PHYSICAL MEDICINE

AND
BIOTELEMETRY

UNIT IV
SYLLABUS
Diathermies

• Shortwave
• Ultrasonic
• Microwave Type
• Surgical Diathermy

Telemetry Principles

• Frequency Selection
• Biotelemetry

Radiopill

Electrical Safety
DIATHERMY UNITS
Introduction
• When heat is applied, temperature of the tissue
increases
• Due to the dilation of blood vessels, the flow of blood
increases at that area
• Hot compressors, infra red lamp
• Hot towels, heat lamps and heating pads
DIATHERMY
Diathermy is the treatment process by which
cutting, coagulation of tissues are obtained.
In this method, the patient’s body become a
part of a electrical circuit, hence heat is
produced within the body instead of
transferring through skin.
 TYPES OF
DIATHERMY

Short wave Microwave Ultrasonic Surgical

 SHORT WAVE DIATHERMY
• High frequency of 27.12MHz & wavelength of 11 meters.
• Since we use high frequency, motor or sensory nerves are not
stimulated and there is no contraction of muscles.
• Output of the RF oscillator is applied to the pair of patient
electrodes.
• Electrodes or pads are not directly contact with the skin.
• The pads are placed such that the portion of the body to be
treated is sandwiched between them.
 1. Capacitor Method
 2. Inductive Method

MONITOR ISOLATION
POWER RF CONTROL TRANSFOR
SUPPLY OSCILLATOR PANEL MER

TO DE
RO
EL EC T
CAPACITIVE TYPE

Pads – capacitor
plates

Tissue – dielectric

Whole arrangement
forms a capacitor
INDUCTIVE METHOD (Inductothermy)
Flexible cable is
coiled around.

Eddy current
produced –
magnetic field.

RF pulse is used.
MICROWAVE DIATHERMY
Frequency used is 2,450 MHz corresponding to a
wavelength of 12.25 cm.

Heating of the tissues is produced due to absorption of the

microwave energy.

No pad shaped electrode, microwaves are transmitted into

the portion of the body directly.

Magnetrons are used to produce microwaves.

Proper cooling of the magnetron is provided.

ULTRASONIC DIATHERMY
Used for curing the diseases of peripheral nervous system, skeletal
muscle system & skin cancers.

Heating is produced due to absorption of ultrasounds by the tissues.

Can be operated either in continuous or pulsed mode.

The conventional oscillator produces sinusoids of frequency 800 kHz

to 1 MHz.

These electrical oscillations are then converted into ultrasounds by

piezoelectric crystal.
Intensity & Piezo-
RF
Frequency electric Timer
Oscillator
Control Transducer
SURGICAL DIATHERMY
• Treatment process by which cutting, coagulation of
tissues are obtained.
• High frequency current in the range 1-3 MHz is
applied, heating of the tissue takes place.
• Use of high frequency current is to avoid the
intense muscle activity.
1. FULGURATION
2. DESICCATION
3. ELECTROTOMY
4. COAGULATION
5. BLENDING
COAGULATION
• The desiccation &
coagulation are
achieved by
damped sinusoidal
pulses of frequency
from 250 to 2000
kHz and power
from 50 to 200 W.
 CUTTING
The cutting is
achieved by a
continuous sine wave
of frequency from
500 to 2500 kHz and
power 100 to 750 W.
 FULGURATION
Fulguration, also called electrofulguration, is
a procedure to destroy and remove tissue (such as
a malignant tumor) using a high-frequency electric
current applied with a needle like electrode.
Fulgration is used to ablate tumors
ELECTROSURGICAL DIATHERMY UNIT
CONTROL AUDIO TONE
PANEL GENERATOR

POWER
LOGIC OUTPUT
ISOLATOR
BOARD BOARD TO
SWITCH ELECTRODE
BOARD

POWER
FOOT
SUPPLY
SWITCH
COMPARISON

The heat
penetration
is different
for fat,
muscle,
bone.
TELEMETRY
• Telemetry is a technology that allows
remote measurement and transparent
conveyance of remote information.
BIO TELEMETRY
• Biotelemetry involves the application
of telemetry in the medical field to
remotely monitor various vital
signs of ambulatory patients.
ELEMENTS
TRANSMITTER
RECEIVER
RADIO TELEMETRY
• Most of the systems are involved with radio
transmission and reception of bio-signals.
• There are 2 types;
(1)SINGLE CHANNEL TELEMETRY SYSTEM.

(2)MULTI CHANNEL TELEMETRY SYSTEM.

SINGLE CHANNEL
TRANSMISSION OF BIOELECTRIC VARIABLES
Active measurements

• ECG, EMG & EEG measured

without excitation voltage.

Passive measurements

• BP, temperature, blood flow are

indirectly measured
TUNNEL DIODE
FM TRANSMITTER
TUNNEL DIODE FM TRANSMITTER
Negative resistance, low values
of inductance and capacitance.

Used to transmit EMG, ECG,

respiration rate.

