Module overview
Medical Devices lie at the heart of all measurements performed by Cardiac Physiologists and correct use is therefore essential to providing a high quality service.
This module will introduce you to the principles of operation of common devices that you will use in your practice. You will learn how to measure their performance and determine if it is acceptable for clinical use. You will discuss how performance can be optimised through calibration, quality assurance and standard operating procedures and consider risks.
This module has a strong emphasis on application to practice, taking simple scientific concepts and translating them to the particular device being studied.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Systematically analyse available data sets (quantitative and qualitative) which underpin the practice of healthcare science and with particular reference to this module's content
- Discuss and justify the quality assurance (and if applicable legislative) framework for equipment and techniques in each specialism
- Critically appraise professional journal articles and associated literature using established appraisal tools
- Explain, using the correct terminology, the basic equipment / techniques used within the HCS specialisms of Cardiology, Vascular, Respiratory and Sleep Sciences
- Analyse the principles of operation of equipment and techniques in each specialism
- Critically evaluate the risks and benefits related to equipment and techniques, including safety
Syllabus
- Equipment functions and characteristics
- Equipment safety
- Application and choice of equipment
- Amplifier characteristics and functions
- Noise and noise reduction
- Operation, specifications, advantages and limitations of filters
- Fluid flow through tubes: Poiseuille’s Law, laminar and turbulent flow, blood flow
- Differentiation of volume and integration of flow signals
- Digitisation of signals
- Computer acquisition, storage and analysis of physiological signals
Techniques underpinning:
- volume and flow measuring devices used to measure dynamic lung volumes and flows and static lung volumes
- respiratory gas analysis
- pulse oximetry
- positive airway pressure therapy
- airflow, pulse oximetry, respiratory effort, body position, sound during sleep
- electrocardiography
- blood pressure measurement
- imaging techniques including ultrasound, X-ray, computerised tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), isotopes
- Hazards and safe of use of imaging techniques
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
This is a blended learning module and includes a number of online lectures, with associated work activity, to be completed prior to in-person sessions at which topics are discussed.
Through a combination of in-person lectures, seminars and tutorials you will learn how to apply knowledge gained to your future practice.
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Guided independent study | 20 |
| Lecture | 30 |
| Independent Study | 325 |
| Total study time | 375 |
Resources & Reading list
Textbooks
B.H Brown, R.H Smallwood, D.C. Barber, P.V Lawford, D.R Hose. Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering. Taylor & Francis.
John G Webster. Medical Instrumentation: Application and Design. John Wiley & Sons.
Trisha Greenhalgh. How to read a paper : the basics of evidence-based medicine. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell : BMJ Books.
Raghbir Singh Khandpur. Handbook of biomedical instrumentation. Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Ltd.
Allisy-Roberts, P.J., Williams J. Farr's Physics for Medical Imaging. Saunders Ltd.
Assessment
Assessment strategy
To pass this module you must achieve a weighted mean average of 40% or more AND also you must pass both the components at 40% or more.Formative
This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.
Written assignment
- Assessment Type: Formative
- Feedback: Feedback will be provided verbally.
- Final Assessment: No
- Group Work: No
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Essay | 50% |
| Case study | 50% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Case study | 50% |
| Essay | 50% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: External