Biomedical Electronics

Course
WEEK 2: LECTURE 2
BIOMEDICAL SENSORS

15 FEBRUARY 2025
PROF. AMIRA SALAH ASHOUR

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Classification/Types Biomedical sensors

of biomedical
sensors
Physical sensors Chemical sensors Others

resonant

Biomedical sensors are used in

thermal
the medical devices to Electrical
Optical Electrochemical
Photometric
gain/acquire information (Electrodes) chemical
electrochemical
about the human body.
bioluminescence

Nucleic acide-
based

nanobiosensors

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Sensed Parameters
Vital signs, chemical /gases parameters, immunological parameters

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Personal biomedical devices/sensors

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 Physical sensors
•The physical sensor can be employed to measure the blood pressure, core body
temperature, blood flux, blood viscosity, etc.

The physical sensors can be classified into:

◦ Electrical sensors, where the sensors are used to sense electrical phenomena in
the body, e.g., sensors used to pick up the ECG.

◦ Optical sensors: These sensors use light to collect information. For example, in
the case of fiber optic sensors, light is the signal transmission medium. It can
measure, e. g., temperature, pressure, and EEG.

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 Example for optical fiber biomedical sensor

Advantages of optical sensors:

1. Immune to electromagnetic
interference

2. Ultra-high sensitivity

3. Compact

4. Small size

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 Chemical sensors

oChemical biosensor is used to sense and detect the component and

concentration of body’s liquid, such as PH value, Ca+ concentration, glucose
level, blood oxygen, etc.

oElectrochemical sensor is used to measure the chemical concentration, or

activities based on chemical reactions that interact with electrical systems.

oPhotometric chemical sensor is an optical device that detect chemical

concentrations based on changes in light transmission, or reflection.

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 Sensor Characteristics
(How to select the appropriate sensor? )
Measurement range
◦ The minimum and maximum operation limits that sensor is expected to measure.

Sensitivity
◦ The ratio of output change for a given input change.

Resolution
◦ The smallest distinguishable input change that can be detected. (Compare between the sensitivity
and resolution?!)

Frequency response
◦ The variation of the sensitivity with frequency.

Linearity
◦ The maximum deviation of the measured response to a straight line. It shows the consistency of the measurement over
the entire range of measurement.
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Sensor C/Cs (How to select sensor )

Stability
◦ The capacity of a sensor to produce repeatable response performance over time.
Precision
◦ The degree of repeatability of a measurement under the same conditions.
Accuracy
◦ The difference between the true value and the actual value measured by sensor.
Offset
◦ The output value when the input value is zero.
Response time
o The time it takes a sensor to reach a percent of its final steady state value when input of sensor is changed.
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Common Biosignals

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Electrocardiogram (ECG)

•It is the graphical recording of the electrical activity of the heart over a period.

•It is usually recorded by a set of surface electrodes placed on the thorax.

•The ECG can be measured as a multi- or single- channel signal, depending on

the application.

• During regular measurement of standard clinical ECG, 12 different leads

(channels) are recorded from the body surface.
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ECG applications
➢An ECG can be used to measure:

◦ The rate and rhythm of the heart-beats.

◦ The size and position of the heart chambers.

◦ The presence of any damage to the heart muscle cells.

◦ The effect of cardiac drugs.

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 ECG waveform
➢A typical ECG beat mainly has 5 different waves (P, QRS, T, U and B):

◦ P wave: Atrial depolarization

◦ QRS complex: Ventricular depolarization

◦ T wave: Ventricular repolarization

◦ U wave: Repolarization of the Purkinje fibers

◦ Baseline: Polarized state

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Traditional ECG sensors
Electrodes are placed on chest in a predetermined order.

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Electroencephalogram (EEG)

•The EEG is a physiological signal related to the brain’s electrical activity.

• Its variation depends on numerous parameters and situations, such as whether

the patient is healthy pathological, awake, asleep, calm and so on.

•This signal is recorded using electrodes placed on the scalp.

•A considerable amount of the EEG energy signal is in low frequencies (i.e.,

between 0 and 30 Hz).
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 EEG applications

➢The EEG may be used to:

◦ Detect potential brain dysfunctions, such as those causing sleep disorders.

◦ Diagnose different disorders of the nervous system, such as epilepsy.

◦ Classifying stages of sleep-in patients, seizures and brain damage.

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 Delta (δ): 0.5≤ f < 4 Hz;
• Theta (θ): 4 ≤ f < 8 Hz;

EEG Waves • Alpha (α): 8 ≤ f ≤ 13 Hz: and

• Beta (β): f > 13 Hz.
Beta I waves: frequency about twice that of the alpha waves and are
influenced in a similar way as the alpha waves.
Beta II waves appear during intense activation of the central nervous
system and during tension.

➢Theta waves: Theta

◦ 4 to 7Hz.
◦ During emotional stress.

