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Medical Measurement Technology

Sub-Module: Chemical and Biological Sensors

SoSe 2024

Dr. Liudmila Deckert

Msc. Liubov Bakhchova

OvGU – FEIT
Institute for Automation Technology (IFAT)
[email protected]
[email protected]
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General Info
• Your lecturers in Medical Measurement Technology course are
Dipl.-Ing. Sebastian Woeckel → Ultrasonic Imaging
Dr. Liudmila Deckert and Msc. Liubov Bakhchova → Chemical and Biological
Sensors
• Ultrasonic Imaging
- Lectures in presence (starting: 8.4.2024)
- Monday 1pm - 3 pm
- house 10, room 460
• Chemical and Biological Sensors:
- Lectures in presence (starting: 9.04.2024)
- Tuesday 11am -1pm
- house 2, room 311 MMTSoSe2024
• Lectures take place in presence, all info is provided in the ELearning portal
Moodle, use the opportunity to ask questions by writing in the forum under
Moodle. Other students can also benefit from this.
• If you have any questions, please contact us ([email protected],
[email protected], [email protected]). We try to support you as
much as possible. You can also give us feedback and suggestions.
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Literature Chemical and Biological Sensors

[1] Peter Gründler, Chemical Sensors An Introduction for Scientists

and Engineers, Springer Link

[2] Ghenadii Korotcenkov: Chemical Sensors, Vol 1: General

Approaches (Sensor Technology), Momentum press 2010

[3] J. Fraden, Chemical and Biological sensors, Chapter 18 from

Handbook of Modern Sensors (pp 645-697),

[4] Florinel-Gabriel Banica: Chemical Sensors and Biosensors:

Fundamentals and Applications, Wiley & Sons, by John Wiley & Sons,
Ltd

[Link] free E-Books, PDF http://link.springer.com/

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Content Chemical and Biological Sensors

• Introduction
• Transduction Phenomena
Dr. Deckert
• Optical sensors
• (Bio-)Chemical Sensor Characteristics
• Electrochemical Sensors and Biosensors Mrs.Bakhchova

• Acoustic sensors
Dr. Deckert
• Summary

➢ 2 SWS lecture
➢ written exam (90)
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Measurement Science – Fundamentals

Terms and Definitions

• Measurement:
o is the estimation of a magnitude of some attribute of an object
relative to a unit of measurement

o usually involves using a measuring instrument, which is calibrated

to compare the object to some standard

Sensor:
− converts physical or chemical/biological values, or their changes, into electrical values and
their changes (over time)
− a device that provides information about the physical, chemical or biological state of a
system

Transducer is an electronic device which converts energy from one form to another, such as
a microphone, which changes sound waves into electrical signals

Actuator part of a machine or system that moves something or makes something work
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A sensor is a device, A sensor is a translator of

that receives a stimulus and generally nonelectrical value
responds with an electrical signal into an electrical value

Output
Input
Stimulus
Sensor Electrical Signal

Quantity,
Property, that is received and converted into an electrical signal
Condition

Examples: light intensity, channeled

Wavelength Can be by electronic
amplified
Sound devices
modified
Force
Acceleration May be in form of voltage, current, or charge
Rate of motion
Chemical composition May be described in terms of amplitude,
polarity, frequency, etc.
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Output
Input
Stimulus
Sensor Electrical Signal

ANY Sensor = Energy Converter

Object of Energy transfer

measure Sensor Any transmission of
between
ments information requires the
transmission of energy
Sensing process A particular case of information transfer
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A sensor is a device,
that receives a stimulus and
responds with an electrical signal

Sensor = Detector
Synonyms

used interchangeably,
have the same meaning

However is more often used to stress the qualitative

rather than the quantitative nature of measurements

Example: Passive IR-detector

INDICATES just the existence of human movement,
but generally can’t measure (direction, speed, or acceleration)
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A sensor is a device,
that receives a stimulus and
responds with an electrical signal

Sensor ≠ Transducer
Different

• converts energy into the only converter of any type

an electrical signal of energy/property
into another type of it
• provides information
about the physical, Example: microphone
chemical or biological which changes sound waves
state of a system
into electrical signals

may be used as an Actuator

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A sensor is a device,
that receives a stimulus and
responds with an electrical signal

Sensor ≠ Actuator
Opposite

converts an electrical signal into

generally nonelectrical energy

Example Electric motor

electric energy mechanical action

Pneumatic actuator that is enabled by an electric signal

converts air pressure into force

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Transducers (Tr) may be a part of a hybrid or complex sensor

