals, their origin, ranges of amplitudes and frequencies; Bioelectrogenesis: EMG, ECG, EEG. Biopotential electrodes: electrodes-electrolyte and electrode-skin interfaces, surface and needle electrodes.
3. Sensors and principles of transduction for physiological signals and biomedical applications.
4. Biopotential amplifiers: instrumentation amplifiers, isolation amplifiers, filters and interference reduction, high impedance and their technical problems.
5. Acquisition and processing of physiological signals; Analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion, Frequency response and spectral overlap; Virtual Instrumentation
6. Electrophysiological signals of the neuromuscular subsystem, electrocardiographs, electroencephalographs, electromyographs
7. Pressure and sound in the cardiovascular and respiratory system: characteristics of pressure / sound waves, cardiac sounds, phonocardiography, indirect pressure measurements.
8. Flow and volume in the cardiovascular and respiratory system: flowmeters, spirometers, plethysmography.