Biomedical engineering employs engineering expertise in solving biological and medical problems to improve the quality of life. The paper describes the significance of combining life sciences with technology and engineering, and discusses objectives and characteristics of biomedical engineering education. Huge interest in this area and also a rapid development of relevant engineering fields provides opportunities both for educators and graduates. Some of the challenges are: building competences in two demanding fields: biology and engineering, the importance of medical ethics in study programs in other engineering disciplines and health professions, relation with relevant stakeholders such as industry and healthcare institutions. The role and the need of biomedical engineering education in the region are discussed, and didactic paradigms suitable to address opportunities and challenges are explored.

This paper presents the results of study conducted by the Institute of Metrology of Bosnia and Herzegovina (IMBIH) that highlight the necessity of introducing metrology into medicine and defining standard regulations for inspections of medical devices. As it has been previously done for other kinds of devices that are under jurisdiction of the Institute of Metrology of BH, this research provides a foundation for the introduction of medical devices into the legal metrology system with precisely defined units of measurement, their ranges and errors. The study was based upon data collected through three clinical centers, 25 hospitals, 63 health centers and 320 private health institutions in BH over the course of one year. As a result of this study, the medical devices that have been introduced into the legal metrology system in BH include ECG devices, defibrillators, patient monitors, respirators, anesthesia machines, dialysis machines, pediatric and neonatal incubators, therapeutic ultrasounds, infusion pumps and perfusors. Furthermore, standard inspection regulations for the aforementioned medical devices are also defined. Additionally, a national laboratory for the inspection of medical devices was established and it currently operates under the ISO 17020 standard. Keywords : medical device, healthcare system, legislative, standard, metrology

Respiratory diseases can be very difficult to diagnose because their symptoms are sometimes very similar to each other. If we analyze asthma and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), diseases which are targeted in our research, we come to the conclusion that early detection of airway impairment can greatly assist in an early diagnosis. In this paper we present an integrated software suite that can help doctors make correct diagnosis of diseases such as asthma and COPD, using lung function tests. The software is based on object oriented methodology. The parameters of spirometry, IOS (Impulse Oscillometry System) and body plethysmography, used in the diagnosis of respiratory disease, will be included in the neuro-fuzzy system in order to help the software suggest proper diagnosis of asthma, COPD or normal lung condition. In order to meet all the conditions that are necessary for the proper and complete diagnosis of respiratory diseases, there is also information about the symptoms, allergies and auscultation of the patient included. In cases where it is not possible to determine the diagnosis on the basis of symptoms, spirometry and IOS test, the software indicates BDT (bronchial dilation test) and BPT (bronchial provocation test), after which new tests are required for spirometry, IOS and body plethysmography in order to get a complete diagnosis.

Asthma is a disorder characterized by chronic airway inflammation, airway hypersensitivity to a variety of stimuli, and airway obstruction that is at least partially or even completely reversible. To make correct diagnosis of asthma, diagnosis must be based on typical symptoms of asthma and identification of airway hyper responsiveness (AHR) or variable airway obstruction. In some cases, additionally we need to use bronchial provocation test using nonspecific stimuli, such as methacholine or histamine, what is useful for the determination of AHR. However, it is somewhat invasive in nature and it is not available in primary-care clinics or even in many general hospitals. Bronchodilator response (BDR) to short-acting β2-agonists is a valuable test to evaluate variable airway obstruction, which is only useful in patients with reduced lung function at the time of visit. Developed integrated software suite is user friendly tool which considers all this parameters to assist clinicians in the analysis and interpretation of pulmonary function tests data to better detect, diagnose, and treat asthma conditions. A total sum of 72 patient reports with previously diagnosed asthma by clinicians was tested with this tool. The software has performed the classification of asthma in the same way as doctors in 65 (90.27%) cases.

This paper will show basics and importance of ergospirometry. Parameters that affect the patient while running and walking will be shown together with principle for determining the Work Load during the test. The essence of the study and research was to analyze various formulas implemented for determining the power [W] on the basis of patient treadmill training during the ergospirometry performance test. Four types of calculation in methods of obtaining power (WorkLoad) measurement that are used in the majority of device manufacturers for ergospirometry were analyzed for the load during the ergospirometry test. It is shown that Jaeger formulas compared to ATS, Bruce and Modified ATS Formula, have the best results for different conditions of the experiment, and that they fit in the most testing conditions. This research has great importance for doctors that interpretate result of test, since using the best possible formula for determining Work Load is of critical importance and it can have influence on determining need for further tests that sometimes include invasive surgery. Paper also displays shortcomings of mentioned formulas and can be used as a reference when determining which formula is to be used for parameter calculation in a variety of situations.

This paper describes the methods and principles of the analyses of blood gases using membrane electrode for measuring pH, pCO2, pO2 and reference electrode. Advantages and disadvantages of using this technology are shown on the basis of samples used on the actual device installed at the central laboratory of the Clinical Centre of University Sarajevo. Paper describes principles of operation and conditioning of electrodes, proper handling, calibration process through one or two points, the importance of replacing the electrode membrane, and the procedure for checking the quality and reliability of the measurements themselves.

Paper itself describes operation principles of mechanical ventilator, it's electronic and pneumatic solutions, as well as wide spectrum of advantages for patients that are coming with this technology. Special emphasis is placed on new technology in mechanical ventilation, where unlike before when nurses and doctors were constantly monitoring and adjusting O2 levels delivered to newborn / neonate by ventilator, automation of this process, using “The closed loop controller of inspired oxygen system (CLiO2), offers opportunity for better care of neonates. We will display methods where CLiO2 system noninvasively and continuously measures the oxygen level in a newborn's blood using Masimo SET® Measure-Through Motion and Low Perfusion pulse oximetry technology to provide accurate and saturation of peripheral oxygen (SpO2) measurements, even under challenging clinical conditions. Paper descibes that the CLiO2 system processes blood oxygen saturation levels by a computer algorithm that then anticipates trends and modifies the amount of oxygen delivered. It will be shown how this system helps reduce complications associated with newborns needing mechanical ventilation and can free up time for clinicians to better care for some of their most vulnerable patients.

Neural networks have been applied very successfully in the identification and control of nonlinear dynamic systems. The paper presents a design of neural network based control system for 2DOF nonlinear laboratory helicopter model (Humusoft CE 150). The main objective of this paper is to develop artificial neural networks to control helicopter's motors, or consequently elevation and azimuth angles. Neural networks are obtained by cloning various type of controllers designed in our previous papers. Those procedures included a cloning linear PID controller, gain scheduling controller and fuzzy controller.

The paper describes a digital PID controller realized in the framework of a student project at the Department of Automatic Control and Electronics of Faculty of Electrical Engineering in Sarajevo. This project included the complete solution, from hardware design to software implementation of control algorithms.