Biomedical design projects
developed around OEM devices
Jean-Michel I Maarek
Department of Biomedical Engineering
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA 90089
jmaarek@usc.edu
Senior projects design course
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BME 405L: Senior Projects – Measurements
and Instrumentation
15-week course with laboratory organized in 3
hours of classroom time + 3 hours of
laboratory time per week
Offered twice a year to accommodate all BME
seniors (~ 50 students year)
Enrollment: 18 students in Fall 06 and 27
students in Spring 07
Goals of Senior Projects course
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Course goals: to integrate applications of computer
programming, signal transduction, data
acquisition, data analysis, and signal processing in
the design of medical and laboratory
instrumentation
LabVIEW: standard in academic and industrial
environments for data acquisition, interfacing of
instruments, data analysis, and graphic user
interface
Students apply LabVIEW as a tool for the design of
computer-based medical virtual instruments
Topics addressed in BME 405L
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LabVIEW programming basics
Software architectures
Development of software requirements and
use cases
Properties of signals and data acquisition
Instrument control
Graphic user interface
Light, pressure, and temperature transducers
Format
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Time divided between instructor-led
presentation (1/3 time) and student
activities (2/3 time)
Activities to develop programming skills and
practice concepts discussed with instructor
Instructor and teaching assistant roam the
room during activities and assist students
in their work
Six “canned” laboratories cover basics of
data acquisition and instrument control,
static and dynamic calibration of pressure,
temperature, and light transducers, and a
virtual frequency analyzer
8 week project to develop a computer
based medical monitor using an OEM
device
Term project with OEM device
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OEM device: Ipod (Nonin)
pulse oximeter and M2600
NIBP monitor (Colin
Medical)
Programmer’s manual
Serial (RS 232) control and
communication for
implementation of medical
monitor with several modes
of measurement or signals
Graphic user interface
Data storage
Functional requirements from
use case
Project deliverables
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LabVIEW program
Graphic User
Interface
Demonstration (rated
by other group of
students)
Design report
Conclusions
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OEM device provides realistic experience in
terms of technical integration, use of
technical documentation
Use case entices students to think about use
of product by others. Graphical user interface
also reflects emphasis on users
Favorable comments from industrial advisory
board and high student evaluation marks but
no formal evaluation