Stimulus
S2 S3 Direct Electrical
S1 Tr1 Tr2 Sensor
Signal
e

Sensor
Values S1, S2, etc. represent various types of energy
The direct sensor produces electrical output

Example: Some chemical sensor

1st Part: nonelectrical Transducer 2nd Part: Simple (direct) Sensor

Energy from an Electrical

exothermal Transducer Heat Thermopile Output
chemical reaction Signal

This is a complex (hybrid) sensor

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Two types of sensors

Direct Sensor Hybrid

Converts stimulus into an electrical signal or in addition, needs one or more

modifies an externally supplied electrical signal transducers before a direct sensor can
be employed to generate an electrical
output
Are those that employ certain physical effects
to make a direct energy conversion into a
generation or modulation of an electrical signal

Examples of such physical effects:

Photo effect
Next lecture
Seebeck effect
Piezoeffect

Modern Sensor doesn‘t function by itself!! It is always part of a larger system that may
incorporate many other detectors, signal conditioners, processors, memory devices,
data recorders, and actuators.
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Sensing → Post Processing

Sensor
Configuration conventional

Types Sensor
analog
interference - sensitive
aSE A D CV

first integration step

analog A
Sensor aSE D CV

second integration step

digital
Sensor aSE A D CV
interference - proof
third integration step
sensor bus
digital
aSE analog Sensor Electronics Sensor aSE A D µC CV
A
D Analog-Digital-Converter digital concept
µC µ-Controller sensor bus
digital
digital Sensor µC CV
CV Computer, Visualisation
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DOI: 10.4236/jbnb.2019.102007
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Sensor System Display

Data recorder
Signal conditioner Alarm
etc.

Example:
thermistor that is a temperature-sensitive
resistor. It needs a current source, which
is an excitation circuit.

electric motor
pneumatic valve etc.

Different Sensors in a data acquisition and processing system

Sensor 1 – noncontact (non invasive) passive
Sensors 2, 3 – passive (without power supply) plased directly on or inside the object
Sensor 4 – active (with power supply)
Sensor 5 – internal conditions monitoring, in processing unit, passive

Depending on the complexity of the system, the total number of sensors may vary from as little as one (a home thermostat) to many thousands (
space station)
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Classification

Passive Sensor Active

• Does not need any • Require power for their operation,
additional Energy source it is called an excitation signal

• Generates an electric signal in

response to an external stimulus
This signal is modified/modulated by the
sensor to produce the output signal

Input stimulus energy is converted by the

sensor into the output signal They are often called parametric because their
own properties change in response to an
external stimulus
Examples: and these properties can be subsequently
Thermocouple converted into electric signals
Photodiode
Piezoelectric sensor Examples:
Thermistor (heated by current flow)
✓ many of them are direct Resistive strain gauge
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Classification depending on the selected reference

Absolute Relative
Sensor
detects a stimulus in reference to an
absolute physical scale, produces a signal that relates to
that is independent of the measurement some special case
conditions
Examples: Examples:

Thermistor - temperature sensitive resistor Thermocouple

It produces an electric voltage that is a function
Its electrical resistance directly relates to the of the temperature gradient across the
absolute temperature scale of Kelvin thermocouple wires

Thermocouple output signal can‘t be related to

any particular temperature without referencing a
selected baseline
Absolute pressure sensor Relative pressure sensor
Produces a signal in reference to vacuum (an Produces a signal with respect to a selected
absolute zero on a pressure scale) baseline that is not zero pressure – for example,
atmospheric pressure
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Classification depending on its properties

• Sensing element material

• Conversion phenomena
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Sensors - Terms and Definitions

Sensor can be specified as:

− Chemical sensor
• sensor that includes a chemical sub-step to gain
chemical sensitivity and selectivity – functionalized
https://transducersensors.com/chemical-sensors
(chemical recognition layer)
• often incorporates a thin chemically sensitive film on top of the physical transducer

− Biosensor
sensor that incorporates at least two processes:
• biochemical reaction defining the specificity of the sensor – functionalized surface (bio
substance recognition layer)
• physical part, transforms the signal from the biomedical reaction → into an electrical
readout signal

− Medical sensor (huge area of sensors used in medical health care)

sensor incorporated in health care
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• Stimulus
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Biosensors

invasive sensor
o must be in contact with the object of interest
non-invasive sensor
o sensor that obtains its information without a physical
penetration of the protecting membranes of a living object

Where ?

