Abstract:

Introduction:
At present, a large number of different instrumentation techniques are used in medical research, prevention, diagnostics and therapy. Often they allow to measure and evaluate quantities, which are not detectable by human senses. Information about observed (investigated) biological system is carried by biological signals. They include a basic element - a sensor. Sensors serve for detection, measurement and recording of physical, chemical and biosignals. Physical properties that can be detected by this way include temperature, pressure, vibration, sound intensity, light intensity, load or weight, gas and liquid flow rate, magnetic and electric fields, concentrations of many substances in gaseous, liquid or solid form.
Basic information in this field should be provided to the students of medicine during their undergraduate university study in the subject medical biophysics at the Faculty of Medicine Comenius University in Bratislava.

Material and methods:
As example of biosignal detection, we mention a pulse oximetry, which allows to measure the heart rate and oxygen saturation of blood at rest and after defined stress. The principle of pulse oximeter is based on the finding that the absorption of light by haemoglobin depends on its oxygenation. Portable pulse oximeters are currently the most widely used in clinical practice. The pulse oximeters can be used for non-invasive, rapid and accurate measurement of oxygen saturation and heart rate, by random measurements or monitoring patient in the intensive care units.
They are also suitable for home monitoring. If the device indicates the low blood oxygen saturation, it is recommended to contact a specialist, immediately.

Results:
The main task of teaching of medical biophysics is to prepare students to understand the physical laws that are applied in medicine. In the current syllabus of medical biophysics at the Faculty of Medicine of Comenius University are included biosignals, which detection, measurement and processing are crucial for diagnostic methods in medicine. Undergraduate students of medicine are acquainted with the physical principles of biosignal detection, the
principles of various types of sensors and transducers.

Conclusion:
In the teaching process of medical biophysics are involved, beside pulse oximetry, a full complex of experimental tasks and their processing that deal with registering direct and indirect biosignals such as blood flow velocity, ultrasound imaging, body tissue resistance measurement, bioelectric impedance analysis of body composition, electrocardiography, thermometry, indirect blood pressure measurement.

Acknowledgement:
Contribution was supported by GP KEGA MESRS of the SR № 026UK–4/2017.

References:
[1] Kukurová, E., Kráľová E. Lekárska fyzika a biofyzika pre medicínsku prax (Medical Physics and Biophysics for medical practice). Comenius University, Bratislava), 264 p., 2004. ISBN 80-223-1824-8.

Keywords:

Medical study, medical biophysics, biological signals.