Biomedical Devices Homework: Biomedical Device Function Analysis

This assignment provides answers to questions about various biomedical devices used in physiotherapy and healthcare settings. The assignment covers a range of devices, including biofeedback, diathermy, interferential devices, TENS, traction devices, ultrasound instruments, and wax bath therapy. For each device, the assignment addresses the device's purpose, working principles, common methods, and the specific tests performed by a biomed during maintenance. The assignment also includes the common problems faced by a biomed while working with these devices and provides a detailed overview of their functions, clinical applications, and maintenance protocols. The answers are structured by page number and question number, and include references to relevant research articles. This document is a valuable resource for students studying biomedical devices and related fields, offering a comprehensive understanding of their functions and applications.

Running head: BIOMEDICAL DEVICES
BIOMEDICAL DEVICES
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author note

1BIOMEDICAL DEVICES
Answer to page number 559
Q.1 The biofeedback device is a therapy which is driven by sensors. It is attached with the body
to evaluate the body functions. The primary focus of the therapy is to train how to combat stress
by means of relaxation process. Person can consciously handle body’s involuntary functions,
heart rate, and breathing so that the person can dominate against stressful condition (Pinter et al,
2019).
Q.2 The common methods that are followed in biofeedback are –
Electromyography (EMG) evaluates muscle tension that varies time to time.
Thermal EMP examines altered body temperature over time.
Electroencephalography evaluates brain wave activity.
Electrocardiogram is used to monitor the heart rate and its variation over time.
Q.3 Biofeedback mainly focuses on the stress related events most. Some examples of this are
eating disorders, learning disorder, muscles spasms, and urine incontinence. It serves other
several problems like asthma, high blood pressure, chronic pain, Raynaud’s disease, and stress or
anxiety disorder. It helps to treat these conditions that are noninvasive and independent of
medicines.
Q.4 The biomed validates the biofeedback’s sounds and value is altered with the specific
processes. In elaboration, it can be stated that biofeedback sensor is attached with the patient’s
body and then it creates a sound and show the variation on the monitor.

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Q.5 The specific tests that a biomed performs on the biofeedback unit during pulse modification
include temperature biofeedback and electrocardiogram. In these tests, the signal is transmitted
in the form of pulse. In pulse modulation, continuous signals are sampled at regular intervals.
Answer to page no 567
Q.1 The main purpose of the diathermy is to provide relief to the people suffering from back
pain, muscle strains, arthritis, and inflammation. It uses a high frequency electric current
prescribed for muscle and conditions. It triggers deep heat into the tissue at the time of
continuous application.
Q.2 The actual meaning of diathermy is “heating through” which was first coined by a German
Physician. The diathermy means the heat generation in the tissue by radiation, electric currents.
Q.3 The short wave diathermy is preferred over ultrasound when there is an additional
requirement of heat application in broader terms. Shortwave diathermy applies high
radiofrequency electrical currents in treatment procedures. Shortwave diathermy is a technique
that is used for healing deep muscle tissue for healing pain meanwhile the ultrasound is used
only for tissue that is 2 cm below epidermal tissues.
Q.4 A visual inspection is performed to confirm the monitor whether there is any breakage or
not. Then investigate all the systems are performed correctly or not. After that output control is
examined in different power settings like highest, lowest. At the time of testing, the timer is
checked, then the safety switch whether it is audible or not and finally the whole system is
examined if it is electrically safe or not.
Answer to page number 577

