BIOMEDICAL SIGNAL PROCESSING - 2021/2

Module Overview

A biomedical engineer must have a qualitative understanding of the importance of biomedical signal processing. Furthermore, the student should be able to apply fundamental signal processing concepts quantitatively to biomedical engineering problems. This module builds a basic understanding of signal processing concepts relevant to biomedical engineering.

Module provider

Mechanical Engineering Sciences

Module Leader

ABASOLO Daniel (Mech Eng Sci)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

Completion of the progress requirements of Level FHEQ5

Module content

Indicative content includes:

• Biomedical Signals. Origin and characteristics


• Biomedical Signal Acquisition


• Linear Time-invariant systems. Convolution


• Spectral analysis of biomedical signals. Fourier transform, the periodogram, Welch’s method and parametric and non-parametric methods


• Filter design and noise removal


• Time-frequency analysis of biomedical signals. The spectrogram


• Wavelet analysis of biomedical signals. The Continuous Wavelet Transform and the Discrete Wavelet Transform


• Non-linear analysis of biomedical signals. Chaos theory, fractals, and other non-linear signal processing algorithms

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate understanding of biomedical signal processing methods as well as the ability to analyse time-domain and frequency-domain characteristics of different biomedical signals. The first coursework assignment allows students to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of basic time-domain and spectral signal processing techniques. The second coursework assignment allows students to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of filters, time-frequency and non-linear signal processing techniques. Both coursework assignments also test report writing skills as well as the students’ ability to comment critically on their results. The final examination tests the deeper understanding of the different biomedical signal processing methods presented in the module, including open-ended questions asking the students to come up with possible signal processing options for real-life biomedical engineering problems.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• Coursework 1 [Learning outcomes 1, 3, 4, 6]       (20 hours)            Deadline W7   {20%}


• Coursework 2 [Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 6]   (25 hours)            Deadline W12 {25%}


• Examination   [Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]   (2 hours)                                     {55%}

• Formative verbal feedback is given in tutorials


• Formative Multiple Choice Tests are available on SurreyLearn to give feedback on the understanding of biomedical signal processing techniques


• Extensive written feedback is given on the coursework assessments

Module aims

• An introduction to biomedical signals and biomedical signal acquisition
• A systematic understanding and critical awareness of the importance of biomedical signal processing as an essential component of knowledge for a Medical Engineer
• A comprehensive understanding of the importance of noise and their sources
• A systematic understanding of spectral analysis techniques and their advantages and disadvantages
• An introduction to time-frequency analysis and its need in biomedical signal processing
• An introduction to wavelet analysis in biomedical signal processing
• An introduction to chaos theory, fractals and non-linear analysis and their application in biomedical signal processing
• An introduction to biomedical signal processing with Matlab
• An introduction to linear time invariant systems
• An introduction to filter design and its need in biomedical signal processing

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

Introduce basic biomedical signal processing principles through theory with worked examples. This is delivered principally through lectures and tutorial classes. In the latter, students will have to write Matlab scripts and functions for the analysis of biomedical signals. Learning would be reinforced with the application of the biomedical signal processing principles to real biomedical signals in two coursework assignments.

The learning and teaching methods include:

• 2 hours lecture per week x 11 weeks


• 2 hour Matlab-based tutorials x 11 weeks


• 2 hours revision lecture

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: ENG3168

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2021/2 academic year.