SlideShare a Scribd company logo
Medical devices
• Medical devices can be grouped according to the
three areas of medicine:
• Diagnosis
– diagnostic devices
• Therapy
– therapeutic devices
– application of energy
• Rehabilitation
– Application of Assisting orthotic-prosthetic devices
Diagnostic devices
• Types of diagnostic devices
– recording and monitoring devices
– measurement and analysis devices
– imaging devices
• importance of diagnostic devices
– enhance and extend the five human senses to improve to
collect data from the patient for diagnosis
– the perception of the physician can be improved by
diagnostic instrumentation in many ways:
• amplify human senses
• place the observer's senses in inaccessible environments
• provide new senses
Therapeutic devices
• Objective of therapeutic devices:
– deliver physical substances to the body to treat disease
• Physical substances:
– Voltage, current
– Pressure
– Flow
– Force
– Ultrasound
– Electromagnetic radiation
– Heat
• Therapeutic device categories:
– devices used to treat disorders
– devices to assist or control the physiological functions
Assistive or rehabilitative devices
• Objective of rehabilitative devices
– to assist individuals with a disability
• The disability can be connected to the troubles to
– perform activities of daily living
– limitations in mobility
– communications disorders and
– sensory disabilities
• Types of rehabilitative devices
– Orthopedic devices
• An orthopedic device is an appliance that aids an existing function
– Prosthetic devices
• A prosthesis provides a substitute
Some characteristics of BMI
• methods and devices are used to solve medical
problems
– problems are difficult, diverse, and complex
– solution alternatives are limited and specific to a
certain problem
• Therefore we must know
– what we are measuring or studying
– what we are treating
– which methodologies are available and applicable
Some characteristics of BMI
• deals with biological tissues, organs and organ systems
and their properties and functions
• bio-phenomena:
– bioelectricity, biochemistry, biomechanics, biophysics
• requires their deep understanding and analysis
• Accessibility of data is limited,
• Interface between tissue and instrumentation is needed
• Procedures:
– non-invasive
– minimally invasive
– invasive
Physiological measurements
• important application of medical devices
– physiological measurements and recordings
• important for biomedical engineer
– to understand the technology used in these recordings but also
– the basic principles and methods of the physiological recordings
• medical fields where physiological recordings play an
important role
– clinical physiology
– clinical neurophysiology
– cardiology
– intensive care, surgery
important physiological parameters
recorded
• parameters related to cardiovascular dynamics:
– blood pressure
– blood flow
– blood volumes, cardiac output
• biopotentials:
– electrocardiogram (ECG),
– electroencephalogram (EEG),
– electromyogram (EMG)
• respiratory parameters:
– lung volumes and capacities,
– air flow
• blood gases:
– pressures of blood gases
– oxygen saturation
– pH and other ions
Biomedical Instrumentation
• Diagnosis and therapy depend heavily on the
use of medical instrumentation.
• Medical procedures:
Medicine can be defined as a multistep
procedure on an individual by a physician,
group of physician, or an institute, repeated
until the symptoms disappear
The Importance of Biomedical Instrumentation
• Medical procedure
1 Collection of data - qualitative and/or
quantitative
2 Analysis of data
3 Decision making
4 Treatment planning based on the decision
Biomedical Instrumentation
System
• All biomedical instruments must interface with
biological materials. That interface can be by
direct contact or by indirect contact
Components of BM Instrumentation System…
• A sensor
– Detects biochemical, bioelectrical, or biophysical
parameters
– Provides a safe interface with biological materials
• An actuator
– Delivers external agents via direct or indirect
contact
– Controls biochemical, bioelectrical, or biophysical
parameters
– Provides a safe interface with biologic materials
…Components of BM Instrumentation System…
• The electronics interface
– Matches electrical characteristics of the
sensor/actuator with computation unit
– Preserves signal to noise ratio of sensor
– Preserves efficiency of actuator
– Preserves bandwidth (i.e., time response) of
sensor/actuator
– Provides a safe interface with the sensor/actuator
– Provides a safe interface with the computation unit
– Provides secondary signal processing functions for the
system
…Components of BM Instrumentation System
• The computation unit
– provides primary user interface
– provides primary control for the overall system
– provides data storage for the system
– provides primary signal processing functions for
the system
– maintains safe operation of the overall system
Problems Encountered in Measuring a Living System
• Many crucial variables in living systems are
inaccessible.
• Variables measured are seldom deterministic.
• Nearly all biomedical measurements depend
on the energy.
• Operation of instruments in the medical
environment imposes important additional
constraints.
The scientific method…
• In the scientific method, a hypothesis is tested
by experiment to determine its validity.
Problem
statem ent
Review
prior work
State
hypothesis
Perform
experim ents
Design further
experim ents
Analyze
data
Final
conclusions
More
experim ents
necessary
Problem
solved
…The scientific method
• In the scientific method, a hypothesis is tested by
experiment to determine its validity.