Delta
➢Delta waves
◦ Below 3.5Hz.
◦ Deep sleep or in serious organic brain disease.

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 Delta (δ): 0.5≤ f < 4 Hz;

EEG Waves (Cont.) • Theta (θ): 4 ≤ f < 8 Hz;

• Alpha (α): 8 ≤ f ≤ 13 Hz: and
• Beta (β): f > 13 Hz.
Beta I waves: frequency about twice that of the alpha waves and
are influenced in a similar way as the alpha waves.
Beta II waves appear during intense activation of the central
nervous system and during tension.

➢Alpha: Alpha
◦ 8 to 13Hz.
◦ Normal persons are awake in a resting state.
◦ Disappear in sleep.

➢Beta: Beta
◦ 14 to 30Hz.
◦ May go up to 50Hz in intense mental activity.
◦ During intense activation of the central nervous system and during tension.

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Example of EEG signal
Recorded EEG signals:
(a) From a healthy patient (eyes open)

(b) From a healthy patient

(eyes closed)

(c) From an epileptic patient

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Traditional EEG sensors

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Wireless digital EEG
sensors

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Electromyogram (EMG)

•It is a recording of potential variations due to voluntary or involuntary muscle

activities.

•When muscles are active, they produce an electrical current.

•This current is usually proportional to the level of the muscle activity.

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EMG applications
•EMGs can be used to detect abnormal electrical activity of the muscle that can
occur in many diseases and conditions, including:

◦Muscular dystrophy
◦Inflammation of muscles
◦Pinched nerves
◦Peripheral nerve damage (damage to nerves in the arms and legs)

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Traditional EMG sensors

Example: Arm EMG acquisition

(a) electrodes position,
(b) corresponding recorded signal for
a periodic “open-close” hand
movement.

Those signals are measured using surface electromyography

(EMG). The equipment has been expensive and complicated.

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 Example of EMG sensors

•The FlexVolt can be available in Arduino,

USB, and Bluetooth configurations,
complete with sticker electrodes.

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Wearable/wireless
EMG sensor

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E-health complete set

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Biomedical Signal Processing

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Importance of biomedical signal processing

•With the aid of biomedical signal processing, physicians can monitor

distinct illnesses.
•Various medical equipment are available to diagnose variety of
diseases.
•These all are providing output based on signal processing technology.
Examples:
◦The analysis of cardiac signals.
◦The analysis of the breathing cycle.
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Biomedical signal processing

• Itis the use of signal processing methods, such as filtering,

Fourier transform, and wavelet transform, to deal with the
biomedical signals.

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Goals of biomedical signal processing
•Crucial goal of signal processing is extracting useful information from measured data
(biomedical signals).

Signal enhancement
◦ Noise reduction Signal
Signal Parameter Signal
biological transformat classification interpreted
selection
Feature extraction acquisition ion
process signal
Pattern recognition
Classification such as diagnosis
Transformed signal
Data compression Digitized signal Signal parameters

Signal conditioning

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Stages of biomedical signal processing

Signal Acquisition

Patient Amplifier & A/D

Sensor
Filter conversion

Detection

Decision Interpreted Feature Feature

Prediction
making signal selection extraction

classification Signal Analysis

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Signal Processing
Components of human instrument system
•The subject or patient
•Stimulus or activity
•Transducers
◦ electrodes, sensors

•Signal-conditioning equipment
◦ amplifier, filter

•Display equipment
◦ oscilloscopes, strip charts, computer monitors etc.

•Recording, data processing, and transmission equipment

◦ Analog instrumentation tape recorders, analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), digital-to-analog converters
(DACs), digital tapes, CDs, computers, telemetry systems etc.

•Control devices
◦ Power supply, isolation equipment, patient intervention systems.

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1-Signal Acquisition
•Signal acquisition steps:
◦ Sensors attached to a patient convert biological signals and electrical activities
into electrical signals.

◦ Filtering algorithms are used to reduce the effect of noise.

◦ A/D converters sample the signals and convert it to digital form for storage and
processing.

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1-Signal Acquisition (contd.)
•Signal acquisition can be classified into:

o Invasive, transducers or other devices are placed inside the body.

o Non-invasive, use surface electrodes, so it minimizes risk.

o Active, require external stimuli.

o Passive, no need for external stimuli.

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2-Signal Analysis
•After the sensor output filtered and digitized, there are:

oFeature extraction: extracting the parameters or features of the signal.

oFeature selection: selecting the significant parameters, features to be

studied, e. g., the duration and intensity of the ST segment of an ECG.

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3-Signal Processing

➢Signal processing, process the selected features by:

◦Detection
◦Prediction
◦Classification
➢Decision making:
◦Accomplished using the interpreted signal (the output of signal
processing stage)

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Sources of noise in biomedical systems

•Electrical or magnetic signals produced by nearby devices and power lines.

