Course syllabus for Biomedical instrumentation

Course syllabus adopted 2026-02-20 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameMedicintekniska system
  • CodeEEN160
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerTKMED
  • Education cycleFirst-cycle
  • Main field of studyBiomedical engineering
  • ThemeMTS 1.5 c
  • DepartmentELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language Swedish
  • Application code 73114
  • Maximum participants80
  • Open for exchange studentsNo
  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

0121 Laboratory 1.5 c
Grading: UG		 1.5 c
0221 Project 1.5 c
Grading: TH		 1.5 c
0321 Examination 4.5 c
Grading: TH		 4.5 c

In programmes

Examiner

Eligibility

General entry requirements for bachelor's level (first cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements

Specific entry requirements

The same as for the programme that owns the course
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements

Course specific prerequisites

Medicine for engineers, Introductory course in biomedical engineering, Biomedical electronics.

Aim

The aim is to develop and increase the understanding of the most common types of biomedical instrumentation systems in healthcare, how they are designed, function and used in practice. The course builds on the students¿ previous knowledge in biomedical engineering, anatomy and physiology, electrical circuits, and signals and transforms. The course gives a deeper understanding of how the human body as a system functions and how pathological changes can be discovered through measurements and signal analysis. It is a special focus on systems within clinical diagnostics and patient monitoring, and technical requirements when designing these systems. The approach is signals registered from the body in normal conditions and how they are affected by different pathological conditions. Examples of such signals are bioelectric signals, flow and pressure, which are measured with different transducers. Further, the course aims to give deeper practical knowledge about biopotential amplifiers, which are central in most biomedical instrumentation systems. The course also aims to train the ability to communicate information in an effective way.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

  • explain how sensors and measurement systems can be used to monitor signals corresponding to several physiological functions of the human body, how these data can be used to improve and support decisions by health care personnel, and in some applications analyze what is limiting the system performance;
  • describe how a biomedical instrumentation system is used in selected applications, show awareness of gender aspects within research and development, and how the system is used regarding equality;
  • describe, simulate, construct and operate a biopotential amplifier and analyze the result;
  • estimate and describe safety aspects of biomedical instrumentation systems;
  • in oral and written communication, describe a biomedical system and motivate it by explaining which clinical problem it solves;
  • in project work performed in a group, seek relevant information and present a biomedical instrumentation system by explaining which clinical problem it solves, and how the technical development and different scientific disciplines have contributed to its development

Content

The course provides a specialization of the biomedical engineering field from a system-oriented perspective, primarily in clinical diagnostics using signals from clinical physiology (for example bioelectric signals, blood pressure and blood flow). A laboratory part of the course contains design and verification of electronics in a biopotential amplifier, and a project work gives extended knowledge of selected biomedical engineering systems.

Organisation

The course is composed of lectures, supervised laboratory exercises, and a project group work. More information will be given on the course homepage before the course starts.

Literature

J.G. Webster, A.J. Nimunkar. Medical Instrumentation: Application and Design, 5th ed, 2020.

Examination including compulsory elements

The theoretical outcomes are assessed with a graded written exam at the end of the course. The course assessment design also consists of home assignments, laboratory exercises and a project team task. Mandatory attendance is required on the laboratory exercises and the project presentations. The final grade is given as a weighted average of the grade on the exam and the grade on the project.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers about disability study support.