Biomedical Instrumentation: An
Introduction
What is Biomedical Instrumentation?
Biomedical instrumentation refers to the application of technology and
knowledge to address challenges related to living biological systems,
especially in medical diagnosis, treatment, and disease prevention. This
field combines engineering principles with medical science to develop
devices and techniques for measuring and analyzing biological signals
(such as ECG and EMG) that the human body generates. The
instruments help medical professionals diagnose and treat patients by
capturing these biological signals and converting them into a form that
can be interpreted, usually through electronic and measurement
technologies.
Components of a Biomedical Instrumentation System
Any biomedical instrumentation system typically consists of the
following fundamental parts:
1. Measurand
This is the physical quantity being measured, such as bio-signals from
the body like blood pressure or electrical activity. The body acts as the
source for this measurand.
2. Sensor/Transducer
A transducer converts one form of energy (usually biological or
mechanical) into electrical signals. For example, piezoelectric
transducers convert mechanical vibrations into electrical signals.
3. Signal Conditioner
Signal conditioning circuits amplify, filter, and convert the signal from
the transducer into a usable electrical value, preparing it for display or
further analysis.
4. Display
The display provides a visual (or sometimes audio) representation of
the measured data, such as on a cathode ray oscilloscope (CRO) or chart
recorder.
5. Data Storage and Transmission
Data storage retains the recorded information for future reference,
while data transmission allows remote access to the signals, especially
in telemedicine systems.
Types of Biomedical Instrumentation Systems
Types of Biomedical Instrumentation Systems
• Direct I Indirect
• Invasive I Noninvasive
• Contact I Remote
• Sense I Actuate
• Dynamic I Static
Direct/Indirect: The sensing system measure a physiologic parameter
directly, such as the average volume blood flow in an artery, or measures a
parameter related to the physiologic parameter of interest (e.g., ECG
recording at the body surface is related to propagation of the action potential
in the heart but is not a measurement of the propagation waveform).
Invasive/Noninvasive: Direct electrical recording of the action potential in
nerve fibers using an implantable electrode system is an example of an
invasive sensor. An imaging system measuring blood flow dynamics in an
artery (e.g., ultrasound color flow imaging of the carotid artery) is an
example of an anon-invasive sensor.
Contact/Remote
Contact systems require physical connection to the body, while remote
systems, like infrared thermometers, measure from a distance.
Sense/Actuate
Some systems only sense biological signals, while others can also actuate or
stimulate tissues, like pacemakers.
Dynamic/Static
Dynamic systems monitor changing physiological parameters, while static
systems measure constant parameters.
