Medical Instrumentation is the exciting field of using electronics to build devices that would help medical diagnosis, therapeutics or, at a more fundamental...

Medical Instrumentation is the exciting field of using electronics to build devices that would help medical diagnosis, therapeutics or, at a more fundamental level, help understand how the human body works.

In this module, we introduce students to analog electronics - the wonderful art of using signals in the native form they are available in nature - and to digital electronics - the world made of only two alphabets '0' and '1'. The aim is to introduce these concepts to students so that they can design simple electronic circuits, and learn the “language” of electronics so that they can discuss it with more specialist electronics engineers.

In the lab, the concepts of analog and digital electronics will be put into use as we design, build, test and deploy a medical device – a pulse plethysmograph and count our heart rate.

This is the third of four modules taken in year 1. This module introduces you to the functions of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

It essentially...

This is the third of four modules taken in year 1. This module introduces you to the functions of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

It essentially considers how we breathe and how oxygen and nutrients are delivered to the tissues, and the waste products of tissue metabolism are carried away. Because of their functional association, if lung function is impaired it will often lead to cardiovascular complication and equally cardiovascular dysfunction is often associated with respiratory complications.

You will consider the role of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems in depth and the medicine used to treat disorders of these systems.

The module aims to provide:

basic knowledge in nutrition, metabolism and fluid balance, including the relevant anatomy, biochemistry and physiology of the abdomen, gastrointestinal and urinary systems
	application of this knowledge to common clinical problems of nutrition, metabolism and fluid balance
	development of basic skills of interpretation, particularly in relation to images of internal organs
	the ability to make calculations that allow conclusions to be made regarding a patient’s nutritional status, common disorders of renal function and acid-base imbalance