Lecture#1

Course Conducted by:

Dr. Muhammad Muinul Islam
 Transducer
Transducer a device that converts a primary
form of energy into a corresponding signal with a
different energy form.
Primary Energy Forms: mechanical, thermal,
electromagnetic, optical, chemical, etc.
e.g.: Calling bell, motor, dynamo etc.

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 sensor
Sensor- is a device that detects a change in a
physical stimulus or parameter and turns it into a
signal which can be measured or recorded.
e.g., thermometer, load cell, strain gauge, thermistor,
etc

An electrical out put is desirable from a sensor

Because electrical signal processing is comparatively
easier and flexible

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Actuator or output transducer
A device that converts an electrical signal
into a physical or chemical quantity.
e.g., Loud speaker, Electric motor, Electroactive polymer Piezoelectric
actuator

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 Instrumentation Systems
Typically sensor system convert desired parameter
into electrically measurable signal
General Instrumentation system-Any instrumentation
system can be described as having three fundamental components:
1. Sensor/ transducer: sense real world parameter and
converted into a suitable signal
2. Signal conditioning or processing: converts the
sensed signal into an analog or digital electrical value
3. Display and/or storage device.

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 Block diagram Instrumentation
Systems

System Boundary

Input Output
Sensor Processor Actuator
Signal Signal
(input transducer) (output transducer)

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Biomedical Instrumentation
Although all these components of the
instrumentation system are important, the
sensor serves a special function in that it
interfaces the instrument with the system
being measured.

In the case of biomedical instrumentation, a

biomedical sensor is the interface between the
electronic instrument and the biological
system.

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Important Concerns
There are some general concerns that are
important for any sensor in an instrumentation
system especially for biomedical sensors:
1. The sensor can affect the system, for that
sensors must be designed to minimize their
interaction with the biological host.
It is important that the presence of the sensor does
not affect the variable being measured in the vicinity
of the sensor via interaction between the sensor and
the biologic system. This may change the quantity
being sensed in the vicinity.
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Important Concerns
2. The biological system can affect the
performance of the sensor.
The foreign body reaction might cause the hosts
system to attempt to break down the materials of the
sensor in order to remove it. This may, in fact, degrade
the sensor package so that it can no longer perform in
an adequate manner. So the material of package must
be proper.

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Important Concerns
3. Sensors that are implanted in the body are
not accessible for calibration. Thus, they must
have extremely stable characteristics so that
frequent calibrations are not necessary

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 Classification of Biomedical
Sensors
Biomedical sensors can be classified according
to how they are used/placed with respect to
the biological system:
1. Noninvasive biomedical sensors:
Do not even contact the biological system being
measured.
Sensors of radiant heat or sound energy coming from an
organism are examples of noncontacting sensors.
Noninvasive sensors can also be placed on the body
surface like Skin surface thermometers, biopotential
electrodes, and strain gauges placed on the skin.

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 Classification of Biomedical
Sensors
2. Indwelling sensors (minimally invasive
sensors) :
Can be placed into a natural body cavity that
communicates with the outside.
Examples: oralrectal thermometers, intrauterine
pressure transducers, stomach pH sensors etc.

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 Classification of Biomedical
Sensors
3. Invasive sensors:
That need to be surgically placed and that require
some tissue damage associated with their
installation.

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 Classification of Biomedical
Sensors
We can also classify sensors in terms of the
quantities that they measure:

1. Physical sensors: are used in measuring

physical quantities such as displacement,
pressure, and flow.

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 Classification of Biomedical
Sensors
2. Chemical sensors: are used to determine
the concentration of chemical substances
within the host. A sub-group of the chemical
sensors that are concerned with sensing the
presence and the concentration of
biochemical materials in the host.

3. Bio-analytical sensors or biosensors:

used to measure some internal quantities like
enzymes.

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 CLASSIFICATION OF SENSING DEVICES

Table : Classification of sensors by signal form.

Form of Signal Measurands
Thermal Temperature, heat, heat flow, entropy, heat capacity.
Radiation Gamma rays, X-rays, ultra-violet, visible, infra red,
micro-waves, radio waves.
Mechanical Displacement, velocity, acceleration, force, torque,
pressure, mass, flow, acoustic wavelength and
amplitude.
Magnetic Magnetic field, flux, magnetic moment, magnetisati-
on, magnetic permeability.
Chemical Humidity, pH level and ions, concentration of gases,
vapours and odours, toxic and flammable materials,
pollutants.
 CLASSIFICATION OF SENSING DEVICES
(cont)

Table : Classification of sensors by signal form.

Form of Signal Measurands

Biological Sugars, proteins, hormones, antigens.

Electrical Charge, current, voltage, resistance, conductance,
capacitance, inductance, dielectric permittivity,
polarisation, frequency.
 CLASSIFICATION OF SENSING DEVICES
(cont)

Table : Classification of the human senses .

Human Signal Measurand Sensing Analogue Device
Sense Device
Sight Radiant Intensity and Rods and Photographic
wavelength cones in film, photodiode,
of light retina Phototransistor
Hearing Mechanical Intensity and Cochlea in Microphone
frequency of inner ear
sound
Smell Chemical Odorants Olfactory Electronic nose
receptor
cells in nose
 CLASSIFICATION OF SENSING DEVICES
(cont)
Table : Classification of the human senses .
Human Signal Measurand Sensing Analogue Device
Sense Device
Touch Mechanical Pressure, Nerves Potentiometers
force and LVDTs
(simple touch),
optical gauging
and tactical
arrays (complex
touch)
Taste Biological Proteins Taste buds
in tongue
 CLASSIFICATION OF SENSING DEVICES
(cont)
Table : Classification of some common actuators.
Function Actuator Signal Principle
Display Light emitting Radiant Current generation of
diode photons
Visual display unit Radiant Fluorescent screen
Liquid crystal Radiant Transmittance of
display polarised molecular
Crystals
Transmit Loudspeaker Mechanical Generation of sound
Aerial Radiant Generation of radio
wave
Electric motor Mechanical Generation of motion
 6.3 CLASSIFICATION OF SENSING DEVICES
(cont)

Table : Classification of some common actuators.

Function Actuator Signal Principle
Record Thermal printer Thermal Ink is melted
Magnetic recording Magnetic Magnetisation of thin
head films on computer
disc
Laser Radiant Ablation of material
on optical disc
 Any Question??

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