Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Biomedical Instrumentation
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, English
Teaching staff
A face-to-face meeting with the teacher can be arranged by writing an email.
Introduction
This subject will provide the principles of operation of the most frequently used electronic instruments in the medical field, whether in a hospital environment, dental clinic and physiotherapy rehabilitation room.
Notions of the general safety standards for equipment used in medical practice will also be given, in addition to the particular standards of each equipment.
Pre-course requirements
Be studying fundamentals and electronic systems
Objectives
- Obtain an overview of the principles and measurement methods used in biomedical equipment.
- Estimate uncertainty in the measurement of physiological variables.
- Provide examples of monitoring, diagnosis, therapy and replacement equipment in different medical areas (medicine, nursing, physiotherapy, dentistry ..).
- Give criteria to understand and critically analyze the specifications of biomedical equipment.
- Know how to value different technological alternatives and be able to develop ideas of new electronic instruments with medical application.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- CN01 - Describe aspects related to bioengineering based on subject-specific books together with scientific publications at the forefront of knowledge.
- HB12 - Evaluate manufacturing systems and processes, metrology and quality control.
- HB13 - Apply the principles of electronics, sensors, conditioners and biomedical signal acquisition systems, individually and in an integrated way
Learning outcomes of the subject
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
• Distinguish signal processing electronics from electrical energy conversion electronics.
• Describe basic electronic components, the general structure of an electronic system, and the basic functions performed within it.
• List the sensors used in biomedical applications, as well as analyze and interpret them.
• Differentiate between a combinational system and a sequential system.
• Describe various combinational blocks, sequential blocks, and the operational amplifier.
• Define negative and positive feedback in an amplifier.
• Describe linear and nonlinear operators.
Syllabus
Block 1: Basic concepts of biomedical instrumentation.
- Basic definitions
- General structure of a measurement system
- Main human physiological parameters: range and typical values
- Historical review-Classification of biomedical instrumentation
Block 2: Basic sensors and transducers in biomedicine.
- Electrobiological phenomena
- Biomedical electrodes: Equivalent circuit and electrode behavior
Block 3: Diagnostic equipment, monitoring and replacement. Classification by systems
- Cardiovascular system
- Blood pressure measurements
- Auscultation and sonocardiography
- ECG
- Blood gas measurements
- Defibrillator and / or cardioverter
- Cardiac stimulation, pacemaker
- Respiratory system
- Respiratory flow and respiratory volume
- Spirometry, impedance plethysmography
- Oximetry, capnographers
- Temporary replacement systems: Respirators
- Neurological system
- Brain biopotentials: EEG
- Magnetoencephalography
- Brain stimulation
- Renal System
- Urodynamic analyzers
- Muscular system
- EMG
- Digestive system and excretor
- Electrogastrogram
- Esophageal Motility Analyzers
Block 4: Surgery and Therapy Equipment
- Anesthesiology
- Anesthesia and analgesia
- Control parameters
- Anesthetic gases and supply by respirators
- Open, closed and semi-closed systems
- Intravenous anesthesia
- Surgery
- Scalping vs electro-scalpel, ultrasonic scalpel
- Electrocautery
- Laser applications
- Return failures
- Isolated output vs ground reference output
- Clinical analysis
- Generalities: concept, processes, samples that are analyzed
- Minimum equipment according to the specialty
- accessories
- Minimum personal protection equipment
- Physiotherapy
- Electrostimulation: iontophoresis, electroanalgesia, other uses and equipment
- Odontology
- Instrumental endodontics and periodontics: Apical locator, Micromotor, Electronic periodontal probe
- General dentistry: Intraoral photography, Turbine, contra-angle and handpiece, Cavitrón
- X-ray instruments: Sensor, Orthopantomography, Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT)
- Implants and prostheses: Osstell, Intraoral Scanner
- Surgeries: Electric scalpel, Micromotor
Block 5: Safety of electrical equipment
- Physiological effects of electric current
- Macroshock, microshock
- Associated risks, factors that increase the risks
- Standards, general concepts
- Applicable standards according to measurement system (respiratory, cardiovascular, anesthesia, renal, neonatology ...)
Teaching and learning activities
In person
Apart from the theory necessary to acquire the basic concepts of electronic instrumentation, a group work will be carried out focused on working on the concepts given in class.
Compulsory practices will also be carried out, in which different biomedical equipment explained in class will be discussed, and they will learn to use them.
Interdisciplinary practices with dentistry, nursing and physiotherapy will be carried out.
A mandatory course with DEA certification will be held and will also be included in the evaluation.
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
The student's grade will be:
First call
Final grade = 0.4 Final exam + 0.3 Partial exam + 0.3 Practices
Second call
Final grade = 0.6 Second call exam + 0.3 Practices + 0.1 Final work course
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS:
Pass Requirements:
- The minimum score of the partial and final exam will be a 4 to average with the rest of the continuous evaluation.
-A minimum average of 5 between the partial and final examinations is required to pass the course. Students with a lower average are required to attend the Retake Exam.
- Repeater students will have to do all the activities again.
- Foreign and exchange students (Erasmus and others) will be subject to the same conditions as the rest of the students. This is especially relevant regarding the calendar, exam dates and the evaluation system.
Important considerations:
- Plagiarism, copying or any other action that may be considered cheating will be zero in that evaluation section. Besides, plagiarism during exams will mean the immediate failing of the whole subject.
- In the second-sitting exams, the maximum grade students will be able to obtain is "Excellent" (grade with honors distinction will not be posible).
- Changes of the calendar, exam dates or the evaluation system will not be accepted.
- Exchange students (Erasmus and others) or repeaters will be subjected to the same conditions as the rest of the students.
Important considerations
- Plagiarism, copying or any other form of academic dishonesty will result in a grade of zero for the corresponding component.
- If academic dishonesty is detected during an exam, it will result in the immediate failure of the course, with no chance of resitting.
- The use of artificial intelligence tools for the completion of assessment activities is strictly prohibited, except where their use is expressly authorized by the lecturer as part of the activity.
- The use or possession of electronic devices (mobile phones, smartwatches, earbuds, etc.) during exams is strictly prohibited.
Mere possession, even if the device is turned off, will be considered an attempt to cheat.
- If this occurs during the first call, it will result in the automatic failure of the exam, and the student will be required to attend the second call.
- If it occurs during the second call, it will result in the definitive failure of the course, and the student must re-enrol in the next academic year.
- No changes to the academic calendar, exam dates or evaluation system will be accepted under any circumstances.
- Exchange students (Erasmus or others) and repeaters are subject to the same evaluation and attendance conditions as all other students.
Bibliography and resources
| Title | The Biomedical Engineering Handbook |
| Author | J.D. Bronzino |
| Editor | CRC/IEEE Press, 1995 |
| ISBN | 0-8493-2122-0 |
| Num. of pages | 1404 pages |
| Title | Medical Instrumentation Application and Design, 4th Edition |
| Author | John G. Webster |
| Editor | Wiley Global Education, 2009 |
| ISBN | 1118312856, 9781118312858 |
| Num. of pages | 713 pages |
| Title | Design of Medical Electronic Devices |
| Author | Reinaldo Perez |
| Editor | Academic Press |
| ISBN | 9780125507110, 0125507119 |
| Num. of pages | 296 pages |
Evaluation period
- E1 09/01/2026 A10 09:00h