ECE 711 Biomedical Instrumentation

Origin of Biopotentials
Class 8

Biomedical Instrumentation

Dept of E & C Engg, NMAMIT

Resting Potential & Action Potential

Bioelectric potentials are produced as a result of
electrochemical activity of certain class of cells, known
as excitable cells, that are components of nervous,
muscular or glandular tissue.

Electrically they exhibit a resting potential, and when

appropriately stimulated, an action potential.
The resting potential of the internal medium lies in the
range of -40 to -90mV, relative to the external medium.
Biomedical Instrumentation
E & C Engg, NMAMIT

Dept of

Recording Action Potential

John G Webster
Ch 4
Biomedical Instrumentation

Dept of E & C Engg, NMAMIT

Nernst Equation: Equilibrium Potential

Biomedical Instrumentation
E & C Engg, NMAMIT

Dept of

Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz (GHK)
Formulation

which is close to typical measured values for the resting

membrane potential in frog skeletal muscle
Biomedical Instrumentation

Dept of E & C Engg, NMAMIT

ECE 711 Biomedical Instrumentation

Biopotential Electrodes
Class 9

Biomedical Instrumentation

Dept of E & C Engg, NMAMIT

Biopotential Electrodes
1.

Electrodes and sensors are used to detect biopotentials

Half-cell potential
Ag/AgCl Electrodes

2.

Electrode Behavior and Circuit Models

3.

Electrode Skin Interface

4.

Motion Artifacts

5.

Commonly used body surface electrodes

Metal plate electrodes

Suction electrodes
Floating electrodes
Flexible electrodes
Biomedical Instrumentation

Dept of E & C Engg, NMAMIT

1.

1.

2.
3.

Biomedical Instrumentation
E & C Engg, NMAMIT

Dept of

2. Electrode Behavior & Circuit Model

Biomedical Instrumentation

Dept of E & C Engg, NMAMIT

3. Electrode-Skin Interface

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3. Electrode-Skin Interface
Circuit Model

Biomedical Instrumentation

Dept of E & C Engg, NMAMIT

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4. Motion Artifacts: Electrode/Gel-Skin

Contact
Electrode moves
Charge distribution gets spoiled

Charge distribution gets disturbed

Signal goes wild !

Signal goes wild

Measurement goes bad

Measurement goes bad

Risk to patient, since not diagnosed correctly!

Using non-polarizable electrodes (Ag/AgCl) reduce the low frequency

noise created by motion artifacts
ECG, EEG should use such electrodes (it can be filtered out of EMG)

However, the gel-skin contact also creates motion artifacts, and the
Ag/AgCl electrodes cant do damn anything about it!
What to do?
Biomedical Instrumentation
E & C Engg, NMAMIT

Dept of

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5. Bioelectric Signals & Their Sources

Biomedical Instrumentation

Dept of E & C Engg, NMAMIT

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5. Commonly Used Biopotential Electrodes

1.

Metal plate electrodes

Large surface: Ancient, therefore still used, ECG

Metal disk: EMG, EEG smaller diameters, w/stainless steel, platinum or gold
coated

2.

Disposable foam-pad: Cheap!, minimum prep time Hospitals, ECG

Suction electrodes

3.

No straps or adhesives required, precordial (chest) ECG, can only be used

for short periods only

Floating electrodes

4.

Their metal disk is recessed, swimming in the electrolyte gel, so it is not in

contact with the skin reduces motion artifact

Flexible electrodes

5.

motion artifacts

Since body contours are often irregular, regularly shaped rigid electrodes
may not always work, particularly with infants. Polymer or nylon with silver
deposits, or carbon filled silicone rubber in the form of a thin film (Mylar film)

Internal electrodes
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E & C Engg, NMAMIT

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1. Body-Surface Biopotential Electrodes

a) Metal-plate electrode used for application

to limbs.
b) Metal-disk electrode applied with surgical
tape.
c) Disposable foam-pad electrodes, often used
with ECG

Biomedical Instrumentation
E & C Engg, NMAMIT

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2. Suction Electrodes

Biomedical Instrumentation
E & C Engg, NMAMIT

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2. Suction Electrode: Fetal ECG

Biomedical Instrumentation

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FETAL ECG IN LABOR

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Biomedical Instrumentation

Dept of E & C Engg, NMAMIT

3. Floating Electrodes

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Dept of E & C Engg, NMAMIT

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4. Flexible Electrodes

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Dept of E & C Engg, NMAMIT

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5. Internal Electrodes

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Dept of E & C Engg, NMAMIT

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References

Chapter 1, 2, Chapter 4, 5, John G. Webster,

http://www.unc.edu/~finley/BME422/Webster/c04.pdf

http://users.rowan.edu/~polikar/CLASSES/ECE404/index_files/lectures.htm

Newman, MR, http://www.fis.uc.pt/data/20062007/apontamentos/apnt_134_5.pdf

ECG: http://www.ambulancetechnicianstudy.co.uk/ecgbasics.html#.U_nc9qP4Zdg

Biomedical Instrumentation
E & C Engg, NMAMIT

Dept of

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ECE 711 Biomedical Instrumentation

Biopotential Electrodes
Class 10

Biomedical Instrumentation

Dept of E & C Engg, NMAMIT

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ECG Leads - Views of the Heart

ECG
Chest Leads
V1 & V2
V3 & V4
V5 & V6

Biomedical Instrumentation

View
Right Ventricle
Septum/Lateral Left Ventricle
Anterior/Lateral Left
Ventricle

Dept of E & C Engg, NMAMIT

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a). Electrodes for ECG: Atrioventricular Block

(a) Complete heart block. Cells in the AV node are dead and activity cannot pass from atria to ventricles.
Atria and ventricles beat independently, ventricles being driven by an ectopic (other- than-normal)
pacemaker. (b) AV block wherein the node is diseased (examples include rheumatic heart disease and
viral infections of the heart).
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Biomedical Instrumentation

Dept of E & C Engg, NMAMIT

ECG

Biomedical Instrumentation

Dept of E & C Engg, NMAMIT

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b). Electrodes for Electroretinogram

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Dept of E & C Engg, NMAMIT

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b). Electrodes for Electroretinogram

A Typical Vertebrate ERG Waveform in Response to a 2s light flash

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c). Electrodes for EEG

Fig. The electroencephalographic changes that occur when a

human subject goes to sleep
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Dept of E & C Engg, NMAMIT

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References

Chapter 1, 2, Chapter 4, 5, John G. Webster,

http://www.unc.edu/~finley/BME422/Webster/c04.pdf

http://users.rowan.edu/~polikar/CLASSES/ECE404/index_files/lectures.htm

Newman, MR, http://www.fis.uc.pt/data/20062007/apontamentos/apnt_134_5.pdf

ECG: http://www.ambulancetechnicianstudy.co.uk/ecgbasics.html#.U_nc9qP4Zdg

Biomedical Instrumentation
E & C Engg, NMAMIT

Dept of

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