•Inaccuracies in the sensors, poor contact between sensor and source (patient).

•Disturbance from signals by physiological processes other than the one being
measured (e. g., respiration interferes with the recording of ECG).

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Difficulties of biomedical signal processing

•Difficult accessibility to the variables being measured

•Variability of the signal source
•Inter-relationship and interactions among physiological systems
•Effect of the instrumentation or procedure on the system
•Physiological artifacts and interference
•Energy limitation

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Biosignals Monitoring

▪Biosignal monitoring means time-series analysis in the medical field.

▪Biosignal monitoring and recording marks the move from point measurements to
continuous measurement in terms of time.
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 Biosignals Monitoring (contd.)

•The best-known case for biosignal monitoring is electrocardiography (ECG).

•It can be monitored with relatively simple and inexpensive devices.

• It may be recorded with 6 or 12 leads for a comprehensive diagnosis of specific heart problems
(e.g. signs of ischemia or heart attack).

•The ECG may be recorded over much longer periods of time (e.g. 24 hours) to detect and
possibly explain arrhythmias.

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A Wearable ECG Monitoring System Integrated with Built-in Kinematic
Sensors of the Smartphone
Continuous monitoring of the ECG signals over hours
combined with activity status is very important for preventing
cardiovascular diseases.

A traditional ECG holder is often inconvenient to carry

because it has many electrodes attached to the chest and
because it is heavy.

A wearable, low power context-aware ECG monitoring

system integrated built-in kinetic sensors of the smartphone
with a self-designed ECG sensor.

The wearable ECG sensor is comprised of a fully integrated

analog front-end (AFE), a commercial micro control unit
(MCU), a secure digital (SD) card, and a Bluetooth module.
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Biosignals Monitoring (contd.)

•Other examples, include blood pressure, respiration, electroencephalography (EEG),

gastrointestinal variables, and many other parameters.
•In general, biosignals may be derived either from electrical body sources with appropriate
amplification (nerves, muscles).
•Or through specific transducers (pressure, flow, tension) which may be simple (piezo elements)
or rather sophisticated signal processing systems in (oxygen saturation) themselves.
•Biosignals may be monitored in acute and intensive care environments.
• Or recorded (stored for later analysis) for diagnostic purposes.
•The recording of biosignals is now regularly done for diagnostic procedures in cardiology (ECG,
blood pressure) and in neurology/neurophysiology (EEG, EMG).

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Trends in biosignal monitoring
•The oldest and most commonly systems
follow the rule that, a single physiological
parameter is attained per single sensor (case
A).

•In comparison with case A, (case B) shows

reduced comfort but the same significance
because the assessed number of physiologic
parameters is the same.
• The common arterial blood pressure recording

•If two or more single-parameter sensors

(from case A) are applied, then obviously
multiple parameters are provided (case C). Number of physiological parameters attained versus
◦ sleep monitoring, the monitoring of many brain, cardiac,
and respiratory parameters with the use of the number of sensors needed.
corresponding single-parameter sensors.

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Trends in biosignal monitoring

Number of physiological parameters attained versus number of sensors needed. 45

Multiple sensors, Multiple parameters

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Single sensor, multiple parameters

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Portable sensors for Internet of Things ( IoT)

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Portable mIoT sensors

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Project to be delivered after the midterm exam directly
• All students to be divided into groups of 10 students maximum (ordered by their
names in the student’s list).
• Each group will assign a leader.
• A word form includes the topic title, the group leader (name, email, phone no.), and
the group members (names) should be sent through Microsoft Teams.
• Each group must prepare a report on the topic of 5-10 pages.
• Each group can prepare a PPT on the selected topic or to make a hardware circuit
(sensor) and test it and will present it showing its results.
• You can select from the following topics.

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 Proposed Topics
• Sensors
oBlood glucose sensors
oBlood oxygen sensors
oTemperature sensors
❑Groups who will select topic related to sensor with PPT, must select 2 sensors and to
oNanobiosensors introduce their applications.
oElectrooculogram ❑PPT should include Concept, Measurement electronic circuit, Advantages,
oElectromyogram Disadvantages, Applications, Commercial types
oElectrogastrogram
oPhonocardiogram
oMagentocardiogram
oMagnetoencephalogram
oElectroretinogram • Other topics
o Pacemakers
o Kidney dialysis machine
o Optical sensors in medical applications 51
 Self-evaluation
•Compare between the physical sensor and the chemical sensor?
•What are the metrics used to select the appropriate sensor?
•Draw the block diagram of the biomedical signal processing system?
•Compare between the single-parameter sensor and the multi-parameter sensor.
•What are the sources of artifacts that affects the captured biosignals?

Note
•All materials/sheets in/with the lectures and sections by the teaching
assistants are required and must be studied.
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Any Questions!!

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