12 Biomedical Engineering Fundamentals
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movements [4]. Biomechanics includes the fields of engineering mechanics, biology, and physiology. The knowledge of biomechanics helps us to understand the
normal and pathologic gait, mechanics of neuromuscular control, and mechanics of
growth and form. This understanding plays a significant role during the development
of medical diagnostic and treatment procedures. The human athletic performance
has also been enhanced with the help of biomechanics [5].
There are broad varieties of physical movements involved in biomechanics such
as the lifting of a load by a factory worker and the performance of a superior athlete.
These cases have used the same physical and biological principles, but the specific
movement tasks and level of detail change from case to case. Thus, the biomechanics
is all about the highest level of assessment of human movements [4].
12.2 Biosensors
The biomedical field basically depends on the monitoring of physical parameters
and chemical properties for effective outcomes. The analysis of these physical
parameters is performed in centralized laboratories, which require both capital and
skilled labor. However, these methods of analysis of physical parameters seem
to be accurate, but they have certain disadvantages such as time consuming and
inability to monitor concentrations at any instant in real-time situations. Therefore,
the development of biosensors has played an important role in instant monitoring
of biochemical under real-time situations which involve invasive and noninvasive
methods that offer an economic, fast, and easy analytical tool. The applications of
biosensors in the biomedical field have revolutionized the biomedical field with the
concept of self-monitoring. Biosensor can be defined as a device which monitors
the products of an enzymatic reaction in order to obtain the potentiometric response
[6].
A biosensor generally has two main components: a molecular recognition or
bioreceptor component and a transducer component [7, 8]. Figure 12.1 shows a typical biosensor in which an analyte is used to provide information to bioreceptor. The
bioreceptor component can be an enzyme, antibody, nucleic acid, microorganism,
and whole cell or tissue. The transducer component can be optical, electrochemical,
and mass-based. The types of biosensors based on these two main components
include temperature, light, spectrophotometry, fluorescence, and immunosensors.
The description of these biosensors is given below [9].
12.2.1 Temperature Sensors
Temperature sensors are most widely used in biological systems. The temperature
sensors which are especially used for the biomedical application must exhibit high
sensitivity and fast response. The semiconductor-based temperature sensors fulfill
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movements [4]. Biomechanics includes the fields of engineering mechanics, biology, and physiology. The knowledge of biomechanics helps us to understand the
normal and pathologic gait, mechanics of neuromuscular control, and mechanics of
growth and form. This understanding plays a significant role during the development
of medical diagnostic and treatment procedures. The human athletic performance
has also been enhanced with the help of biomechanics [5].
There are broad varieties of physical movements involved in biomechanics such
as the lifting of a load by a factory worker and the performance of a superior athlete.
These cases have used the same physical and biological principles, but the specific
movement tasks and level of detail change from case to case. Thus, the biomechanics
is all about the highest level of assessment of human movements [4].
12.2 Biosensors
The biomedical field basically depends on the monitoring of physical parameters
and chemical properties for effective outcomes. The analysis of these physical
parameters is performed in centralized laboratories, which require both capital and
skilled labor. However, these methods of analysis of physical parameters seem
to be accurate, but they have certain disadvantages such as time consuming and
inability to monitor concentrations at any instant in real-time situations. Therefore,
the development of biosensors has played an important role in instant monitoring
of biochemical under real-time situations which involve invasive and noninvasive
methods that offer an economic, fast, and easy analytical tool. The applications of
biosensors in the biomedical field have revolutionized the biomedical field with the
concept of self-monitoring. Biosensor can be defined as a device which monitors
the products of an enzymatic reaction in order to obtain the potentiometric response
[6].
A biosensor generally has two main components: a molecular recognition or
bioreceptor component and a transducer component [7, 8]. Figure 12.1 shows a typical biosensor in which an analyte is used to provide information to bioreceptor. The
bioreceptor component can be an enzyme, antibody, nucleic acid, microorganism,
and whole cell or tissue. The transducer component can be optical, electrochemical,
and mass-based. The types of biosensors based on these two main components
include temperature, light, spectrophotometry, fluorescence, and immunosensors.
The description of these biosensors is given below [9].
12.2.1 Temperature Sensors
Temperature sensors are most widely used in biological systems. The temperature
sensors which are especially used for the biomedical application must exhibit high
sensitivity and fast response. The semiconductor-based temperature sensors fulfill