"natural" environment alternative conditions

in vivo → "within the living“ ex vivo → "out of the living“

in vitro →"inside the glass"
in situ → “Right in the place”
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Units of Measurements
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Measurement Science - Fundamentals

• Measurement:
o is the estimation of the magnitude of some attribute of an object
relative to a unit of measurement

https://blog.beamex.com/temperat
ure-units-and-temperature-unit-
conversion
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Sensor – Highest Market Volume

• By Type • By Technology

o Optical sensors o CMOS

o Biosensors o MEMS

o Temperature sensors o NEMS

o Pressure sensors o Others

o Touch Sensors

o Image Sensors
• By End Users

o Electronics
o Proximity and Displacement Sensors
o Automotive
o Motion and Position sensors
o Industrial
o Chemical sensors
o It and Telecom
o Level sensors (incl. differential pressure
sensor for level meas.) o Aerospace and Defense
o Accelerometer and Speed Sensors o Healthcare
o Others o Others
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Sensors in Medicine
physical chemical biological
Temperature (core, chemical components DNA, sequences
surface) (O2, CO2, NOx, acetone)
Flow (blood, respiration) chemical composition proteins, sequences
(blood, urine)
pressure chemical markers (enzymatic)
(blood, pulse, ocular) (glucose, lactate) reaction products
movement viruses
(gait, tremor)
electrical potential bacteria
(EKG, EEG, EMG)
waves and fields cells
(ultrasound, magnetic)
radiation other
(X-rays, nuclear)
other

content of “Chemical/biological sensors”

content of “Ultrasonic sensors for imaging”
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https://towerfast.com/press-room/the-
future-of-wearable-medical-devices
https://www.apple.com/apple-watch-series-7

Wearable Sensors - Now

▪ Fitness tracking

▪ Measure your blood oxygen

Your blood oxygen level is a key indicator of your overall wellness. It can help you
understand how well your body is absorbing oxygen and the amount of oxygen delivered
to your body.

▪ Take an ECG at any time

The ECG app can indicate whether your heart rhythm shows signs of atrial fibrillation — a
serious form of irregular heart rhythm — or sinus rhythm, which means your heart is
beating in a normal pattern

▪ Dream machine
The Sleep app doesn’t just keep track of your sleep. It also helps you create a schedule
and a bedtime routine so you can meet your sleep goals. It even tracks your respiratory
rate while you’re sleeping.
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Sensor – Ongoing Technological Trends

Connecterra
Pedometer not only
measures a cow’s steps but
also tracks the animal’s
health, specifically when a
Application of RF-ID technology for cow is in estrus—in heat—
the determination of the interim time and ready for insemination.
in sports.
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Example –Anesthetic Vapor Delivery System

It is intended for controlling the level of anesthetic drugs delivered to a patient
through inhalation during surgical procedures

• The system contains several active and passive sensors.

• The vapor concentration of anesthetic agents (such as halothane, isoflurane, or enflurane) is
selectively monitored by an active piezoelectric sensor, installed into a ventilation tube.
• Molecules of anesthetic vapors add mass to the oscillating crystal in the sensor and
change its natural frequency, which is a measure of the vapor concentration.
• Several other sensors monitor the concentration of CO2, to distinguish exhale from inhale,
and temperature and pressure, to compensate for additional variables.

• All these data are multiplexed, digitized,

and fed into the digital signal processor (DSP)
which calculates the actual vapor concentration.

• An anesthesiologist presets a desired delivery

level and the processor adjusts the actuators (valves)
to maintain anesthetics at the correct concentration.

Anesthetic machine, showing sevoflurane (yellow) and isoflurane (purple) vaporizers on the right
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Sensor – Ongoing Technological Trends

• Combination of MEMS (NEMS) technology and smart systems

o miniaturization of sensors
o integration with microelectronic functions

• Cost-efficient mass production

• Improved functionality
o reliability: self-calibration, self-diagnosis, self-adaptive
o consumer-friendly: ‘plug and play, wireless, Internet of things

• Improved (chemical) sensitivity and selectivity

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https://www.researchgate.net/publi
cation/264975575

Consequences of Future Trends

• Diagnostics will become more predictive

• Therapeutic interventions will become more preventive

• Healthcare will become more personalized and tailored to the

individual

• Treat and follow up patients in their own home; out-of-hospital

treatment

• Alternative and cheaper medical supervision and assistance by using

integrated information (AI) and coordinated medical care
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https://www.behance.net/gallery/56334729/Circle-Life-
smart-wearable-device-for-Diabetes

smart wearable device for Diabetes

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https://www.behance.net/gallery/56334729/Circle-Life-
smart-wearable-device-for-Diabetes
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https://www.behance.net/gallery/56334729/Circle-Life-
smart-wearable-device-for-Diabetes
https://www.behance.net/gallery/56334729/Circle-Life-
smart-wearable-device-for-Diabetes
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