– For example, we might hypothesize that exercise
reduces high blood pressure yet experimentation and
analysis are needed to support or refuse the hypothesis.
• Experiments are normally performed multiple times. Then the
results can be analyzed statistically to determine the
probability that the results might have been produced by
chance.
• Results are reported in scientific journals with enough detail
so that others can replicate the experiment to confirm them.
Clinical diagnoses
• Physicians often need instrumentation to obtain data as part
of the scientific method.
– For example, a physician obtaining the history of a patient
with a complaint of poor vision would list diabetes as one
possibility on a differential diagnosis.
Chief
com plaint
Obtain
history
List the
differential
diagnosis
Exam ination
and tests
Select further
tests
Use data
to narrow the
diagnosis
Final
diagnosis
More than
one likely
Only one
likely
Treatm ent
and
evaluation
Feedback in measurement systems…
• Figure shows that the measurand is measured by a
sensor converting the variable to an electrical signal,
which can undergo signal processing. Sometimes the
measurement system provides feedback through an
effector to the subject.
Sensor
Data
com m unication
Data
displays
Effector
Measurand
Signal
conditioning
Signal
processing
Data
storage
Feedback
Outputs
…Feedback in measurement systems
• Figure (a) shows that a patient reading an instrument usually lacks sufficient
knowledge to achieve the correct diagnosis.
• Figure (b) shows that by adding the clinician to form an effective feedback
system, the correct diagnosis and treatment result.
(a) (b)
Instrum ent
Patient
Instrum ent
Patient
Clinician
…Feedback in measurement systems
• In certain circumstances, proper training of the patient and a
well-designed instrument can lead to self-monitoring and self-
control (one of the goals of bioinstrumentation).
– An example of such a situation is the day-to-day monitoring of glucose
by people suffering from diabetes. Such an individual will contact a
clinician if there is an alert from the monitoring instrument.
Instrum ent
Patient
Clinician
Abnorm al
readings
Classifications of Biomedical Instruments
• The sensed quantity
• The principle of transduction
• The organ system for measurement
• The clinical medicine specialties
• Based on the activities involved in the medical
care, medical instrumentation may be divided
into three categories:
– Diagnostic devices
– Therapeutic devices
– Monitoring devices
Generalized Medical Instrumentation System…
…Generalized Medical Instrumentation System…
• Measurand
– Physical quantity, property, or condition that the
system measures
• Biopotantial
• Pressure
• Flow
• Dimension (imaging)
• Displacement (velocity, acceleration, and force)
• Impedance
• Temperature
• Chemical concentrations
…Generalized Medical Instrumentation System…
Measurement Range Frequency, Hz Method
Blood flow 1 to 300 mL/s 0 to 20 Electromagnetic or ultrasonic
Blood pressure 0 to 400 mmHg 0 to 50 Cuff or strain gage
Cardiac output 4 to 25 L/min 0 to 20 Fick, dye dilution
Electrocardiography 0.5 to 4 mV 0.05 to 150 Skin electrodes
Electroencephalography 5 to 300  V 0.5 to 150 Scalp electrodes
Electromyography 0.1 to 5 mV 0 to 10000 Needle electrodes
Electroretinography 0 to 900  V 0 to 50 Contact lens electrodes
pH 3 to 13 pH units 0 to 1 pH electrode
pCO2 40 to 100 mmHg 0 to 2 pCO2 electrode
pO2 30 to 100 mmHg 0 to 2 pO2 electrode
Pneumotachography 0 to 600 L/min 0 to 40 Pneumotachometer
Respiratory rate
2 to 50
breaths/min
0.1 to 10 Impedance
Temperature 32 to 40 °C 0 to 0.1 Thermistor
…Generalized Medical Instrumentation System…
• Sensor
– Converts a physical measurand to an electrical
output
• Should respond only to the form of energy present in
the measurand
• Should be minimally invasive (ideally noninvasive)
…Generalized Medical Instrumentation System…
• The specifications for a typical blood pressure sensor.
– Sensor specifications for blood pressure sensors are
determined by a committee composed of individuals from
academia, industry, hospitals, and government
Specification Value
Pressure range –30 to +300 mmHg
Overpressure without damage –400 to +4000 mmHg
Maximum unbalance ±75 mmHg
Linearity and hysteresis ± 2% of reading or ± 1 mmHg
Risk current at 120 V 10 A
Defibrillator withstand 360 J into 50 
…Generalized Medical Instrumentation System…
• A hysteresis loop.
– The output curve obtained
when increasing the
measurand is different
from the output obtained
when decreasing the
measurand.
Sensor
signal
Measurand
…Generalized Medical Instrumentation System…
• (a) A low-sensitivity sensor has low gain. (b) A high
sensitivity sensor has high gain.
