1

Biosignal Processing

Introduction
School of Biomedical Engineering
JiT, Jimma University

Shimelis N.
(Ass.Lecturer) October , 2017
 Bio(medical) signal
2

• Signal: any physical quantity that varies as a

function of an independent variable

– independent variable is usually time but may be

space, distance, ...

• Biosignal: a signal being obtained from a biologic

system /originating from a physiologic process
(human or animal (-medical -> patients))
October , 2017
2
 Biomedical signal
3

• Biomedical signal: Contain useful

information that can be used to understand the
underlying physiological mechanisms of a
specific biological event or system, and which
may be useful for medical diagnosis.

October , 2017
3
 Physiological Origins of Biosignals
4

• The living organism made up of many component

system and each system is made up of several
subsystems that carry on many physiological
processes.

• Most physiological processes are accompanied by or

manifest themselves as signals that reflect their nature
and activities.

– Signals: biochemical, electrical, physical

October , 2017
 Physiological Origins of Biosignals
5

• Bioelectric Signals
– Generated by nerve and muscle cells as a result of
electrochemical changes within and between cells

– Can be measured with intracellular or extracellular

electrodes

– ECG, EGG, EEG, and EMG are results of the Bioelectric

signals taken from the human body

October , 2017
 Physiological Origins of Biosignals
• Biomagnetic Signals
6

– Different organs(heart, lungs & brain) generate weak

magnetic fields

– Measured from specific physiological activity that is linked

to an accompanying electric field from a specific tissue or
organ

– Uses very precise magnetic sensors or SQUID

magnetometers (Superconducting Quantum Interference
Device)
October , 2017
 Physiological Origins of Biosignals
7

• Biomagnetic Signals (cont.)

– Magnetoencephalography (MEG) - monitor magnetic
activity from the brain

– Magnetoneurography (MNG) – monitor peripheral nerves

– Magnetogastrography (MGG) – monitor gastrointestinal

tract

– Magnetocardiography (MCG) – monitor the heart

October , 2017
 Physiological Origins of Biosignals
8

• Biochemical Signals
– Contain information about changes in concentration of
various chemical agents in the body

– Oxygen concentration

– Determine levels of glucose, lactate and metabolites

– Provides information about the function of various

physiological systems

October , 2017
 Physiological Origins of Biosignals
9

• Biomechanical Signals

– Produced by the mechanical functions of

biological signals such as:
– motion, displacement, tension, force, pressure, and flow

– Blood pressure measurement

October , 2017
 Physiological Origins of Biosignals
10
• Bioacoustics Signals
– Are special subset of biomechanical signals that involve
vibrations (motion)
– Respiratory system, joints, and muscles generate distinct
bioacoustics signals
Often measured at the skin using acoustic transducers such
as microphones and accelerometers

October , 2017
 Physiological Origins of Biosignals
11

• Bio optical Signals

– Generated by the optical, or light-induced, attributes
of biological systems

– May occur naturally or signals can be introduced to

measure a biological parameter using an external
light medium

October , 2017
 Examples of Biomedical Signals
12
 Action potential
 Electroneurogram (ENG)
 Electromyogram (EMG)
 Electrocardiogram (ECG)
 Electroencephalogram (EEG)
 Electrogastrogram (EGG)
 Phonocardiogram (PCG)
 Carotid Pulse (CP)
 Vibromyogram (VMG)
 Vibroarthogram (VAG) October , 2017
 The Action Potential
13

• Basic component
of bioelectrical
signals

• Caused by the
flow of Na+, K+
and Cl- ions across
the cell membrane
October , 2017
 The Action Potential
• Resting potential:
14

– In their resting state, the membrane readily permit the entry

of K+ and Cl- ions, but effectively block the entry of Na+
ions.
– The permeability of membrane for K+ is 50-100 times that
for Na+ ions.
– A cell in resting state is said to be polarized.
– The resting potential is in order of -60 to - 100 mV

October , 2017
 The Action Potential
15
• Depolarization:
– When a cell is excited the membrane changes its
characteristics and begins to allow Na+ ions to enter the
cell.
– This movement of Na+ ions constitutes an ionic
current, which further reduces the membrane barrier to
Na+ ions.
– This leads to an avalache effect: Na+ ions rush into the
cell.
– The inside of the cell becomes positive.
– The peak value of action potential is about 20 mV
October , 2017
 The Action Potential
16
• Repolarization:
– Membrane depolarization also increases the
permeability of membrane for K+ ions via a
voltage- dependent K+ channels.
– The permeability of membrane for Na+ ions decrease
near the peak of depolarization.
– The efflux of K+ ions from the cell makes the inside
more negative thereby effecting repolarization back to
the resting potential.
– Duration in nerve and muscle cells ~1 ms, in heart
muscle cells 150-300 ms
October , 2017
 Electroneurogram (ENG)
17

• The ENG is an electrical signal observed as a stimulus

and the associated nerve action potential propagate over
the length of nerve.
• ENGs may be recorded using concentric needle
electrodes or Ag-AgCl electrodes at the surface of the
body.
• In order to minimize muscle contraction strong but short
stimulus is applied (100 V amplitude, 100-300 μs).
• ENGs have amplitudes of the order of 10 μV. October , 2017
 Electroneurogram (ENG)
• Typical values of propagation rate or nerve conduction
18

velocity are:
– 45-70 m/s in nerve fibers
– 0.2-0.4 m/s in heart muscle
– 0.03-0.05 m/s in time delay fibers between the atria
and ventricles.
• Neural diseases may cause a decrease in conduction
velocity.