Varactor diode – frequency

modulation
PULSED HARTLEY OSCILLATOR
WITH SUBCARRIER

TRANSMITTER RECEIVER

DEMODULATOR
AMPLIFIER

FILTER
100 MHz carrier FREQUENCY
frequency MODULATOR
AMPLIFIER
20 KHz carrier AMPLITUDE
frequency MODULATOR ADDITIONAL
DEMODULATOR

BIO SIGNAL DISPLAY UNIT

MULTI-CHANNEL TELEMETRY-FDM
Input signal f1 FM
SUBCARRI
1 AMPLIFIER TRANSMITTE
ER FM
R
Input signal f2
SUBCARRI
2 AMPLIFIER
ER FM

Input signal f3
SUBCARRI
3 AMPLIFIER
ER FM FM RECEIVER
DEMODULATOR

Output signal SUBCARRIER f1

1 LPF DEMODULATOR BPF

Output signal SUBCARRIER

f2
2 LPF DEMODULATOR BPF

Output signal SUBCARRIER f3

3 LPF DEMODULATOR BPF
 TDM TRASMITTER

Input signal FM
AMPLIFIE GATE TRANSMITTE
1 R R

Input signal
AMPLIFIE GATE
2 R

Input signal AMPLIFIE

3 GATE
R

GATE SIGNAL
GENERATOR
TDM RECEIVER

FM Output signal 1
GATE LPF
TRANSMITTER

Output signal 2
Synchronizat GATE LPF
ion
signal Output signal 3
GATE LPF

GATE SIGNAL
GENERATOR
FREQUENCY SELECTION

• The radio frequency biotelemetry uses either the VHF

or UHF band set aside by the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) exclusively for the medical
telemetry or the unused television channels.

• It is often desired that the frequency and power

considerations for the proposed telemetry system dose
not affect the existing, nearby telecommunication
transmissions.
e-Health

Refers to health services.

Electronic medical records.

Education & training in e-Health.

Telemedicine in Tamil Nadu

RADIO PILL
ELECTRICAL SAFETY IN
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRICAL SAFETY
Effect of shock ranges from
discomfort to injury to death.
A electrical shock is a
physiological response to
current
• Unwanted depolarization
• Associated muscular contraction
• May cause cell vaporization
• Tissue injury.
PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF CURRENT
TYPES OF CURRENT RANGE
PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECT
CURRENT (mA)

THRESHOLD
1-5 Tingling Sensation

PAIN 5-8 Intense or painful sensation

Threshold of involuntary muscle

LET-GO 8-20
contraction

PARALYSIS >20 Respiratory paralysis and pain

FIBRILLATION 80-1000 Ventricular and heart fibrillation

Sustained myocardial contraction,

DEFIBRILLATIO
1000-10,000 temporary respiratory paralysis
N
and possible tissue burns
 MACRO SHOCK

• Large currents applied

to the heart via external
surface of the body are
called MACROSHOCKS.
• Results from  faculty
electric equipments 
poor grounding
involuntary contact
with live wires.
 MICRO SHOCK
• Small currents
applied directly to
the heart are
called
MICROSHOCKS.
• Even 10 mA
applied directly to
the heart muscles
can cause
ventricular
fibrillation
leading to death.
COMPARISON
PROTECTIVE MEASURES
Ground resistance should be less than 0.5W.

Ground resistance should be checked

periodically using a Ground Fault Circuit
Interrupter (GFCI).

GFCI disconnects the source of electrical power

when the ground fault is greater than 6 mA.

To avoid ground loop, a common ground point

should be provided for all the equipments.
PROTECTIVE MEASURES
Equipment design;

Stray capacitance  doesn’t exceed 10uA.

Double insulation.

Low power designs.

Isolation  patient equipment should be isolated

from high power section via transformer coupling
or optical isolation or carrier isolation.
APPLICATIONS
• Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator
(TENS).

• Gait analyzer

• Thermotheraphy

• Facial with bio mechanical movement

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve
Stimulator (TENS).
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve
stimulation (TENS or TNS) is the use of
electric current produced by a device to
stimulate the nerves for therapeutic purposes.
TENS, by definition, covers the complete range
of transcutaneously applied currents used for
nerve excitation although the term is often used
with a more restrictive intent, namely to describe
the kind of pulses produced by portable
stimulators used to treat pain
GAIT ANALYSER
• Gait analysis is the systematic study of animal
locomotion, more specifically the study of human
motion, using the eye and the brain of observers,
augmented by instrumentation for measuring body
movements, body mechanics, and the activity of the
muscles.
• Gait analysis is used to assess, plan, and treat
individuals with conditions affecting their ability to walk.
• It is also commonly used in sports biomechanics to help
athletes run more efficiently and to identify posture-
related or movement-related problems in people with
injuries.
THERMOTHERAPHY
• Heat therapy, also called thermotherapy, is
the use of heat in therapy, such as for pain relief
and health. It can take the form of a hot cloth,
hot water, ultrasound, heating pad,
hydrocollator packs, whirlpool baths, cordless
FIR heat therapy wraps, and others.
• It can be beneficial to those with arthritis and
stiff muscles and injuries to the deep tissue of
the skin. Heat may be an effective self-care
treatment for conditions like rheumatoid
arthritis.
Generating Facial Expressions
Using an
Anatomically Accurate
Biomechanical Model
• This paper presents a computational framework
for modelling the biomechanics of human facial
expressions.
• Four facial expressions were simulated using the
developed model and the results were compared
with surface data obtained from a 3D structured-
light scanner.