(a)(b)
Sensor
signal
Measurand
Sensor
signal
Measurand
…Generalized Medical Instrumentation System…
• Most sensors are analog and provide a continuous range of amplitude
values for output (a).
• Other sensors yield the digital output (b).
– Digital output has poorer resolution, but does not require conversion before
being input to digital computers and is more immune to interference
(a) (b)
Tim e
Amplitude
Tim e
Am
plitude
…Generalized Medical Instrumentation System…
• Bioinstrumentation should be designed with a specific signal in mind.
– Table shows a few specifications for an electrocardiograph
– The values of the specifications, which have been agreed upon by a committee,
are drawn from research, hospitals, industry, and government.
Specification Value
Input signal dynamic range ±5 mV
Dc offset voltage ±300 mV
Slew rate 320 mV/s
Frequency response 0.05 to 150 Hz
Input impedance at 10 Hz 2.5 M
Dc lead current 0.1 A
Return time after lead switch 1 s
Overload voltage without damage 5000 V
Risk current at 120 V 10 A
…Generalized Medical Instrumentation System…
(a) An input signal which exceeds the dynamic range.
(b) The resulting amplified signal is saturated at 1 V.
(a)
(b)
Time
Amplitude
5 mV
-5 mV
Dynamic
Range
Time
Amplitude
1 V
-1 V
…Generalized Medical Instrumentation System…
• DC offset voltage is the amount a signal may be moved from
its baseline and still be amplified properly by the system.
Figure shows an input signal without (a) and with (b) offset.
Time
Amplitude
(a)
Tim e
Am plitude
Dc offset
(b)
…Generalized Medical Instrumentation System…
• The frequency response of a device is the range of
frequencies of a measurand that it can handle.
• Frequency response is usually plotted as gain versus
frequency.
• Figure shows Frequency response of the electrocardiograph.
0.05 Hz 150 Hz
Frequency
Amplitude
1.0
0.1
…Generalized Medical Instrumentation System…
• Linearity is highly desirable for simplifying signal processing
(a) A linear system fits the equation y = mx + b.
(b) A nonlinear system does not fit a straight line.
(a) (b)
Output
Input
Output
Input
…Generalized Medical Instrumentation System…
• All bioinstrumentation observes the measurand either continuously or periodically.
However, computer-based systems require periodic measurements since by their
nature, computers can only accept discrete numbers at discrete intervals of time.
(a) Continuous signals have values at every instant of time.
(b) Discrete-time signals are sampled periodically and do not provide values
between these sampling times.
(a) (b)
Tim e
Amplitude
Tim e
Amplitude
…Generalized Medical Instrumentation System…
• Signal conditioning
– Amplify, filter, match the impedance of the sensor
to the display
– Convert analog signal to digital
– Process the signal
…Generalized Medical Instrumentation System…
• Output display
– Results must be displayed in a form that the human
operator can perceive
• Numerical, Graphical, Discrete or continuous, Permanent or
temporary, Visual or acoustical
• Auxiliary elements
– Data storage
– Data transmission
– Control and feedback
– Calibration signal
…Generalized Medical Instrumentation System…
• Panels and series
• Certain groups of measurements are often ordered
together because they are very commonly used or
because they are related.
• This may occur even if the measurements are based
on different principles or are taken with different
sensors.
• Table in next slide is an example of one of these
groups of measurements, which are called panels or
series.
…Generalized Medical Instrumentation System…
• Complete blood count for a male subject.
Laboratory test Typical value
Hemoglobin 13.5 to 18 g/dL
Hematocrit 40 to 54%
Erythrocyte count 4.6 to 6.2  106
/ L
Leukocyte count 4500 to 11000/ L
Differential count
Neutrophil 35 to 71%
Band 0 to 6%
Lymphocyte 1 to 10%
Monocyte 1 to 10%
Eosinophil 0 to 4%
Basophil 0 to 2%
…Generalized Medical Instrumentation System
• Hemoglobin is the protein which caries oxygen in the
bloodstream.
• Hematocrit is the percent of solid material in a given
volume of blood after it has been centrifuged.
• An erythrocyte is a red blood cell.
• A leukocyte is a white blood cell.
– The differential count tells how many of each type of white
blood cell there are in one microliter of blood.
– Unusual values for different leukocytes can be indicative of
the immune system fighting off foreign bodies.
Errors in measurements…
• When we measure a variable, we seek to determine the true value,
as shown in Figure (next slide) .
• This true value may be corrupted by a variety of errors. For example
– Movement of electrodes on the skin may cause an undesired added voltage
called an artifact.
– Electric and magnetic fields from the power lines may couple into the wires
and cause an undesired added voltage called interference
– Thermal voltages in the amplifier semiconductor junctions may cause an
undesired added random voltage called noise. Temperature changes in the
amplifier electronic components may cause undesired slow changes in
voltage called drift.
