An introduction to some of the concepts of instrumentation and their application to measurements of biological parameters. Includes: transducers, biopotential amplifiers, electrodes, biopotential signals, electrical safety, cardiovascular and respiratory measurements, and imaging.
Signals and spectra. Bandwidth requirements. Amplitude and phase distortion. Time delay considerations. The sampling theorem. The sampling of non-periodic wave shapes. White noise. Signal to noise ratio.
An introduction to the structure and physical properties of materials of importance in bioengineering; compatibility of materials with the body; mechanisms of damage and failure of implanted materials; materials selected and fabrication.
Overview of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) physics and engineering suitable for graduate students in engineering, physics, chemistry, biology or psychology. Pulse sequences; hardware design; diffusion imaging; functional MRI.
Two 3 credit-unit courses can be taken independently. Topics will be selected according to the student's specific areas of interest. They include signal analysis for the acquisition and processing of physiological data, digital and optical picture processing for medical applications, theory of bioelectrodes, biological control theory and computer simulations of biological processes (some of these topics may be presented by faculty members specializing in that particular field).
Seminars are held periodically throughout the Regular Session or as a one-day symposium. Graduate students are required to make a presentation related to their thesis work or on a course project. In addition, graduate students may be required, from time to time, to attend seminars relevant to biomedical engineering given by faculty or visiting scientists in other departments. Students must enroll throughout their program.