ECE492B
Course Syllabus
1. Department: Electrical Engineering
Title: Special Topics-Biomedical
Applications of Electrical and Computer
Engineering
Number: ECE492B
Credit Hours: 3
Elective
2. Course Description:
This courses studies selected biomedical applications of electrical and computer
engineering. Topics include nerve and cell structure, the linear axon equation, non-linear
pulse propagation, cell membrane resting potential, membrane conductance, electrostatic
phenomena, and applications of optimization. Computer simulations and
exercises/projects are required.
3. Prerequisite(s): ECE 302 , ECE 303
4. Textbook(s) and/or other required material:
Course Notes
5. Course objectives. By the end of this course, the student should be able to: (use
demonstrative verbs)
Apply Kirchoff's laws to determine axon models.
Determine voltage and current properties of linear axons.
Design algorithms and software for simulation of linear and non-linear axon propagation.
Determine cell resting potentials given ion concentrations.
Determine electrostatic space potential given charge distributions.
Design optimization algorithms to solve selected problems.
6. Topics covered (number of lectures per topic, based on 45 50-minute lectures per
semester):
Linear axon model: equations, solutions, and properties (8 lectures)
Non-linear membrane conductance and non-linear axon propagation (7 lectures)
Numerical solution of ordinary and partial differential equations (6 lectures)
Cellular resting potential and equilibrium properties (6 lectures)
Electrostatic phenomena and applications (7 lectures)
Optimization theory, algorithms, and applications (6 lectures)
7. Class/laboratory schedule (sessions per week and duration of each session):
Two 75 minute lectures
8. Contribution of this course to the professional component (ABET Criterion 4)
General comments: none
Course content related to professional
component
Professional component
Basic math and science, some experimental (1
yr. required).
Engineering science and design (1.5 yrs.
required)
3 semester hours
General education requirement
9. Relationship of this course to program learning outcomes:
Text description (optional): None
Learning Level of
Course content related to outcome
Outcome Instruction implementation/assessment
Outcome A Major
Students use fundamental mathematics to solve selected
problems from biomedical engineering.
Outcome C Intermediate
Students design algorithms and software to model
biomedical phenomena.
Outcome E Major
Axon properties are specified at a fundamental physics level.
Students must translate these properties into working
simulation programs.
Outcome F Intermediate
An emphasis is placed on the validity of mathematical
models. A simulation or result strongly depends on the
accuracy of its assumptions.
Outcome G Intermediate
Students must construct, complete, and report the results of
their simulations. A component of their grade depends on the
effectiveness of their communication.
Outcome I Basic
Emphasis is placed on a continual incorporation of new
results from experimental biomedical engineering. Models
and simulations can be improved as more knowledge is
gained.
10. Date of preparation and person(s) who prepared this description:
S. T. Alexander
January 31, 2004