• We must evaluate each of these error sources to determine their
size and what we can do to minimize them.
…Errors in measurements…
(a) Signals without noise are uncorrupted.
(b) Interference superimposed on signals causes
error.
Frequency filters can be used to reduce noise and
interference.
(a) (b)
…Errors in measurements…
(a) Original waveform.
(b) An interfering input may shift the baseline.
(c) A modifying input may change the gain.
(a) (b) (c)
Accuracy and precision…
• Resolution
– the smallest incremental quantity that can be reliably measured.
• a voltmeter with a larger number of digits has a higher resolution than
one with fewer digits.
– However, high resolution does not imply high accuracy.
• Precision
– the quality of obtaining the same output from repeated
measurements from the same input under the same conditions.
– High resolution implies high precision.
• Repeatability
– the quality of obtaining the same output from repeated
measurements from the same input over a period of time.
…Accuracy and precision…
• Data points with
(a) low precision and (b) high precision.
…Accuracy and precision…
• Accuracy
– Generally defined as the largest expected error between
actual and ideal output signals.
– the difference between the true value and the measured
value divided by the true value.
• Obtaining the highest possible precision,
repeatability, and accuracy is a major goal in
bioinstrumentation design.
…Accuracy and precision…
• Data points with
(a) low accuracy and (b) high accuracy
Calibration…
• Measuring instruments should be calibrated
against a standard that has an accuracy 3 to 10
times better than the desired calibration
accuracy.
• The accuracy of the standard should be
traceable to the institutions regulating the
standards (National Institute of Standards and
Technology, TSI, etc.) .
Calibration…
• If the instrument is linear,
– its output can be set to zero for zero input. Then a one-point calibration defines
the calibration curve that plots output versus input (next slide).
• If the linearity is unknown,
– a two-point calibration should be performed and these two points plus the zero
point plotted to ensure linearity (next slide).
• If the resulting curve is nonlinear,
– many points should be measured and plotted to obtain the calibration curve.
• If the output cannot be set to zero for zero input,
– measurements should be performed at zero and full scale for linear instruments
and at more points for nonlinear instruments.
• Calibration curves should be obtained at several expected
temperatures to determine temperature drift of the zero point and
the gain.
…Calibration
(a) The one-point calibration may miss nonlinearity.
(b) The two-point calibration may also miss nonlinearity.
(a) (b)
Output
Input
Output
Input

More Related Content

PPTX
Biomedical instrumentation
PPTX
Biomedical Instrumentation & IOT application.pptx
PPT
Biochemical analysis instruments
PPT
357251698-Lecure-1-Introduction-to-Biomedical-Instrumentation-System-4-ppt.ppt
PPT
INTRODUCTION TO BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING AND INSTRUMENTATION
PDF
Biomedical Instrumentation
PPTX
1. Basics of Measuring Instrumentation System (2).pptx
PPTX
Lect 1 slides.pptx
Biomedical instrumentation
Biomedical Instrumentation & IOT application.pptx
Biochemical analysis instruments
357251698-Lecure-1-Introduction-to-Biomedical-Instrumentation-System-4-ppt.ppt
INTRODUCTION TO BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING AND INSTRUMENTATION
Biomedical Instrumentation
1. Basics of Measuring Instrumentation System (2).pptx
Lect 1 slides.pptx

Similar to Lecture 4 presentation for the class medical devices (20)

PPT
BME 311 Lecture Note 1-Introduction _8.ppt
PPTX
Patient monitoring system and biotelemetry
PPT
Introduction fin
PDF
1 intro medical equipment
PPTX
Pateint monitering
PPTX
Numerical analysis boimedical enginneering
PPTX
Nomenclature change for M Tech Biomedical.pptx
PPTX
Unit 5_measurement & control.pptx
PPT
biomedical engineering electronics and telecommunication
PPTX
Introduction to biomedical instrumentation
PPT
Emm unit i
PPT
medical instrumentation system for biomedical engineers
PPT
PPTX
vitals monitoring.pptx1123566778998654445
PPSX
Medical electronics
PPTX
sensor and instrumentation introduction.pptx
PPTX
Patient monitoring system to monitor physiological parameters.pptx
PPTX
INTRODUCTION TO SENSOR AND INSTRUMENTATION.pptx
PPTX
S&I Introduction to sensor and transducer.pptx
PPTX
Optical fiber sensors by rk shukla
BME 311 Lecture Note 1-Introduction _8.ppt
Patient monitoring system and biotelemetry
Introduction fin
1 intro medical equipment
Pateint monitering
Numerical analysis boimedical enginneering
Nomenclature change for M Tech Biomedical.pptx
Unit 5_measurement & control.pptx
biomedical engineering electronics and telecommunication
Introduction to biomedical instrumentation
Emm unit i
medical instrumentation system for biomedical engineers
vitals monitoring.pptx1123566778998654445
Medical electronics
sensor and instrumentation introduction.pptx
Patient monitoring system to monitor physiological parameters.pptx
INTRODUCTION TO SENSOR AND INSTRUMENTATION.pptx
S&I Introduction to sensor and transducer.pptx
Optical fiber sensors by rk shukla
Ad

Recently uploaded (20)

PPTX
Introduction_to_Human_Anatomy_and_Physiology_for_B.Pharm.pptx
PDF
Abdominal Access Techniques with Prof. Dr. R K Mishra
PDF
The Lost Whites of Pakistan by Jahanzaib Mughal.pdf
PPTX
1st Inaugural Professorial Lecture held on 19th February 2020 (Governance and...
