Sources of Biomedical Signals
Sources of Biomedical Signals
Sources of Biomedical Signals
Medical Informatics
Biomedical Signal Processing
Action potential
Electroneurogram (ENG)
Electromyogram (EMG)
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
Electrogastrogram (EGG)
Phonocardiogram (PCG)
Carotid Pulse (CP)
Vibromyogram (VMG)
Vibroarthogram (VAG)
Basic
component of
bioelectrical
signals
Caused by the
flow of Na+, K+
and Cl- ions
across the cell
membrane
Resting potential:
• 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
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
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
All-or-none
phenomenon
Absolute
refractory period:
1 ms in nerve
cells
Relative
refractory period:
several ms in
nerve cells
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 contcentric
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.
Wirst
BElbow - below
the elbow
AElbow – above
the elbow
Typical
values of propagation rate or
nerve conduction 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.
Motor units
Single Motor Unit
Action Potential
(SMUAP)
Normal SMUAPs
are usually
biphasic or
triphasic
3-15 ms in
duration, 100-
300 μV in
amplitude, 6-30
Hz in frequency
range
The 10-20 system of electrode placement
for EEG recording.
Thecommonly used terms for EEG
frequency range:
• Delta (0.5-4 Hz): deep sleep
• Theta (4-8 Hz): beginning stages of sleep
• Alpha (8-13 Hz): principal resting rhythm
• Beta (>13 Hz): background activity in tense and
anxious subjects
a: delta, b: theta, c: alpha, d: beta, e: blocking of
alpha rhythm by eye opening, f: marker 50 μV, 1 sec
The electrical activity of the stomach
consists of rhytmic waves of depolarization
and repolarization of its constituent smooth
muscle cells.
The activity originates in the mid-corpus of
the stomach, with intervals of about 20 s in
human.
Recorded by abdomen electrodes e.g. three
electrodes along the antral axis of stomach
and the common reference electrode
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
Directmechanical manifestation of
contraction of a skeletal muscle.
Accompanies the EMG
Recorded by contact microphones or
accelerometers placed on the muscle
surface.
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 osteoarthiritis and other
degnereative diseases may have suffered
cartilage loss and produce grinding sounds.
The VAG is complex signal and difficult to
analyze.