October , 2017
 Carotid Pulse (CP)
19 • The CP is a pressure signal recorded over the carotid
artery.
• Parts of CP:
– P (percussion wave): ejection of blood from the left
ventricle
– T (tidal wave): reflected pulse from the upper body
– D (dicrotic notch): closure of the aortic valve
– DW (dicrotic wave): reflected pulse from the lower body

October , 2017
 Vibromyogram (VMG)
20
• The VAG is the vibration signal recorded from a joint
during movement (articulation) of the joint.
• Normal joint surfaces are smooth and produce little or no
sound.
• Joint affected by osteoarthritis and other degenerative
diseases may have suffered cartilage loss and produce
grinding sounds.

• It is recorded by contact microphones or accelerometers

placed on the muscle surface. October , 2017
 Sensing of Biological Signals
• The signals can be sensed by qualitative or
21

quantitative manner.
• Measurement
Function of time
– discrete x[n]
– continuous x(t)
– digital

Multivariant vector

October , 2017
 Objectives of Biomedical Signal Analysis
22

• Information gathering

– measurement of phenomena to interpret a system

• Diagnosis

– detection of malfunction, pathology, or abnormality

• Monitoring

– obtaining continuous or periodic information about

a system
October , 2017
 Objectives of Biomedical Signal Analysis
23
• Therapy and control

– Modification of the behavior of system based upon the

outcome of the activities listed above to ensure a
specific result

• Evaluation

– Objective analysis to determinate the ability to meet

functional requirements, obtain a proof of performance,
perform quality control, or qualify the effect of
treatment October , 2017
 The Components of Human-Instrument System
24

October , 2017
24
 The Components of Human-Instrument System

•The subject or patient

•Stimulus or procedure of activity
•Transducers
• electrodes, sensors
•Signal-conditioning equipment
• amplifier, filter
•Display equipment
• oscilloscopes, strip charts, computer monitors etc.

25 October , 2017
 The Components of Human-Instrument System
26

• Recording, data processing, and transmission

equipment
• Analog instrumentation tape recorders, analog-to-
digital converters (ADCs), digital-to-analog converters
(DACs), digital tapes, CDs, computers, telemetry
systems etc.
• Control devices
• Power supply, isolation equipment, patient intervention
October , 2017
systems
 Signal Acquisition Procedures
27
• Invasive
– placement of transducers or other devices inside the
body
• Noninvasive
– minimize risk
– surface electrodes

• Active
– require external stimuli
• Passive
– not require external stimuli
October , 2017
 Processing of biomedical signals
28

 Ultimate goal of signal processing: to extract useful

information from measured data
 Biomedical signal processing requires
– Understanding the characteristics of signals
– understanding the needs (e.g. biomedical processes and clinical
requirements) and
– selecting and applying suitable methods to meet these needs

October , 2017
28
 Characteristics of Biosignals
29

October , 2017
29
 Signal processing methods
30 • Filtering (linear, nonlinear,
adaptive, optimal)
• Noise reduction • Statistical signal processing
• Preprocessing
• Frequency domain analysis
• Signal validation
• Time-frequency analysis
• Feature extraction
• Data compression • Fuzzy logic
• Segmentation • Artificial neural networks
• Pattern recognition • Expert systems, rule-based
• Trend detection systems
• Event detection • Genetic and evolutionary
methods
• Decision support
• Decision making
October , 2017
• 30
 Processing of biomedical signals
31

• Stages of Biosignal processing

October , 2017
31
 Example: heart rate meters
32
Sensor Signal processing User

October , 2017
32
 Problems in biomedical signal processing
33

• Accessibility

– Patient safety, preference for noninvasiveness

– Indirect measurements (variables of interest are not
accessible)

• Variance

– Inter-individual, intra-individual

October , 2017
33
 Problems in biomedical signal processing
34

• Inter-relationships and interactions among

physiological system

– Subsystem of interest may not be isolated

• Acquisition interference

– Instrumentation and procedures modify the

system or its state
October , 2017
34
 Artifacts and interference
35

• Interference from other physiological systems (e.g.

muscle artifacts in EEG recordings)

• Low-level signals (e.g. microvolts in EEG) require

very sensitive amplifiers; they are easily sensitive to
interference, too!

• Nonlinearity and obscurity of the system under study

October , 2017
35
 Course syllabus
36  INTRODUCTION TO BIOSIGNAL PROCESING
 BASICS OF SIGNALS & SYSTEMS.
• overview of signals & systems
• Fourier transforms
• sampling & quantization
• discrete-time signals & systems
• Discrete transforms.
• Digital Filters
 ECG SIGNAL PROCESSING
• ECG signal Acquisition
• pre-processing
• waveform recognition
• morphological studies & rhythm analysis
October , 2017
36
 Course syllabus
37  EEG SIGNAL PROCESSING
• Genesis of EEG signal
• evoked responses;
• averaging techniques;
• Pattern recognition of alpha, beta, theta & delta waves in EEG.
 EMG SIGNAL PROCESSING
• motor potentials;
• stimulation pulse characteristics;
• wave pattern studies;
• bio-feedback;
• psycho-neuro immunology;
• Signal processing.

October , 2017
37
 Course syllabus
38 • Pre-requisites ECE 3306-Digital Signal Processing
• Teaching & Learning Lecture and Lab practice
Methods
• Assessment/Evaluatio o Quizzes, Assignments & projects-------30%
n & Grading System o Mid-Exam ---------------------------------25%
o Final Exam---------------------------------35%
o Attendance & Class activities -----------10%

• Attendance Minimum 80%

Requirements
• Literature References
1: . Bioelectrical signal processing in cardiac and
neurological Applications, Leif sornomo
1. Discrete time signal processing, Oppenheim
2. Biosignal and Biomedical Image processing
October , 2017
38