BIOMENG 341 : Bioinstrumentation and Design
Engineering
2024 Semester One (1243) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
This is a required course for the biomedical engineering specialisation. There are two main lecture themes: sensors and actuators (temperature, position, force, pressure, ow, bioelectric, optical sensors and instruments); and Signals, systems and controls (s-domain signal notation, transfer functions, frequency response functions, block diagrams, the Laplace transform, rst and second order systems, characterisation methods, fundamentals of control). These themes are reinforced with laboratories, and applied in a group design project.
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 3: | Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 4: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 5: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 6: | Communication |
| Capability 7: | Collaboration |
Learning Outcomes
- Analyse a measurement problem in bioengineering, suggest appropriate sensors for transducing the measurement, and apply appropriate signal processing and description techniques to quantify their results. (Capability 3.1, 3.2 and 4.1)
- Identify the types of displacement, motion, temperature, force, pressure, and flow sensors appropriate for use in bioinstrumentation systems, describe the physical principles behind their operation, define the electronic circuits that are used in transducing their output, and list the pros and cons of each type of sensor and when one would be preferred over another. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 4.2)
- Demonstrate a knowledge of the characteristics and principles of optical sensors. Demonstrate the ability to choose an appropriate sensor for an optical measurement. Demonstrate an understanding of figures of merit of optical sensors. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 4.2)
- Demonstrate an ability to use the exponential form of the Fourier transform and inverse Fourier transform to calculate the convolution, differential, and integral of functions. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 4.2)
- Demonstrate an ability to use the Laplace transform and inverse Laplace transform to calculate the convolution, differential, and integral of functions, and solve initial value differential problems. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 4.2)
- Demonstrate an ability to represent simple mechanical and electrical systems as idealised linear differential/integral/algebraic systems. Demonstrate an understanding of the time and frequency characteristics of first and second order differential/integral/algebraic linear systems. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 4.2)
- Demonstrate an understanding of the effect of proportional feedback on the impulse, step, and oscillatory response of first and second order linear systems. Demonstrate an understanding of the effects of integral and differential feedback elements on the control of linear systems. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 4.2)
- Explain the physics of electrodes, when one type of electrode is preferred over another, and explain the design and function of a typical biopotential amplifier. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 4.2)
- Demonstrate knowledge of the main steps in the engineering design process, and the ability to apply them to an bioinstrumentation design project. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Assignments | 20% | Individual Coursework |
| Project | 30% | Group & Individual Coursework |
| Test | 15% | Individual Test |
| Final Exam | 35% | Individual Examination |
| 4 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||
| Assignments | ||||||||||
| Project | ||||||||||
| Test | ||||||||||
| Final Exam | ||||||||||
Students must sit the exam to pass the course. Otherwise, a DNS (did not sit) result will be returned.
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.
For this course, you can expect 22 hours of lectures, 12 hours of laboratories, 45 hours of group project work, 36 hours of reading and thinking about the content, and 35 hours of work on assignments, test, and examination preparation.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is required at scheduled activities, including laboratories to complete components of the course. Please email your course lecturers if you are unable to attend a scheduled activity.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including laboratories and tutorials may not be available as recordings. The course may include live online events including tutorials and group discussions.
Attendance on campus is required for the test.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable for the first 8 weeks of the semester, transitioning to a project-intensive schedule for the remaining 4 weeks.
Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Health & Safety
Students are expected to adhere to the guidelines outlined in the Health and Safety section of the Engineering Undergraduate Handbook.
Student Feedback
At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.
Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.
Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.
Students appreciated learning using a mixture of lectures, laboratories, assignments, and group project work. In response to students' requests, we will provide more worked examples related to the lecture content. Some students felt that the project work was too heavy in the last few weeks. To address this, we will see if some lecture content can be removed to free up more time near the end of the course.
Other Information
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.