BI2SW22-Biomedical Sensors and Wearable Technology

Module Provider: School of Biological Sciences
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2022/3

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

Type of module:

Summary module description:

Sensors have important biomedical applications in the monitoring of physiological parameters, in the control of assistive technologies, and as the basis of many diagnostic and medical imaging systems. This module will cover the different types of sensors used for biomedical application areas, their characteristics and principles of operation. You will also learn how sensors can be combined with embedded processors – small computer systems that are often hidden from the user – to produce wearable sensors for medical and healthcare applications. By the end of the module, you will be able to choose appropriate sensors and transducers for a given application and be able to calculate how the output signals they produce are related to the quantities they are sensing. You will also be able to program an embedded processor to perform a typical task for a wearable device. The module consists of lectures reinforced by laboratory practicals.

Aims:

This module aims to describe sensors and transducers for biomedical application areas, their characteristics and principles of operation, and to give students understanding of the design and analysis of small embedded computer systems, their interfacing, and programming such that students can create their own wearable devices.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module the students should be able to choose appropriate sensors and transducers for a given application, understand the principles of their operation and be able to calculate their responsivities. They will be familiar with building blocks of wearable technology, the selection of suitable core technologies and the overall architecture of such systems. They will be familiar with logic families, I/O standards, bus systems and memories. They will be able to write code to run on wearable devices.

Additional outcomes:

Through examining suitable technologies, students will better understand the context of digital systems in today’s miniaturisation and the use of wearable technologies, particularly using health monitoring examples. Other outcomes include ICT skills, project and time management.

Outline content:

Classification of Sensors and transducers, examples. Transducer parameters. Transducer bridges. Displacement transducers. Accelerometers. Temperature transducers. Phototransducers. Fibre optic sensors for biomedical applications. Patch clamps. Multielectrode arrays. Flexible electrodes. Functionalized biosensors. Surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices. Respiration measurement. Pulse oximetry. Blood pressure measurement. 

Wearable technology. Typical Embedded CPU architectures, I/O (GPIO, interrupts), timers, peripheral interfaces (I2C, SPI). Memories (SRAM, FLASH, ROM). Typical digital sensors (e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, temperature, etc) and examples of interfacing physiological sensors (skin temperature, galvanic skin response, heart rate). Battery powered considerations. Real-Time Operating Systems (tasks, priorities), software constructs for concurrent programming (semaphores, events).

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The module comprises 2 lectures per week, associated laboratory practicals, and some revision tutorials. Laboratory practicals are used to reinforce the relevant lectures.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	20	10
Tutorials			2
Practicals classes and workshops	9	10
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)	5
Exam revision/preparation			24
Advance preparation for classes	3
Preparation for tutorials		60
Preparation of practical report	24
Reflection	13	20
Total hours by term	74	100	26
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written exam	35
Report	15
Oral assessment and presentation	50

Summative assessment- Examinations:

One 2:30 hour paper contributing 35% of the total.

The examination for this module will require a narrowly defined time window and is likely to be held in a dedicated exam venue.

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Three 3-hour laboratory practical reports, each contributing 5% of the total assessment of the module. Submission dates throughout the Autumn term depending on the scheduling of laboratory practical sessions for individual students.

1 poster (PDF), contributing 50%, is to be submitted for assessment via Blackboard, in the last week of term. The poster is an alternative communication method in engineering, focussed on presenting a visual and graphical presentation of the results obtained. The poster method allows technology students to explore alternative methods of presenting results compared to traditional constrained reports.

Formative assessment methods:

Oral feedback, help and advice is given in the timetabled lab sessions.

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: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/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%

Reassessment arrangements:

Re-examination (50%) and re-submission of poster (50%)

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: None

2) Specialist equipment or materials: Available free for loan in the scheduled lab period

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: 31 January 2023