BIOMENG 341 : Bioinstrumentation and Design
Engineering
2025 Semester One (1253) (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 5: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 6: | Communication |
| Capability 7: | Collaboration |
| Capability 8: | Ethics and Professionalism |
Learning Outcomes
- Analyse a measurement problem in bioengineering, suggest appropriate sensors for measuring the quantities of interest, and apply appropriate signal processing and description techniques to quantify their results. Demonstrate an understanding of the cultural, environmental and sustainability considerations that impact on the selection of sensors and sensing technologies for use such measurements. (Capability 3.2 and 5.1)
- 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 3.2)
- Demonstrate a knowledge of the characteristics and principles of optical sensors. Demonstrate the ability to choose an appropriate sensor for an optical measurement. (Capability 3.2)
- Demonstrate an ability to use the exponential form of the Fourier transform Laplace transform to calculate the convolution, differential, and integral of functions, and solve initial value differential problems. (Capability 3.2)
- 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 3.2)
- 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 3.2)
- Demonstrate an understanding of system control techniques, including the effects of proportional, integral and differential feedback elements on the control of linear systems. Implement a control system to ensure stable system behaviour across a range of measurement contexts. (Capability 3.2)
- 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 3.2)
- Demonstrate knowledge of the engineering design process in the development of bioinstrumentation design project involving measurement and actuation. Demonstrate the ability to evaluate different actuation types and include cultural, social and sustainability considerations in the selection and implementation of actuation mechanisms. (Capability 3.1, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1 and 8.1)
- Demonstrate an understanding of of the importance of measurement standards and standardised expression to the pursuit of fairness/equity, and ethical behaviour, both locally and internationally. (Capability 6.1 and 8.1)
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 | 10 | |
| 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 24 hours of lectures, 20 hours of laboratories, 45 hours of group project work, 36 hours of reading and thinking about the content, and 25 hours of work on assignments, test, and examination preparation.
Delivery Mode
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.
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 must ensure they are familiar with their Health and Safety responsibilities, as described in the university's Health and Safety policy.
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.
The SET survey from 2024 indicated that laboratories, demos, and step-by-step examples in this course were well-appreciated. In 2025 we will provide more worked examples related to the lecture content, as suggested by the 2024 class. Some students in 2024 felt that too much material was covered in the course. This year, we will ensure that content is more brief, and provide additional LabVIEW instruction into the course as requested by students. In addition, we will align the project more closely with the taught content, and ensure that the students are provided with additional guidance through out the semester on how to make progress on their project.
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, tests and examinations 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. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.
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 your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, 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 you may be asked to submit your 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. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.