BI2SI1: Biomedical Signal Processing and Imaging

Module code: BI2SI1

Module provider: School of Biological Sciences

Credits: 20

Level: 5

When you’ll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Sillas Hadjiloucas, email: s.hadjiloucas@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Professor Slawomir Nasuto, email: s.j.nasuto@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE BI1MA3 (Compulsory)

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2025/6

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 18 September 2025

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module will introduce students to the fundamentals of processing biomedical signals, including analysing signals in both the time and the frequency domain. It will also familiarise students with feedback systems which are essential for almost all body functions and processes. The importance of system stability will be discussed. Applications of signal processing techniques and linear systems theory to solving biomedical problems will be emphasised.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Describe and analyse signals in both the time and the frequency domain, convert a simple time domain function into its Laplace transform and vice versa and use the properties of different types of filters in order to design solutions in Matlab, given a set of frequency domain specifications.
2. Calculate the power spectrum of biomedical signals in Matlab, and perform correlation and coherence analysis in Matlab given multiple biomedical signals.  Explain the Nyquist frequency, and select the appropriate sampling frequency of a given continuous system, and analyse simple discrete systems using the z-transform.
3. Explain the principles, operation and application of medical imaging modalities, together with their capabilities and limitations.
4. Use and explain image processing tools to process/analyse biomedical images.

Module content

Laplace transforms, inverse Laplace transforms and their application to solving differential equations.

Fourier series and Fourier Transforms. Sampling theory and Nyquist frequency. Autocorrelation, correlation, convolution and their properties. Principles of filter design. Low-pass, high-pass, band-pass and notch filters. Order and band-width of a filter. Use Matlab to filter biomedical signals with a range of band-width specifications. Power spectral density analysis. Random noise and its power spectrum. Coherence analysis. An introduction to the z-transform. Difference equations.

Principles and operation of: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), x-ray imaging, Computed Tomography (CT), Ultrasound Imaging, Planar Scintigraphy, Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), and Positron Emission Tomography (PET). Image processing techniques for medical imaging modalities: Pre-processing of the imaging data; the general linear model and how it is used for modelling fMRI data; design efficiency for fMRI experiments; estimating haemodynamic impulse response functions; the principles and applications of principal component analysis. Image processing techniques including spatial filtering, edge detection and image segmentation.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module comprises 4 hour lectures per week for 10 weeks, associated with 8 hour Matlab tutorials on signal processing using Simulink. Matlab sessions are used to reinforce the relevant lectures.

Study hours

At least 40 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve all of the following to pass this module:

1. Students taking the BEng Biomedical Engineering programme must also achieve a mark of at least 30% in each summative assessment.
2. An overall module mark of 40%

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each calendar day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three calendar days;
• where the piece of work is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in you Individual Learning Plan), the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three calendar days of the deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

Where a piece of work is submitted late after a deadline which has been revised owing to an extension granted through the Assessment Adjustments policy and process (self-certified or otherwise), it will be subject to the maximum penalty (i.e., considered to be more than three calendar days late). This will also apply when such an extension is used in conjunction with a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Students will be encouraged to complete tutorial sheets that highlight aspects of the course. These will be discussed during lectures and practical classes.

Reassessment

Additional costs