PDF
2.FourierTransform-ShortQuestionswithAnswers.pdf
PDF
Physiotherapy_for_Respiratory_and_Cardiac_Problems WEBBER.pdf
PDF
Supply Chain Operations Speaking Notes -ICLT Program
PDF
Pre independence Education in Inndia.pdf
PDF
Classroom Observation Tools for Teachers
PPTX
PPH.pptx obstetrics and gynecology in nursing
PPTX
Final Presentation General Medicine 03-08-2024.pptx
PDF
Basic Mud Logging Guide for educational purpose
PDF
ANTIBIOTICS.pptx.pdf………………… xxxxxxxxxxxxx
PDF
TR - Agricultural Crops Production NC III.pdf
PDF
Module 4: Burden of Disease Tutorial Slides S2 2025
PDF
RMMM.pdf make it easy to upload and study
PDF
Computing-Curriculum for Schools in Ghana
PPTX
GDM (1) (1).pptx small presentation for students
PPTX
IMMUNITY IMMUNITY refers to protection against infection, and the immune syst...
PDF
Complications of Minimal Access Surgery at WLH
Introduction_to_Human_Anatomy_and_Physiology_for_B.Pharm.pptx
Abdominal Access Techniques with Prof. Dr. R K Mishra
The Lost Whites of Pakistan by Jahanzaib Mughal.pdf
1st Inaugural Professorial Lecture held on 19th February 2020 (Governance and...
2.FourierTransform-ShortQuestionswithAnswers.pdf
Physiotherapy_for_Respiratory_and_Cardiac_Problems WEBBER.pdf
Supply Chain Operations Speaking Notes -ICLT Program
Pre independence Education in Inndia.pdf
Classroom Observation Tools for Teachers
PPH.pptx obstetrics and gynecology in nursing
Final Presentation General Medicine 03-08-2024.pptx
Basic Mud Logging Guide for educational purpose
ANTIBIOTICS.pptx.pdf………………… xxxxxxxxxxxxx
TR - Agricultural Crops Production NC III.pdf
Module 4: Burden of Disease Tutorial Slides S2 2025
RMMM.pdf make it easy to upload and study
Computing-Curriculum for Schools in Ghana
GDM (1) (1).pptx small presentation for students
IMMUNITY IMMUNITY refers to protection against infection, and the immune syst...
Complications of Minimal Access Surgery at WLH
Ad

Lecture 4 presentation for the class medical devices

  • 1. Medical devices • Medical devices can be grouped according to the three areas of medicine: • Diagnosis – diagnostic devices • Therapy – therapeutic devices – application of energy • Rehabilitation – Application of Assisting orthotic-prosthetic devices
  • 2. Diagnostic devices • Types of diagnostic devices – recording and monitoring devices – measurement and analysis devices – imaging devices • importance of diagnostic devices – enhance and extend the five human senses to improve to collect data from the patient for diagnosis – the perception of the physician can be improved by diagnostic instrumentation in many ways: • amplify human senses • place the observer's senses in inaccessible environments • provide new senses
  • 3. Therapeutic devices • Objective of therapeutic devices: – deliver physical substances to the body to treat disease • Physical substances: – Voltage, current – Pressure – Flow – Force – Ultrasound – Electromagnetic radiation – Heat • Therapeutic device categories: – devices used to treat disorders – devices to assist or control the physiological functions
  • 4. Assistive or rehabilitative devices • Objective of rehabilitative devices – to assist individuals with a disability • The disability can be connected to the troubles to – perform activities of daily living – limitations in mobility – communications disorders and – sensory disabilities • Types of rehabilitative devices – Orthopedic devices • An orthopedic device is an appliance that aids an existing function – Prosthetic devices • A prosthesis provides a substitute
  • 5. Some characteristics of BMI • methods and devices are used to solve medical problems – problems are difficult, diverse, and complex – solution alternatives are limited and specific to a certain problem • Therefore we must know – what we are measuring or studying – what we are treating – which methodologies are available and applicable
  • 6. Some characteristics of BMI • deals with biological tissues, organs and organ systems and their properties and functions • bio-phenomena: – bioelectricity, biochemistry, biomechanics, biophysics • requires their deep understanding and analysis • Accessibility of data is limited, • Interface between tissue and instrumentation is needed • Procedures: – non-invasive – minimally invasive – invasive
  • 7. Physiological measurements • important application of medical devices – physiological measurements and recordings • important for biomedical engineer – to understand the technology used in these recordings but also – the basic principles and methods of the physiological recordings • medical fields where physiological recordings play an important role – clinical physiology – clinical neurophysiology – cardiology – intensive care, surgery
  • 8. important physiological parameters recorded • parameters related to cardiovascular dynamics: – blood pressure – blood flow – blood volumes, cardiac output • biopotentials: – electrocardiogram (ECG), – electroencephalogram (EEG), – electromyogram (EMG) • respiratory parameters: – lung volumes and capacities, – air flow • blood gases: – pressures of blood gases – oxygen saturation – pH and other ions
  • 9. Biomedical Instrumentation • Diagnosis and therapy depend heavily on the use of medical instrumentation. • Medical procedures: Medicine can be defined as a multistep procedure on an individual by a physician, group of physician, or an institute, repeated until the symptoms disappear
