BI3BI17-Bioinstrumentation

Module Provider: School of Biological Sciences
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites: BI2ST17 Sensors and Transducers for Biomedical Engineering
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Dr John Bowen
Email: j.bowen@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module explains the principles, design and operation of key instrumentation for biomedical applications, e.g. optical spectroscopy, flow cytometry and DNA sequencing. It will also give you the ability to analyse the performance and optimise the design of instrumentation in general. The module consists of lectures reinforced by laboratory practicals.

Aims:
This module aims to explain the principles, design and operation of key instrumentation for biomedical applications. It also provides an understanding of the fundamental principles underlying the design of instrumentation in general.

Assessable learning outcomes:
By the end of the module the student should be able to design instrumentation for a wide range of biomedical applications, to be able to calculate the responsivity and detectivity of measurement systems in general, and know how to characterise and optimise their performance.

Additional outcomes:

Outline content:

General principles of instrument design: general measurement system and examples; parameters characterising measurement systems; noise in passive networks and amplifiers; noise figure and its measurement; noise matching and noise equivalent circuits; signal recovery. Principles and operation of: optical spectroscopy, laser doppler flowmeters, femtosecond laser technique, mass spectrometry, DNA sequencing, chromatography, and immunoassays.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
The module comprises 2 lectures per week, laboratory practicals and a revision tutorial.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	20
Tutorials			1
Practicals classes and workshops	6
Guided independent study:	71		2
Total hours by term	97	0	3
Total hours for module	100

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written exam	70
Set exercise	30

Summative assessment- Examinations:
2 hours

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

2 laboratory practical assignments.

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

40% overall

Reassessment arrangements:
Examination only

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1. Required text books: None


2. Specialist equipment or materials: None


3. Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: None


4. Printing and binding: None


5. Computers and devices with a particular specification: None


6. Travel, accommodation and subsistence: None

Last updated: 8 April 2021