Medical Instrumentation and Biomedical Signals

Biomedical instrumentation includes devices that measure electrical signals from the body. These devices use sensors to detect biological signals that are then processed and interpreted to study, diagnose, and treat patients. It is important for learners to understand the parts in a biomedical instrumentation system, and the accuracy of measurement involved.

This module will cover

• What biomedical instrumentation is
• Components of the biomedical instrumentation system
• Static and dynamic characteristics of instrumentation
• Measurement accuracy
• Measurement and development of standards

Bioelectric signals are electrical signals generated from living beings. These signals vary with time and are low in frequency and amplitude. A few examples of bioelectric signals include galvanic skin response, EEG, ECG, and EOG signals. Bioelectric signals are the measurand in the biomedical instrumentation system, as sensors will detect these signals for further processing. It is important for learners to understand the sources of bioelectric signals from the human body, and how they interface with biomedical instrumentation.

This module will cover

• What bioelectric signals are
• How biomedical signals are generated
• Man-instrument system block diagram

After biosignals are detected by sensors, transducers convert these signals into electrical signals that can be processed by the biomedical instrument. There are many different transducers used in biomedical applications. It is important for learners to understand the properties and classifications of transducers.

This module will cover

• Transducer and its characteristics
• Types of transducers
• Common transducers for physiological signals

Bioelectric signals are recorded as waveforms. Oftentimes, noise and interference disrupt these signals and result in unclear waveforms. Amplifiers such as operational amplifiers are used to increase the integrity of the biosignal. There are also filters used to reduce noise disruption. It is important for learners to understand bioelectric signals, their corresponding waveforms, and noise interruptions.

This module will cover

• ECG, EEG, EMG, EOG, ERG, PCG, PPG, EGG, Capnogram, VCG
• Biopotential electrodes and their types
• Common noise associated with biomedical signals
• Introduction to operational amplifiers (Op-amps), their characteristics, and basic configuration

As biosignals have a low amplitude, biopotential amplifiers are used to enhance the strength of the signal. By doing this, the signal can clearly be processed and recorded for interpretation. It is important for learners to understand the different biopotential amplifiers, and the signal processing involved.

This module will cover

• Biopotential amplifiers
• Signal conditioning circuits for noise processing (active filters)
• Isolation circuits
• Instrumentation amplifier ICs and analog front end ICs

The electrocardiogram (ECG) and electroencephalogram (EEG) are instruments used to measure bioelectric signals. While the ECG records bioelectric signals generated by the heart, the EEG records electrical activity in the brain. Both instruments have electrodes that are placed on the surface of the body to acquire the signals. These signals are recorded and interpreted by medical professionals for diagnostic purposes. It is important for learners to understand the working of the ECG and EEG in acquiring bioelectric signals.

This module will cover

• ECG lead configuration
• ECG machine
• Multipara monitoring system
• EEG machine
• Parameters of respiration and spirometer

The hemodialysis machine is used when a patient’s kidneys are damaged or not functional. This machine works by drawing blood out of the body and filtering it just like the kidney would. After the blood is filtered, it gets sent back inside the body. It is important for learners to understand the basics of the renal system and the process of dialysis.

This module will cover

• Dialysis
  
  • Renal system and its functions
  • What dialysis is and why it is needed
  • Glomerular filtration rate
  • Filtration factor
  • Renal clearance
• Types of renal replacement therapy
• Hemodialysis
  
  • Working principle
  • Hemodialysis machine
  • Types of hemodialysis
• Peritoneal dialysis
• Artificial kidney
• Impact on healthcare and economics

Electric impulse generators produce surges of current or voltage in the form of electric impulses. There are many devices in the healthcare industry that use these generated electric impulses for therapeutic or rehabilitative purposes. It is important for learners to understand the different biomedical applications of electric impulses, and the working of devices that generate them. 

This module will cover 

• What an electric impulse generator is 
• Cardiac pacemaker 
• Natural pacemaker of the heart 
• Cardiac arrhythmia
• Artificial pacemaker
• External and temporary pacing 
• Implantable cardiac pacemaker
• Cardiac defibrillator 
• Neuro-stimulator
• Non-invasive neurostimulation 
• Transcranial electrical stimulation 
• Invasive neurostimulation

Artificial ventilation is when patients receive support to respire. Ventilator machines are an example of this as they aid in the process of breathing when patients cannot do so themselves. Another device that provides support when breathing is an oxygen concentrator. This device provides an additional source of oxygen to patients. It is important for learners to understand the working principle of different methods of artificial ventilation and oxygen concentrators.

• This module will cover
  
  • Artificial Ventilation
    
    • What artificial ventilation is
    • Types of artificial ventilation
  • Ventilator machine
    
    • Goal of mechanical ventilation
    • Working principle of ventilator machine
    • Modes of ventilator machine
    • 10 maxims of ventilator design
    • Open-source ventiators
  • Oxygen concentrators
    
    • Oxygen therapy
    • How an oxygen concentrator works
    • Portable oxygen concentrators
    • Impact of COVID-19 pandemic
    • Manufacturers of oxygen concentrators

Biomedical instruments are also used when the heart and lungs do not function properly. These heart-lung support systems support or mimic the working of the heart and lungs in the case of life-threatening conditions, surgeries, or organ damage. It is important for learners to understand the working of biomedical instruments involved in supporting the cardiovascular and respiratory system.

This module will cover

• Cardiopulmonary bypass
  
  • What cardiopulmonary bypass is and when it is needed
  • Applications of CPB
  • Block diagram and functioning of CPB
  • Components of the heart-lung machine
• Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)
  
  • What an ECMO machine is and when it is used
  • Applications of ECMO
  • Types of ECMO
• Ventricular assist devices (VAD)
  
  • What is a VAD and when is it used
  • Application of VAD
  • Types of VAD
• Artificial heart

Medical robots are used in the medical field to perform certain actions that would otherwise have to be done by surgeons. There are different types of medical robots, each having their own role. For instance, surgical robots are used in minimally invasive medical procedures for the precision and control they bring to the table. It is important for learners to understand the basics of medical robots and the different types.

This module will cover

• Medical Robots
• Surgical Robots
• Applications of Surgical Robots
• Rehabilitation Robots
• Robotic Prosthesis
• Patient-assist Robots
• Pharmacy Automation
• Disinfection Robot
• Endoscopy Robot
• Microrobots and Nanorobots
• Clinical Training Robots

Advancements in the artificial intelligence domain have extended into the healthcare industry as there are machine learning algorithms used to study and understand medical data. However, before any medical device is released in the market, it has to be standardized and deemed safe for clinical applications. It is important for learners to understand the standards medical devices are held to, developments in the medical technology industry, and the opportunities they have in it.

This module will cover

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare
  
  • What AI is
  • Rise of AI in healthcare
  • Common AI terms
• Clinical applications of AI
• System applications of AI
• Healthcare AI in industry
• Ethical concerns in medical research
• Regulations
• Medical device classification
  
  • Indian standards
  • FDA standards
  • EU standards
• General safety and maintenance guidelines for medical devices
  
  • Need for safety and maintenance
  • Preoperation setup and calibration
  • Perioperative care
  • Postoperative cleaning
• Job roles in the healthcare field