BASICS OF MEDICAL

INSTRUMENTATION
Sonia Contreras Ortiz, PhD
Bioinstrumentation system

 Sensor: converts a physical measurand to an electric signal.

 Signal conditioning: to amplify, filter or match impedances
 Output display: presents the results in a form that the
operator can interpret them.
Classification of medical instruments

Quantity that is Principle of Clinical medical

sensed transduction specialty
Pressure Resistive Pediatrics
Flow Inductive Obstetrics
Temperature Capacitive Cardiology
Ultrasonic Radiology
Electrochemical
Example
 Types of input signals:
 Desired inputs: measurements
that the instrument is designed
to isolate (ECG)
 Interfering inputs: quantities
that inadvertedly affect the
instrument due to the
principles used to acquire and
process the signals (60Hz
power supply)
 Modifying inputs: undesired
quantities that alter the
performance of the instrument
(orientation of cables)
Compensation techniques
 Inherent sensitivity: when the components are sensitive
only to desired inputs. Ejm: twisting or shielding electrode
wires
 Negative feedback: improves performance of the
amplifiers, the disadvantages are that negative feedback
reduces gain and may cause inestability.
 Signal filtering: it include input filters (analog or other
type) and output filtering (usually digital)
Static characteristics
 Accuracy: it is the difference between the true value and
the measured value divided by the true value. Accuracy is
a measure of the total error without regard to the type
or source of error.
 Precision: is related to the number of distinguishable
alternatives from which a given result is selected
Static characteristics
 Resolution: is the smallest incremental quantity that can
be measured with certainty
 Reproducibility: is the ability of an instrument to give the
same output for equal inputs applied over some period of
time
 Statistical control: ensures that random variations in
measured quantities that result from all factors that
influence the measurement process are tolerable. Any
sistematic errors or bias can be removed by calibration
and correction factors, but random variations pose a
more difficult problem.
Static characteristics
 Sensitivity: is the ratio of the incremental output quantity
to the incremental input quantity.
 Zero drift: occurs when all output values increase or
dicrease by the same amount
Static characteristics
 Sensitivity drift: results when the slope of the calibration
curve changes
 Linearity: a system is linear if it meets two requirements:
 If y1 is the response of x1, and y2 the response of x2, y1+y2 is
the response of x1+x2
 Ky1 is the response of Kx1
 Input ranges. Minimal resolvable inputs impose a lower
bound on the quantity to be measured. The maximal
operating range is the largest input that does not damage
the instrument.
Physiological parameters
Medical equipment development
Exercises
1. Define
 Sensor
 Electrode
 Transducer
 Real time processing
 Accuracy
 Precision
 Resolution
 Repeatability
 Robustness
 Reliability
Excercises
 Read Webster chapter 1 and solve the problems at the
end.