Biomedical Engineering BMEN

Instruction offered by members of the Faculties of Engineering and Kinesiology.

Associate Dean (Academic) - L.E. Turner

Biomedical Engineering 003 Q(20 hours)

Health Care Management

Factors in modern health care provision, economic and social constraints, methods for determining efficacy of treatment (outcome measures), assessment of life quality, provision and control of services, methods for determining local, national and global needs, importance of standards, quality control and measurement, effects of population demographics, historical developments and models of welfare provision.

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Biomedical Engineering 005 Q(20 hours)

Introduction to Biomedical Engineering Research

Topics in Biomedical engineering, including scientific process, reporting of research, biostatistics, career opportunities in Biomedical engineering, entrepreneurship, presentation skills. Some topics will be presented by guest lecturer, as appropriate. The student grade is based upon submission of a research proposal and an oral presentation that outlines a proposed research topic for the student's 4th year research thesis.

Prerequisites: Biomedical Engineering 003, 309, 319, and 327.

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Senior Courses

Biomedical Engineering 309 H(3-3/2)

Anatomy and Physiology for Engineers

Physiological terminology and anatomical planes of reference, human skeletal structure, types of connective tissues, structure of joints, muscle and organ structure and function, cardiac physiology, blood properties and flow, introduction to autonomous nervous system, disorders of the musculo-skeletal system.

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Biomedical Engineering 319 H(3-1.5T)

Applied Statistics for the Experimental Sciences

Presentation and description of data, introduction to probability theory, Bayes theorem, discrete and continuous probability distributions, estimation, sampling distributions, tests of hypotheses on means, variances and proportions, simple linear regression and correlation, multivariate analysis, power calculations and statistical significance for study design, non-parametric statistical tests, analysis of variance, additional models of regression analysis. Applications are chosen from bioengineering examples.

Prerequisites: Applied Mathematics 219.

Note: Credit for both Biomedical Engineering 319 and Engineering 319 will not be allowed.

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Biomedical Engineering 327 H(3-1T-3/2)

Electrical Circuits for Biomedical Engineers

Definition of linear elements, independent and dependent sources, sign conventions; basic circuit laws, simple resistive circuits; node and mesh analysis. Thevenin, Norton and other theorems; inductance and capacitance. AC circuit analysis, impedance, admittance, phasor diagrams; average and effective values of waveforms, real, reactive and complex power, power calculations; mutual inductance, ideal transformer, introduction to balanced three-phase circuits, power calculation in three-phase circuits. The tutorial and laboratory will introduce basic principles of sensors and measurement in a biomedical context. Includes signal amplification and filtering and analog-to-digital conversion.

Prerequisites: Physics 259.

Note: Credit for both Biomedical Engineering 327 and any of Engineering 325, Electrical Engineering 329 or 341 will not be allowed.

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Biomedical Engineering 405 H(3-1T-2)

Biological Tissue and System Mechanics

To understand the constitutive and structural behaviour of complex biological tissue: mechanical and electro-chemical properties of biological tissues, nonlinear and time-dependent behaviour, functional adaptation to load, multi-phasic materials, anisotropic and composite materials, structural and micro-structural behaviour, hierarchical modelling from system to tissue to cell, failure theories.

Prerequisites: Engineering 317, Biomedical Engineering 309.

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Biomedical Engineering 407 H(3-1T-2)

Cell Culture and Tissue Engineering

Mammalian cell culture, including nutrient metabolism, growth kinetics and scale up to bioreactors. Cell adhesion, cell aggregation, cell motility. Forces on cells, stress and strain, fluid shear. Mass transfer in tissues, extra-cellular matrix and tissue microenvironments, biomaterials, artificial organs. Therapeutic molecule production from genetically engineered cells.

Prerequisites: Engineering 317, Biomedical Engineering 309.

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Biomedical Engineering 409 H(3-1T -2)

Bioelectricity

The generation, transmission, and measurement of electrical events generated by the excitable cells which compose the heart, brain, and muscle. Starting with the behaviour of ions in solution, a description of biologically generated electricity is built up to ultimately relate cellular activity to body surface potentials as measured by the electrocardiogram and electroencephalogram. Equivalent electrical circuit representations of biological structures are derived. Physiology specific to the organ being studied will be given. Specific topics covered include: the Nernst equation; subthreshold membrane phenomena; active membrane responses; the Hodgkin-Huxley model of ion channel dynamics; the core conductor model; equivalent monopole and dipole sources; volume conductor fields; the bidomain equations; the response of cells to external stimuli; synaptic transmission; and, the ECG. Biological concepts introduced are action potentials, accommodation, refractoriness, and frequency encoding of information.

