Review of “Analysis and application of analog electronic circuits to biomedical instrumentation” by Robert B Northrop

Correspondence: Full list of author information is available at the end of the article Book details: Robert B. Northrop: Analysis and application of analog electronic circuits to biomedical instrumentation Second edition, Biomedical engineering series, 2012, CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, 6000 Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487-2742, ISBN-10: 1439866694, ISBN-13: 978-1439866696, 578 pages, 15 chapters, Price: $119.95 The basic task of the Biomedical engineering consists of finding the adequate solutions for processing and analyzing the different types of biological signals. The nature of the real world is analog. The most of the body signals are also analog. During acquisition, they are frequently mixed with noise; that is why each biosignal acquisition system should start with well designed analog signal processing front-end. The practice of such design is as much art as science. Biomedical engineers have to combine technical knowledge of different disciplines with a great deal of theoretical background, experience and intuition, but they specifically must know the state of the art in the analog biomedical techniques. As a starting point, they need good books where to teach some secrets of development and implementation of up-to-date circuits, modules and devices in the field. The second edition of ‘Analysis and application of analog electronic circuits to biomedical instrumentation’ helps biomedical engineers to understand the basic analog electronic circuits used for body signal acquisition. Since many bioelectric signals are within the microvolt range, the noise from electrodes, amplifiers, and the environment is often significant compared to the level of the useful signals. The book is intended for use in a classroom course on analog electronic circuits in Biomedical engineering for junior or senior undergraduate students. It also can serve as a reference book for biophysics and medical students interested in the topics. The book is organized into 15 chapters. It includes also an index, glossary, bibliography and recommended reading sections. Tasks for additional training, based on the discussed matter, are given at the end of some chapters. It should be mentioned the lack of hints or ready answers for solving them. Besides, it will be better for the reader, if the important formulas are highlighted in bold.