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Q.1 The main focus of the interferential device is to reduction of inflammation and lessening of
pain (Vance et al., 2014). It is treated in the damages like shoulder tendinitis or lower back pain,
ankle pains. This therapy provides treatment in deeper tissues.
Q.2 The interferential therapy (IFC) provides a continuous deep stimulation into the affected
tissues. It works with the help of two high frequencies about 4000Hz. These high frequency
channels penetrate the tissue at the time of beating lower frequency current to treat the affected
tissue. Moreover, this therapy yields endorphins and encephalin that the body cells produce to
decrease pain.
Q.3 The main difference between IFC and TFN is the usage of medium frequency current
(4000Hz) amplitude modulated a low frequency of 0-250 pulses. The interferential therapy uses
increased frequencies to penetrate in the tissues deeply to overcome skin resistance.
Q.4 Interferential therapy uses two high frequency currents which cross and interfere with each
other and produce a lower interferential current. The frequencies between 80Hz and 120Hz are
used to cure acute pain. On the other hand, the lesser frequencies between 2Hz to 10Hz are used
to treat patient with chronic pain. This treatment possesses one fixed frequency and then the
consumers select the second frequency. Finally, at the point of intersection, a lower frequency is
produced.
Q.5 A biomed executes some particular assessments on the interferential device during PM. At
first, overall inspection is done to find out any breakage. Then the output is checked by
oscilloscope to evaluate the frequency, voltage level or current. The timer is also tested to ensure
the accurate timing. Final functional operations must be checked to examine the appropriateness
of the operation before using it for service.

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Answer to page number 587
Q.1 The main purpose of a TENS device is driven by a battery that delivers small electrical
impulses. It is performed with the help of electrodes which contain pads. These pads are
connected to the person’s skin and used to relieve pain (Johnson, Mark, 2017).
Q.2 The TENS does not cure or remove the reason of pain. It can just block the pain signals and
provide short term relief. However, the treatment is safe and it provides better sensation rather
than usual medication.
Q.3 The three common adjustments include pulse setting that contains pulse amplitude, width
and frequency. High or low intensity TENS is mostly used. Various TENS use preprogramed
ways for treating patient issues.
Q.4 TENS relieve pain with the help of two approaches. The first is TENS drives the electrical
current to the body through skin and triggers the body’s pain killers that are chemical like
endorphins and enkephalins to minimize the pain. Another approach is gate theory in which the
signals pass through an opening to the brain, not the pain signals.
Q.5 The TENS electrical pulses stimulate the muscle contraction and enhance blood circulation.
The circulation is enhanced since the blood flows in and out of the affected area again and again
with contractions. This contractions and blood circulation helped to re-educate muscle.
Q.6 The most common issues the biomed will involve with TENS device are intermittent or no
output and skin burns. All these problems can be caused by broken treatment wires or
inappropriate application by the physiotherapist.

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Q.7 Some specific tests that the biomed performs at time of PM are checking the output
intensity. It is always necessary to examine the frequency, voltage by oscilloscope. All the
parameters should be within manufacture’s specifications. Then the user control is examined
whether it is working or not. If it is not working, the control must be repaired. Overall visual
investigation is performed such as presence of any breakage. The biomed should check all the
wires by ohmmeter during moving the devices.
Answer to page number 599
Q.1 the traction device is used to treat facet disease, sciatica, pinched nerves, disc issues, and
many other back conditions (Nandhini T, 2014). The main focus of this device is to remove or
minimize the muscle spasms, retain normal length and orientation of involved bones, inhibit or
lessen skeletal abnormalities or muscle contractions.
Q.2 The traction instrument applies a longitudinal potency to expand and stretch the vertebral
joints and soft tissues around the spine (Tandon and Saigal, 2017). It helps to straight the spine
and enhances the body’s capability to heal by own. It heals the patient by taking off the pressure
and reversing the force of gravity.
Q.3 There is two available modes of treatment. First is static mode that spreads constant pressure
and another is intermittent approach. In the intermittent method, two pressures are applied in one
cycle that is high and low.
Q.4 In the transaction instrument, a patient can use a safety switch. The function of this switch is
to regulate the comfort ability of a patient. When the patient feels uncomfortable they can
regulate this. After controlling the switch, the instrument releases all tension and provides
comfort to the patient.