Prerequisites: Chemistry 209, Physics 259, Biomedical Engineering 309, 327.

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Biomedical Engineering 500 M(0-9)

Biomedical Engineering Research Thesis

A directed studies research project worth three half-course equivalents in an area of interest, directed by a project advisor/faculty member within the faculties of Engineering, Kinesiology or Medicine. The project involves understanding of scientific process and application to identification of research project purpose, review of literature, development and description of methods, presentation of results and discussion of findings. Projects may involve experimental, analytic or computer modelling. Pre-session study is required.

Prerequisites: Final-year standing in the Engineering program of choice.

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Biomedical Engineering 509 H(3-0)

Medical Image Processing and Biometrology

Principles of various imaging modalities used in Biomedical engineering applications, including CT, MRI, ultrasound, PET, SPECT. Principles of digital image processing, filtering, enhancement, feature extraction, automatic recognition and 3-D model reconstruction. Comparison of imaging techniques including resolution, quantization and noise characteristics. Integration of different imaging modalities. Visualization of 2-D and 3-D models with geometric integrity measures.

Prerequisites: Applied Mathematics 307 and one of Engineering 335, Computer Engineering 339, Civil Engineering 337 or Mechanical Engineering 337.

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Biomedical Engineering 511 H(3-0)

Materials and Biocompatibility

Basic chemical and structural properties of living tissues and biomaterials for incorporation into biological systems. Role of microstructure, material properties and biocompatability aspects in selection of biomaterials for biofilms, artificial organs, implants and prostheses.

Prerequisites: Biomedical Engineering 309 and one of 405 or 407.

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Biomedical Engineering 513 H(3-2)

Advanced Numerical Techniques for Engineering and Natural Systems

The theory of numerical techniques for complex systems with applications in solids, fluids and heat transfer: discrete and continuous systems, matrix methods, differential and variational methods, discretization of a system, weighted residuals methods, numerical integration, finite element solution methods for structural, continuum and heat transfer problems, finite difference solution methods for convective heat transfer and fluid flow, introduction to nonlinear methods, accuracy and convergence, computational requirements, solution efficiency. Students will perform a research project related to their area of specialization.

Prerequisites: Applied Mathematics 307 and one of Engineering 335, Computer Engineering 339, Civil Engineering 337 or Mechanical Engineering 337.

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Biomedical Engineering 515 H(3-2)

Biosystems Modelling Methodologies

Module 1: System identification, methods of representation: state-space, statistical, monte carlo, geometric, dynamic simulation, dimensional analysis. Module 2: Application and model development, discipline specific examples. Students will do a team project.

Prerequisites: Applied Mathematics 307 and one of Engineering 335, Computer Engineering 339, Civil Engineering 337 or Mechanical Engineering 337.

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Biomedical Engineering 517 H(3-3)

Experimental and Analytic Human Dynamics

Principles of 3D human locomotion and gait analysis, optical measurement techniques, force and pressure measurement techniques, 3D kinetic and kinematic data acquisition and data smoothing aspects, joint coordinate systems, inverse dynamics, prediction of joint forces and moments. Applications of principles to term project, investigating aspects of human locomotion and incorporating experimental analysis.

Prerequisites: Engineering 349 and one of Engineering 335, Computer Engineering 339 or Civil Engineering 337.

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Biomedical Engineering 521 H(3-2)

Musculoskeletal Biomechanics

Reviews of various basic engineering principles governing materials and structures that apply to the study of ligaments, tendons, bone, muscles, joints in the musculoskeletal system. The solid mechanics aspects of biomechanics as it applies to tissue mechanics and surgical devices that alter tissue mechanic. The contribution of external loading. Forces generated by muscles and constraints provided by other musculoskeletal structures that generate significant stresses in musculoskeletal tissues through experimental and numerical modelling approaches.

Prerequisites: Engineering 317, 349.

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Graduate Courses

Biomedical Engineering 601 H(3-0)

Fundamentals of Biomedical Engineering

An introduction to biology, biochemistry, anatomy, physiology, engineering fundamentals, and biostatistics for biomedical engineers. Detailed discussion on bioengineering and biomedical engineering, including current local and international research and industry, emphasis on local strengths.

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Biomedical Engineering 603 H(3-0)

Frontiers of Biomedical Engineering

An introduction to research in biomedical engineering, experimental design, preparation and review of research proposals, technical (oral and written) communication to diverse audiences, obtaining employment in industry, academia.

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