  • 10. The Importance of Biomedical Instrumentation • Medical procedure 1 Collection of data - qualitative and/or quantitative 2 Analysis of data 3 Decision making 4 Treatment planning based on the decision
  • 11. Biomedical Instrumentation System • All biomedical instruments must interface with biological materials. That interface can be by direct contact or by indirect contact
  • 12. Components of BM Instrumentation System… • A sensor – Detects biochemical, bioelectrical, or biophysical parameters – Provides a safe interface with biological materials • An actuator – Delivers external agents via direct or indirect contact – Controls biochemical, bioelectrical, or biophysical parameters – Provides a safe interface with biologic materials
  • 13. …Components of BM Instrumentation System… • The electronics interface – Matches electrical characteristics of the sensor/actuator with computation unit – Preserves signal to noise ratio of sensor – Preserves efficiency of actuator – Preserves bandwidth (i.e., time response) of sensor/actuator – Provides a safe interface with the sensor/actuator – Provides a safe interface with the computation unit – Provides secondary signal processing functions for the system
  • 14. …Components of BM Instrumentation System • The computation unit – provides primary user interface – provides primary control for the overall system – provides data storage for the system – provides primary signal processing functions for the system – maintains safe operation of the overall system
  • 15. Problems Encountered in Measuring a Living System • Many crucial variables in living systems are inaccessible. • Variables measured are seldom deterministic. • Nearly all biomedical measurements depend on the energy. • Operation of instruments in the medical environment imposes important additional constraints.
  • 16. The scientific method… • In the scientific method, a hypothesis is tested by experiment to determine its validity. Problem statem ent Review prior work State hypothesis Perform experim ents Design further experim ents Analyze data Final conclusions More experim ents necessary Problem solved
  • 17. …The scientific method • In the scientific method, a hypothesis is tested by experiment to determine its validity. – For example, we might hypothesize that exercise reduces high blood pressure yet experimentation and analysis are needed to support or refuse the hypothesis. • Experiments are normally performed multiple times. Then the results can be analyzed statistically to determine the probability that the results might have been produced by chance. • Results are reported in scientific journals with enough detail so that others can replicate the experiment to confirm them.
  • 18. Clinical diagnoses • Physicians often need instrumentation to obtain data as part of the scientific method. – For example, a physician obtaining the history of a patient with a complaint of poor vision would list diabetes as one possibility on a differential diagnosis. Chief com plaint Obtain history List the differential diagnosis Exam ination and tests Select further tests Use data to narrow the diagnosis Final diagnosis More than one likely Only one likely Treatm ent and evaluation
  • 19. Feedback in measurement systems… • Figure shows that the measurand is measured by a sensor converting the variable to an electrical signal, which can undergo signal processing. Sometimes the measurement system provides feedback through an effector to the subject. Sensor Data com m unication Data displays Effector Measurand Signal conditioning Signal processing Data storage Feedback Outputs
  • 20. …Feedback in measurement systems • Figure (a) shows that a patient reading an instrument usually lacks sufficient knowledge to achieve the correct diagnosis. • Figure (b) shows that by adding the clinician to form an effective feedback system, the correct diagnosis and treatment result. (a) (b) Instrum ent Patient Instrum ent Patient Clinician
  • 21. …Feedback in measurement systems • In certain circumstances, proper training of the patient and a well-designed instrument can lead to self-monitoring and self- control (one of the goals of bioinstrumentation). – An example of such a situation is the day-to-day monitoring of glucose by people suffering from diabetes. Such an individual will contact a clinician if there is an alert from the monitoring instrument. Instrum ent Patient Clinician Abnorm al readings
  • 22. Classifications of Biomedical Instruments • The sensed quantity • The principle of transduction • The organ system for measurement • The clinical medicine specialties • Based on the activities involved in the medical care, medical instrumentation may be divided into three categories: – Diagnostic devices – Therapeutic devices – Monitoring devices
  • 24. …Generalized Medical Instrumentation System… • Measurand – Physical quantity, property, or condition that the system measures • Biopotantial • Pressure • Flow • Dimension (imaging) • Displacement (velocity, acceleration, and force) • Impedance • Temperature • Chemical concentrations
