BE/B Eng Bachelor of Engineering Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of signal processing technique is most commonly used to remove power-line interference (60 Hz noise) from an ECG signal?
- High-pass filter
- Notch filter (Correct answer)
- Low-pass filter
- Band-pass filter
Correct answer: Notch filter
A notch (band-stop) filter is designed to attenuate a very narrow frequency band, making it ideal for removing 60 Hz power-line interference while preserving the rest of the ECG signal.
Question 2: In a biomechanical analysis of the knee joint, the medial collateral ligament (MCL) primarily resists which type of force?
- Compression along the tibial axis
- Valgus (abduction) stress (Correct answer)
- Varus (adduction) stress
- Anterior tibial translation
Correct answer: Valgus (abduction) stress
The MCL is a ligament on the medial side of the knee and primarily resists valgus stress, which is the outward bending force applied at the knee.
Question 3: Which FDA regulatory pathway is typically used for a Class II medical device that is substantially equivalent to a legally marketed predicate device?
- Premarket Approval (PMA)
- 510(k) Premarket Notification (Correct answer)
- Humanitarian Device Exemption (HDE)
- De Novo Classification Request
Correct answer: 510(k) Premarket Notification
The 510(k) pathway allows a manufacturer to demonstrate that a new Class II device is substantially equivalent to a predicate device already on the market, avoiding the full PMA process.
Question 4: What is the primary role of surfactant in the lungs from a biofluid mechanics perspective?
- Increasing alveolar surface tension to improve oxygen diffusion
- Reducing alveolar surface tension to prevent alveolar collapse (Correct answer)
- Increasing pulmonary vascular resistance
- Decreasing mucus viscosity in the airways
Correct answer: Reducing alveolar surface tension to prevent alveolar collapse
Pulmonary surfactant reduces surface tension at the air-liquid interface within alveoli, preventing their collapse (atelectasis) during exhalation.
Question 5: In tissue engineering, what is the function of a scaffold?
- To act as the primary source of growth factors secreted into the bloodstream
- To provide a three-dimensional structure that supports cell attachment and tissue formation (Correct answer)
- To serve as a genetic delivery vehicle for CRISPR-Cas9 editing
- To directly replace the extracellular matrix with a permanent synthetic structure
Correct answer: To provide a three-dimensional structure that supports cell attachment and tissue formation
A scaffold provides a temporary three-dimensional framework that mimics the extracellular matrix, enabling cells to attach, proliferate, and organize into functional tissue.
Question 6: The Nernst equation is used in bioelectrical engineering to calculate what?
- The total membrane capacitance of a neuron
- The equilibrium potential for a specific ion across a membrane (Correct answer)
- The velocity of an action potential along an axon
- The conductance of a voltage-gated sodium channel
Correct answer: The equilibrium potential for a specific ion across a membrane
The Nernst equation calculates the electrochemical equilibrium potential (reversal potential) for a single ion species based on its concentration gradient across a membrane and the temperature.
Question 7: In medical imaging, what does 'spatial resolution' refer to?
- The ability of a system to distinguish between tissues with different densities
- The ability of a system to detect the smallest resolvable detail or distance between two objects (Correct answer)
- The time required to acquire a complete image frame
- The range of signal intensities that an imaging system can represent
Correct answer: The ability of a system to detect the smallest resolvable detail or distance between two objects
Spatial resolution describes the minimum separation distance at which two distinct objects or features can be distinguished as separate entities within an image.
BE/B Eng Bachelor of Engineering Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering 2
Which type of signal processing technique is most commonly used to remove power-line interference (60 Hz noise) from an ECG signal?