A Computer-Aided Educational Device and Toolbox for Biomedical Signal Processing at the Undergraduate Level

Abstract

Engineering education requires both a theoretical and practical basis; some aspects are better understood through practical examples. Providing practical experience in biomedical engineering is of great importance in terms of understanding concepts and assisting the retention of learning. Hands-on experience can be particularly beneficial in supporting the theoretical explanation of the acquisition, processing, and displaying of biomedical signals. This study has developed an expansion board that can be plugged into Raspberry Pi boards to capture electroencephalography (EEG), electrooculography (EOG), electrocardiography (ECG), and electromyography (EMG) biomedical signals with a single-channel amplifier circuit. A toolbox has been written in the Python programming language to; capture, process, filter, apply fast fourier transform, and display these signals. The device and laboratory applications were introduced in the curriculum of a final year module, "Introduction to Biomedical Engineering" in the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Gazi University. The pedagogical value of the application was assessed by administering a questionnaire to the students. Results show the use of measurement and display of biomedical signals increased the curiosity and motivation of the students in Biomedical Engineering.