BIOMEDICAL SYSTEMS AND CONTROL

The course aims to drive the students in the acquisition of the basic concepts of biomedical systems and biomedical imaging technologies, focusing the attention on the aspects related to the system theory and automatic controls field. In this context it will be also introduced different mathematical methods for bio-signals analysis.

The course includes lectures for the acquisition and knowledge required and the carrying out of laboratory activities aimed at their application.

Should teaching be carried out in mixed mode or remotely, it may be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements, in line with the programme planned and outlined in the syllabus.

BASIC KNOWLEDGE REGARDS:

-> Advanced level on physics and math

-> Intermediate level on Linear systems theory and control

-> Intermediate level on programming languages

No preparatory requests for passing other courses are required.

CLASS ATTENDANCY

Attendance is not mandatory, although strongly recommended to carry out adequately the laboratory project.

1. Basic concepts of biomedical systems

Generalized medical instrumentation system - Alternative operational mode - Medical measurement constraints - Classifications of biomedical instruments - Interfering and modifying input - Compensation techniques - Design criteria - Commercial medical instrumentation development process - Regulation of medical device - Examples of physiological systems control – Example of Biomedical equipment - Artificial organs.

2. Bioelectrical model and signals

- Structures and Functions of the Nervous System: the neurons, the action potential, the neuron communication and the synaptic integration, the neuron electrical models and the axon transmission model, the volume conductor field, system to record neuron activity, the muscle action potential.

- Peripheral Nervous System and Skeleton-Muscle System: electro-neurogram (ENG), electro-myography (EMG).

- Vision System: electro-rethinogram (ERG), electro-oculogram (EOG).

- Circulatory and Cardiac Systems: circulatory system and systemic parameters (blood pressure, blood velocity, cardiac output), heart electro/mechanical physiology, electro-cardiogram (ECG), arrhythmia and artificial heart.

- Central Nervous System: the electromagnetic activity in the neocortex, brain recording and measurement (EEG/MEG), brain rhythms, abnormal patterns (aging and brain disorder), Evoked potential, Brain Computer-Interface.

3. Methodologies in biomedical signal analysis 

 Case studies (ECG, EEG, MEG, fMRI), Pre-processing methods (statistics, frequency filtering and saturation), Processing methods (linear analysis in time and frequency domain, nonlinear analysis, multivariate analysis, non-stationarity, and connectivity). Basic on biostatistics.

COURSE TEXTBOOKS

T1) Webster J.G., Medical Instrumentation: Application and Design, Wiley

T2) Michael C. K. Khoo, Physiological Control System: Analysis, Simulation and Estimation, IEEE press Series on Biomedical Eng., Wiley-Interscience

T3) M. Bear, B. Connors, M. Paradiso, Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain, Wolters-Kluwer

T4) J. L. Semmlow, B. Griffel, Bio-signal and Medical Image Processing, CRC Press

T5) Andrew Webb, Introduction of Biomedical Imaging, IEEE press Series on Biomedical Eng., Wiley-Interscience

SUGGESTED READING

T6) Saeid Sanei, Jonathon Chambers, EEG Signal Processing, Wiley

T7) S. A. Glantz, Primer of Biostatistic, McGraw-Hill

METHODS FOR THE EVALUATION OF THE LEARNED KNOWLEDGE

The exam consists of a course project and an oral exam. Learning assessment may also be carried out on line, should the conditions require it.

The course project is individual and consists of a case study based on the analysis of biomedical data. The delivery of this project by the end of the course allows access to the oral examination. The final evaluation will be determined by the evaluation of both those.

For attending students there will be possible to do a midterm test shortly after the end of the course. The test lasting a maximum of two hours consists of questions (multiple choice and / or open) to check the knowledge acquired on of the contents covered during the course. If this test is passed, answering correctly to at least 50% of the questions, the oral exam is not compulsory but at the discretion of the student. The final evaluation will be determined by averaging the evaluation of the questionnaire with the evaluation of the course project.

Evaluation at the oral interview will be based on: the knowledge of the contents, the relevance of the answers with respect to the questions formulated, the property of technical language, the ability to make connections between the contents of the program.