BIO-MEDICAL

INSTRUMENTATION
 INSTRUMENTATION:
Devices that can be used to make a
measurement and give quantitative (or
sometimes qualitative) results.

 BIO-MEDICAL INSTRUMENTATION:
Devices that can be used to make
measurements of biologic or medical
quantities and give quantitative
(or sometimes quality).
UNIT-3:TRANSDUCERS

Transducers – Types - Active transducers -

Magnetic Induction type -Piezoelectric type -
Photovoltaic type - Thermoelectric type - Passive
transducers - Resistive transducer - Strain gauge –
Photoresistor –Thermistor - Metallic wire
transducers - Capacitive transducers -Inductive
transducers - LVDT
What is Bio-medical Transducer?
Non-electrical(mechanical) parameters such as
temperature, heart sound, blood pressure are
measured from the human body with electronic
equipment(electrical parameter).
Transducers are the devices that convert
biological parameters to electrical signals. The
process of conversion is Transduction. Generally,
transducers convert one form of energy into
another form of energy.
Transducers: Definition:
 The transducer is a device which detects
(or) senses the Bio-signal and converts one
form of energy into another form.
 Different types of Transducers
Transducers

BASED ON WORKING BASED ON QUANTITY TO BE

BASED ON CHARACTERISTICS
PRINCIPLE MEASURE

Resistive Displacement
Active and Passive Transducer Transducer

Inductive
Pressure or Force
Analog and Digital Transducer
Transducer

Primary and Capacitive

Transducer Temperature
Secondary Transducer

Transducer Miscellaneous Flow

and Inverse Transducer Transducer
Two Main types:

(i) Active Transducers:

 It converts one form of energy into another form without using an external power source. Example: Photovoltaic cell. It
converts light energy(Non-electrical) into electrical energy.
 Types of Active Transducers:
Magnetic Induction Type
Piezoelectric Type
Photovoltaic Type
Thermoelectric Type

(ii) Passive Transducers:

 It converts one form of energy into another form with the help of an external power source. It utilizes the principle of
controlling DC voltage or AC carrier signal. Example: Strain Gauge, Load cell.
 Types of Passive Transducers
Resistive Type
Inductive type
Capacitive Type
Strain gauge,
Photoresistor,
Thermister,
Metallic wire Transducers,
LVDT
Active Transducers

Magnetic Induction Type Transducers:

When an electrical conductor moves in a magnetic field, it changes the
magnetic flux through the conductor. This produces a voltage, which is
proportional to the rate of change of flux. Induced EMF is given as
e=-BxlxV
here B is the magnetic induction, l is the length of the conductor, and V
is the velocity of the moving conductor.
 The negative sign indicates that the direction of induced EMF and the direction of induced current are in the opposite
direction.

The inverse magnetic effect is also true. When current passes through the electrical conductor placed in the magnetic
field, mechanical force F acts on the conductor.

Applications Magnetic Induction Type Transducers:

 Electromagnetic flow meter
 Heart sound Microphones
 Indicating instruments
 Pen motor in biomedical recorders
Piezoelectric Transducers:

When compression or tension is applied to the crystal along the mechanical axis(y-
axis), charge separation occurs in the crystals.
This produces electrical voltage along the electrical axis(x-axis) of the crystal. This is
called ‘Piezoelectric Effect’.
If we apply a.c voltage along x-axis of the crystal then corresponding compression
or tension is produced along the y-axis of the crystal. This is called ‘inverse piezo-
electric effect’.
Thus Piezoelectric transducers convert displacement or pressure into an electrical
variable and vice-versa. The high frequency Ultrasonic waves are produced by this
effect.
Piezoelectric Transducers: Pressure(input)

“Piezo-electric effect”
Y-axis

A.C voltage
X-axis

Example: Quartz is a natural popular piezo-electric material.

Barium Titanium(BaTio3), Rochelle salt(NaKC4H4O6.4H2O), Lithium
Niobate(LiNbO3) are few commercial piezoelectric transducer materials.

Applications of Piezoelectric Transducers:

•Piezoelectric Transducer acts as a pulse sensor to measure the pulse rate of
a human
Photovoltaic Transducers:
When light or any other radiation of suitable wavelength falls on the metal or
semiconductor surface, it ejects electrons.
This is the “Photoelectric Effect”.
These type of devices are called Photoelectric Transducers.

3 types of Photoelectric Transducers:

(i)Photo emissive (ii) Photoconductive and (iii)photovoltaic.
Among these, Photovoltaic is an active transducer which generates an
electrical voltage directly in proportion to the radiation incident on it.
Photo emissive, Photoconductive are the passive transducer.
Applications of Photovoltaic Transducers:

 In the case of Photoelectric Plethysmography silicon photovoltaic cells acts as

pulse sensor(pulse oximeter).

 To measure sodium and potassium ion concentration in a sample of blood using

light absorption techniques.
Thermoelectric Transducers:
These transducers work based on the Seebeck Effect. Seebeck effect states that,
when two junctions of the thermocouple are at two different temperatures, it
generates a potential voltage. The generated voltage is proportional to the
difference in temperature between two junctions of the thermocouple.
Applications of Thermoelectric Transducers:

 To measure physiological temperature in remote sensing

circuits and biotelemetry circuits.

 In the doctor’s cold box to store plasma, antibiotics, etc.