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Q.5 At first a biomed performs overall visual checking if there is any breakage or not and all
tension cables are in correct condition. Then the tension accuracy is tested. The biomed takes
help of an accurate tension scale to validate the force. The traction’s pressure should be within
production’s accuracy. After that all the user controls are correctly examined if there is any
requirement of repair or not.
Answer to the page number 608
Q.1 the physiotherapy ultrasound instrument is used to minimize pain, increase mobility of soft
tissues, enhances circulation. It can also help to remove inflammation, heal wounds and soft
tissue injuries like neck pain and reduce pain. It increases high frequency sound therapy and
reduces inflammation in the affected region (Maan et al., 2014).
Q.2 ultrasound instrument creates a high frequency sound wave on skin or soft tissue or other
affected area. The physiotherapist uses a gel on the device and on the affected area of the skin.
The gel helps to penetrate the sound waves evenly in the skin.
Q.3 ultrasound uses two modes of working. One is continuous method and another is pulse
mode. Physiotherapist normally works with the help of continuous method. In this approach, the
output remains at constant level. The other method is pulse method where, the output is cycled
off and on and a level is chosen according to the patient (Shriki, Jesse, 2014).
Q.4 the common problems that is faced by a biomed at the time of handling the instrument
include intermittent or no output. This condition happens when the wires break and no
connection has been made to the ultrasound head.

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Q.5 The biomed uses an ultrasound output power device that helps to evaluate the output and
compare to the main display value. In this case, the wattmeter is used to perform the whole
condition. Then the personnel checks the treatment timer whether it is correct or not. After that
they check all the control panels whether it is appropriately working or not.
Answer to the page number 619
Q.1 the main focus of the wax bath therapy is to provide relief from joint pain, relax muscles,
enhances blood flow and skin condition, and also increases mobility (Textor, Laura 2016).
Q.2 In this treatment procedure, the affected area of the patient is dipped into wax many times.
Thus it creates a wax layer covering the area. Then a towel or wax paper is wrapped over the
injury so that the heat can penetrate deeply. The whole treatment continues for 20 to 30 minutes.
Q.3 The two heat settings are involved in this treatment. One is used for melting the paraffin wax
that takes time up to 4 to 6 hours. This is not included in the treatment procedure. The next
temperature is lowered to the temperature that is approximately 1260F to 1340F.
This temperature is used for actual treatment.
Q.4 The biomed may a troublesome experience at the time of providing treatment to the patient.
The common issues that can hinder the proper treatment include the not melting of all sections of
wax. Another problem that a biomed can face is the complete absence of wax melting.
Q.5 At first the biomed must check the wax bath temperature is accurate or not. For this, the
paraffin melting temperature is examined well. Then they examine the overall temperature
circuit as it is related to patient safety. After that all operational control must be evaluated and
checked for any breakage or not.

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Reference
Johnson, Mark I. "Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) as an adjunct for pain
management in perioperative settings: a critical review." Expert review of neurotherapeutics 17,
no. 10 (2017): 1013-1027.
Maan, Zeshaan N., Michael Januszyk, Robert C. Rennert, Dominik Duscher, Melanie Rodrigues,
Toshihiro Fujiwara, Natalie Ho Arnetha Whitmore, Michael S. Hu, Michael T. Longaker, and
Geoffrey C. Gurtner. "Noncontact, low-frequency ultrasound therapy enhances
neovascularization and wound healing in diabetic mice." Plastic and reconstructive surgery 134,
no. 3 (2014): 402e.
Nandhini, T. "Cervical neck pain-a review." Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and
Research 6, no. 4 (2014): 210.
Pinter, Alexandra, Szabolcs Szatmari Jr, Tamas Horvath, Ana Isabel Penzlin, Kristian Barlinn,
Martin Siepmann, and Timo Siepmann. "Cardiac dysautonomia in depression–heart rate
variability biofeedback as a potential add-on therapy." Neuropsychiatric disease and
treatment 15 (2019): 1287.
Shriki, Jesse. "Ultrasound physics." Critical care clinics 30, no. 1 (2014): 1-24.
Tandon, M. S., and D. Saigal. "Spinal Surgery." In Essentials of Neuroanesthesia, pp. 399-439.
Academic Press, 2017.
Textor, Laura. "Nonpharmacological modalities for the treatment of acute pain." In Handbook of
Acute Pain Management, pp. 166-184. CRC Press, 2016.

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Vance, Carol GT, Dana L. Dailey, Barbara A. Rakel, and Kathleen A. Sluka. "Using TENS for
pain control: the state of the evidence." Pain management 4, no. 3 (2014): 197-209.