Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Biomedical Devices and Bioengineering
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, Spanish
Teaching staff
For any query, send an email to the following address:
Alejandro Portela Otaño aeportela@uic.es
Introduction
This course will provide the principles of operation of the most frequently used electronic instruments in the medical field, whether in a hospital environment, dental clinic or physiotherapy rehabilitation room.
It will also provide notions of the general safety standards for equipment used in medical practice, in addition to the particular standards for each piece of equipment.
Pre-course requirements
There is no requirement to have taken previous degree courses.
Objectives
- Obtain an overview of the principles and methods of measurement used in biomedical equipment.
- Provide examples of monitoring, diagnostic, therapeutic and replacement equipment in different medical areas (medicine, nursing, physiotherapy, dentistry...).
- To provide criteria for understanding and critically analysing the specifications of biomedical equipment.
- To know how to evaluate different technological alternatives and to be able to develop ideas for new electronic instruments with medical applications.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- CB01 - Students must demonstrate that they have and understand knowledge in an area of study that is based on general secondary education, and it tends to be found at a level that, although it is based on advanced textbooks, also includes some aspects that involve knowledge from the cutting-edge of their field of study.
- CB03 - Students must have the ability to bring together and interpret significant data (normally within their area of study) to issue judgements that include a reflection on significant issues of a social, scientific and ethical nature.
- CB04 - That students can transmit information, ideas, problems and solutions to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
- CE16 - To identify and know how to apply the instrumental and experimental techniques from disciplines in the field of Biomedical Sciences, as well as the technology related to the biomedical, healthcare and industrial fields.
- CG03 - To use and critically value biomedical techniques.
- CG07 - To incorporate basic concepts related to the field of biomedicine both at a theoretical and an experimental level.
- CT01 - To develop the organisational and planning skills that are suitable in each moment.
- CT02 - To develop the ability to resolve problems.
- CT03 - To develop analytical and summarising skills.
- CT04 - To interpret experimental results and identify consistent and inconsistent elements.
- CT05 - To use the internet as a means of communication and a source of information.
- CT06 - To know how to communicate, give presentations and write up scientific reports.
- CT07 - To be capable of working in a team.
- CT08 - To reason and evaluate situations and results from a critical and constructive point of view.
- CT09 - To have the ability to develop interpersonal skills.
- CT10 - To be capable of autonomous learning.
- CT11 - To apply theoretical knowledge to practice.
- CT12 - To apply scientific method.
- CT13 - To be aware of the general and specific aspects related to the field of nutrition and ageing.
- CT14 - To respect the fundamental rights of equality between men and women, and the promotion of human rights and the values that are specific to a culture of peace and democratic values.
Learning outcomes of the subject
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
Understand all the areas where a biomedicine graduate can collaborate with engineering specialities.
Be familiar with electronic devices that can be found in professional life and their basic functionalities.
Be able to calculate the basic parameters of measuring instruments and be able to classify them.
Understand the health risks involved in these devices and the requirements to ensure that they do not represent a danger to public health.
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.
- Physical principles in biomedical transducers
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 pacing, pacemaker
- Respiratory system
Respiratory flow and respiratory volume
Spirometry, rhinometry, impedance plethysmography
Oximetry, capnography
Temporary replacement systems: Respirators
- Neurological and muscular system
Brain biopotentials: EEG
Magnetoencephalography
Brain stimulation: electroshock
EMG
- Digestive and excretory system
Imaging techniques for diagnostics
Electrogastrogram
Block 4: Laboratory equipment and in-vitro analysis
- Lateral Flow Tests (LFA)
- Principles of Lab-on-a-Chip
Block 5: Surgery, Dentistry, and Electrical Safety
- Surgery and Anesthesiology
electrosurgical unit, ultrasonic scalpel
Components and monitoring of anesthesia
- Odontology
Endodontic and periodontic instruments: Apical locator, Micromotor, Electronic periodontal probe
General Dentistry: Intraoral photography, Turbine, contra-angle, and handpiece, Cavitron
X-ray instruments: Sensor, Orthopantomography, Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT)
Implants and prosthetics: Osstell, intraoral scanner
- Physiological effects of electric current
- Macroshock, microshock
- Associated risks, factors that increase the risks
Teaching and learning activities
In person
In addition to the master classes (theory) necessary to acquire the basic concepts of electronic instrumentation, compulsory group practicals are carried out, focused on working on the concepts and medical equipment given in class.
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Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
The student's grade will be:
First call
Final Grade = 0,4 Partial Exam + 0,4 Final Exam + 0,2 Practical/Class Work
Second sitting
Final Grade = 0,7 Second Round Exam + 0,3 Practicals/Class Work
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS:
- The minimum mark for the partial exam will be a 4 in order to average with the rest of the continuous assessment. There won't be a second call for the partial exam.
- The minimum mark for the final exam (both 1st and 2nd call) will be a 4 in order to make an average with the rest of the continuous assessment.
- The minimum grade of the average of the exams (final + partial) will be a 5 to make an average with the rest of the continuous evaluation. If the average of the exams is not equal to or greater than 5, the student must take the exam of the second call.
- The exams will mostly consist of questions with multiple-choice answers, the correct answer may include more than one of the options presented. Errors in the selection of answers will be penalized by subtracting tenths for each error. The exams will also include development/schematic representation questions.
- The minimum mark for the Practical/Class works will be a 5 in order to average with the rest of the continuous assessment.
- Attendance to practical sessions is mandatory to be included in the correspondence group's report. These sessions can NOT be repeated in case of absence unless it is approved by the professor.
- Repeating students will have to retake all the activities.
- Foreign and exchange students (Erasmus and others) will be subject to the same conditions as the rest of the students.
This is particularly relevant with regard to the timetable, exam dates, and the evaluation system.
Important considerations:
- Plagiarism, copying or any other action that could be considered cheating will result in a zero in that section of the evaluation. Doing so in the exams will result in immediate failure of the subject.
- In the second sitting the grade of "Honours" cannot be obtained, so the maximum grade will be "Excellent".
- No changes will be accepted in the timetable, dates of exams or in the evaluation system.
- Exchange students (Erasmus and others) or repeaters will be subject to the same conditions as the rest of the students.
Bibliography and resources
|
Titulo |
The Biomedical Engineering Handbook |
|
Autor |
J.D. Bronzino |
|
Editor |
CRC/IEEE Press, 1995 |
|
ISBN |
0-8493-2122-0 |
|
No. de páginas |
1404 páginas |
|
Titulo |
Medical Instrumentation Application and Design, 4th Edition |
|
Autor |
John G. Webster |
|
Editor |
Wiley Global Education, 2009 |
|
ISBN |
1118312856, 9781118312858 |
|
No. de páginas |
713 páginas |
|
Titulo |
Design of Medical Electronic Devices |
|
Autor |
Reinaldo Perez |
|
Editor |
Academic Press |
|
ISBN |
9780125507110, 0125507119 |
|
No. de páginas |
296 páginas |
Evaluation period
- E1 20/01/2025 A10 14:00h
- R1 30/01/2025 11:00h
- E2 17/06/2025 A04 16:00h