  • 25. …Generalized Medical Instrumentation System… Measurement Range Frequency, Hz Method Blood flow 1 to 300 mL/s 0 to 20 Electromagnetic or ultrasonic Blood pressure 0 to 400 mmHg 0 to 50 Cuff or strain gage Cardiac output 4 to 25 L/min 0 to 20 Fick, dye dilution Electrocardiography 0.5 to 4 mV 0.05 to 150 Skin electrodes Electroencephalography 5 to 300  V 0.5 to 150 Scalp electrodes Electromyography 0.1 to 5 mV 0 to 10000 Needle electrodes Electroretinography 0 to 900  V 0 to 50 Contact lens electrodes pH 3 to 13 pH units 0 to 1 pH electrode pCO2 40 to 100 mmHg 0 to 2 pCO2 electrode pO2 30 to 100 mmHg 0 to 2 pO2 electrode Pneumotachography 0 to 600 L/min 0 to 40 Pneumotachometer Respiratory rate 2 to 50 breaths/min 0.1 to 10 Impedance Temperature 32 to 40 °C 0 to 0.1 Thermistor
  • 26. …Generalized Medical Instrumentation System… • Sensor – Converts a physical measurand to an electrical output • Should respond only to the form of energy present in the measurand • Should be minimally invasive (ideally noninvasive)
  • 27. …Generalized Medical Instrumentation System… • The specifications for a typical blood pressure sensor. – Sensor specifications for blood pressure sensors are determined by a committee composed of individuals from academia, industry, hospitals, and government Specification Value Pressure range –30 to +300 mmHg Overpressure without damage –400 to +4000 mmHg Maximum unbalance ±75 mmHg Linearity and hysteresis ± 2% of reading or ± 1 mmHg Risk current at 120 V 10 A Defibrillator withstand 360 J into 50 
  • 28. …Generalized Medical Instrumentation System… • A hysteresis loop. – The output curve obtained when increasing the measurand is different from the output obtained when decreasing the measurand. Sensor signal Measurand
  • 29. …Generalized Medical Instrumentation System… • (a) A low-sensitivity sensor has low gain. (b) A high sensitivity sensor has high gain. (a)(b) Sensor signal Measurand Sensor signal Measurand
  • 30. …Generalized Medical Instrumentation System… • Most sensors are analog and provide a continuous range of amplitude values for output (a). • Other sensors yield the digital output (b). – Digital output has poorer resolution, but does not require conversion before being input to digital computers and is more immune to interference (a) (b) Tim e Amplitude Tim e Am plitude
  • 31. …Generalized Medical Instrumentation System… • Bioinstrumentation should be designed with a specific signal in mind. – Table shows a few specifications for an electrocardiograph – The values of the specifications, which have been agreed upon by a committee, are drawn from research, hospitals, industry, and government. Specification Value Input signal dynamic range ±5 mV Dc offset voltage ±300 mV Slew rate 320 mV/s Frequency response 0.05 to 150 Hz Input impedance at 10 Hz 2.5 M Dc lead current 0.1 A Return time after lead switch 1 s Overload voltage without damage 5000 V Risk current at 120 V 10 A
  • 32. …Generalized Medical Instrumentation System… (a) An input signal which exceeds the dynamic range. (b) The resulting amplified signal is saturated at 1 V. (a) (b) Time Amplitude 5 mV -5 mV Dynamic Range Time Amplitude 1 V -1 V
  • 33. …Generalized Medical Instrumentation System… • DC offset voltage is the amount a signal may be moved from its baseline and still be amplified properly by the system. Figure shows an input signal without (a) and with (b) offset. Time Amplitude (a) Tim e Am plitude Dc offset (b)
  • 34. …Generalized Medical Instrumentation System… • The frequency response of a device is the range of frequencies of a measurand that it can handle. • Frequency response is usually plotted as gain versus frequency. • Figure shows Frequency response of the electrocardiograph. 0.05 Hz 150 Hz Frequency Amplitude 1.0 0.1
  • 35. …Generalized Medical Instrumentation System… • Linearity is highly desirable for simplifying signal processing (a) A linear system fits the equation y = mx + b. (b) A nonlinear system does not fit a straight line. (a) (b) Output Input Output Input
  • 36. …Generalized Medical Instrumentation System… • All bioinstrumentation observes the measurand either continuously or periodically. However, computer-based systems require periodic measurements since by their nature, computers can only accept discrete numbers at discrete intervals of time. (a) Continuous signals have values at every instant of time. (b) Discrete-time signals are sampled periodically and do not provide values between these sampling times. (a) (b) Tim e Amplitude Tim e Amplitude
  • 37. …Generalized Medical Instrumentation System… • Signal conditioning – Amplify, filter, match the impedance of the sensor to the display – Convert analog signal to digital – Process the signal
  • 38. …Generalized Medical Instrumentation System… • Output display – Results must be displayed in a form that the human operator can perceive • Numerical, Graphical, Discrete or continuous, Permanent or temporary, Visual or acoustical • Auxiliary elements – Data storage – Data transmission – Control and feedback – Calibration signal
  • 39. …Generalized Medical Instrumentation System… • Panels and series • Certain groups of measurements are often ordered together because they are very commonly used or because they are related. • This may occur even if the measurements are based on different principles or are taken with different sensors. • Table in next slide is an example of one of these groups of measurements, which are called panels or series.
  • 40. …Generalized Medical Instrumentation System… • Complete blood count for a male subject. Laboratory test Typical value Hemoglobin 13.5 to 18 g/dL Hematocrit 40 to 54% Erythrocyte count 4.6 to 6.2  106 / L Leukocyte count 4500 to 11000/ L Differential count Neutrophil 35 to 71% Band 0 to 6% Lymphocyte 1 to 10% Monocyte 1 to 10% Eosinophil 0 to 4% Basophil 0 to 2%
  • 41. …Generalized Medical Instrumentation System • Hemoglobin is the protein which caries oxygen in the bloodstream. • Hematocrit is the percent of solid material in a given volume of blood after it has been centrifuged. • An erythrocyte is a red blood cell. • A leukocyte is a white blood cell. – The differential count tells how many of each type of white blood cell there are in one microliter of blood. – Unusual values for different leukocytes can be indicative of the immune system fighting off foreign bodies.
  • 42. Errors in measurements… • When we measure a variable, we seek to determine the true value, as shown in Figure (next slide) . • This true value may be corrupted by a variety of errors. For example – Movement of electrodes on the skin may cause an undesired added voltage called an artifact. – Electric and magnetic fields from the power lines may couple into the wires and cause an undesired added voltage called interference – Thermal voltages in the amplifier semiconductor junctions may cause an undesired added random voltage called noise. Temperature changes in the amplifier electronic components may cause undesired slow changes in voltage called drift. • We must evaluate each of these error sources to determine their size and what we can do to minimize them.
  • 43. …Errors in measurements… (a) Signals without noise are uncorrupted. (b) Interference superimposed on signals causes error. Frequency filters can be used to reduce noise and interference. (a) (b)
  • 44. …Errors in measurements… (a) Original waveform. (b) An interfering input may shift the baseline. (c) A modifying input may change the gain. (a) (b) (c)
  • 45. Accuracy and precision… • Resolution – the smallest incremental quantity that can be reliably measured. • a voltmeter with a larger number of digits has a higher resolution than one with fewer digits. – However, high resolution does not imply high accuracy. • Precision – the quality of obtaining the same output from repeated measurements from the same input under the same conditions. – High resolution implies high precision. • Repeatability – the quality of obtaining the same output from repeated measurements from the same input over a period of time.
  • 46. …Accuracy and precision… • Data points with (a) low precision and (b) high precision.
  • 47. …Accuracy and precision… • Accuracy – Generally defined as the largest expected error between actual and ideal output signals. – the difference between the true value and the measured value divided by the true value. • Obtaining the highest possible precision, repeatability, and accuracy is a major goal in bioinstrumentation design.
  • 48. …Accuracy and precision… • Data points with (a) low accuracy and (b) high accuracy
  • 49. Calibration… • Measuring instruments should be calibrated against a standard that has an accuracy 3 to 10 times better than the desired calibration accuracy. • The accuracy of the standard should be traceable to the institutions regulating the standards (National Institute of Standards and Technology, TSI, etc.) .
  • 50. Calibration… • If the instrument is linear, – its output can be set to zero for zero input. Then a one-point calibration defines the calibration curve that plots output versus input (next slide). • If the linearity is unknown, – a two-point calibration should be performed and these two points plus the zero point plotted to ensure linearity (next slide). • If the resulting curve is nonlinear, – many points should be measured and plotted to obtain the calibration curve. • If the output cannot be set to zero for zero input, – measurements should be performed at zero and full scale for linear instruments and at more points for nonlinear instruments. • Calibration curves should be obtained at several expected temperatures to determine temperature drift of the zero point and the gain.
  • 51. …Calibration (a) The one-point calibration may miss nonlinearity. (b) The two-point calibration may also miss nonlinearity. (a) (b) Output Input Output Input