T.E.A.K. – Bioengineering Mechanical Hand Lesson Plan Page 1
T.E.A.K. Traveling Engineering Activity Kits
Biomedical Engineering Kit: The Biomechanical Hand and Joint
Biomechanical Hand Activity
T.E.A.K. - Bioengineering Mechanical Hand Lesson Plan 2
Instructor Preparation Guide: Biomechanical Hand
Bioengineering Overview
Bioengineering is the use of engineering principles to tackle challenges in the fields of biology and medicine. Bioengineering applies engineering design principles to model any living systems.
Biomechanics Overview
Biomechanics is the application of mechanical principles to living organisms. Mechanical engineers apply their engineering principles and knowledge of physics and mechanics to simulate living things. Areas of biomechanics that will be covered in this lesson include prosthesis, robotics, and materials. Prosthesis helps disabled humans perform tasks that they could not naturally. Robotics is helping doctors perform surgeries that take a great deal of precision and control. The materials needed for these applications of biomechanics must be selected based on the many different functions and environments a system will be used in.
Figure 1 – Prosthetic Legs/Ankles Figure 2 – Robot ic Hand with Air Muscles
Robotic hands, such as the one in Figure 1 can achieve the same range of motion as a human hand can. Doctors can use this technology to perform procedures without being in the same room as the patient being operated on. Air muscles attached to wires simulate the effect of a real human muscle. The concept for this robotic hand stems from simple mechanical models like the one in Figure 3 which the students will construct.
T.E.A.K. - Bioengineering Mechanical Hand Lesson Plan 3
Figure 3 – Mechanical Hand Activity
Image Resources
• Figure 1.0: Prosthetic Legs/Ankles. Www.wikipedia.org. 3 Feb. 2009
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosthesis>.
• Figure 1.1:
Tactile Robotic Hand. Hacked Gadgets. 3 Feb. 2009
<http://hackedgadgets.com/2007/07/25/tactile-robotic-hand-with-air-muscles/>.
• Figure 2.0: Give Yourself a Hand. Hey Kids. YES Mag. 3 Feb. 2009 <http://www.new-
sng.com/giveahand.cfm>.
T.E.A.K. - Bioengineering Mechanical Hand Lesson Plan 4
Activity Preparation Guide - Biomechanical Hand
Overview
This kit is designed for students to gain a better understanding of how engineers solve engineering problems and design a system to improve the quality of life for those with disabilities and perform complex medical procedures. It further explains how engineers must analyze and acquire data from a biological system in order to design and fabricate a biomechanical product. The main focus of this kit is the design and fabrication of the hand and fingers, engineering problem solving, engineering team work, and practical applications. Learning Objectives By the end of this lesson, students should be able to…
• Solve an engineering problem. • Perform testing for data acquisition. • Develop a prototype. • Describe how the output of one part of a system can become the input to other parts.
Engineering Connection
Engineers work with Doctors and Surgeons to create solutions too many problems that arise. Most medical instruments used today have been analyzed and designed by an engineer. As technology continues to grow, engineers need to design new medical instruments or improve on old ones. Engineers must acquire data from the testing or medical knowledge and design a system to solve the given problem.
Activity Descriptions A.) Introduction Discussion: 10 Minutes
This discussion will introduce the topic of bioengineering to the students and demonstrate to them the current real world applications. The introductory discussion will also give an overview of what will be covered during this lesson and how it relates to the field of bioengineering.
B.) Mechanical Hand Activity: 30 Minutes
This activity will allow the students to construct a working mechanical finger(s) on a hand out of wood, tape, straws and string. This activity will allow the students to act as an engineer and design an artificial limb to work like an actual body part. Students will need to decide the size of materials to use in order to create a functional model. Then the students can compare their design with other students and find how each design has pros and cons. The students will also measure the strength of their own hand and compare that to the strength of the mechanical hand they just built.
C.) Group Discussion: 10 Minutes
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This concluding discussion will recap what the students have learned during the activity. The discussion will further allow the students to give their own input on how engineers must measure and record data in order to produce a functional design solution to an engineering problem. The discussion will also include how engineers and doctors are working with artificial hand models to perform complex surgery such as Microsurgery and Telesurgery.
Material Preperation Material must be prepared prior to teaching. Materials are based on a 25 student class size
1. Woodsies – 80 Pieces 2. Rubber Bands – 15 Pieces cut once 3. Masking Tape – 5 Rolls 4. String – 25 Pieces at 12” lengths 5. Whiteboard/Cardboard – 25 Pieces sized 3”x2” 6. Straw – 100 Pieces at 1” Lengths
Resources
1.) http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/cores.htm
2.) http://accelerateu.org/standards/index.cfm?page=Explore
3.) http://www.albanyinstitute.org/Education/standards.pdf
4.) http://www.new-sng.com/giveahand.cfm
New York State Learning Standards
New York State Health Learning Standards a.) Standard 3: Resource Management
- Students: Distinguish between invalid and valid health information, products, and services. - Students: Analyze how the media and technology influence the selection of health information, products, and services.
New York State Technology Learning Standards a.) Standard 1: Engineering Design
-Students will use mathematical analysis, scientific inquiry, and engineering design, as appropriate, to pose questions, seek answers and develop solutions. - Students:
• Activate devices • Recognize why an object or choice is not working properly • Recognize how a defective simple object or device might be fixed • Under supervision, manipulate components of a simple, malfunctioning
device to improve its performance
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• Design a structure or environment (e.g., a neighborhood) using modeling materials such as LEGO Duplo blocks, model vehicles, model structures, etc.)
b.) Standard 5: Technological Systems - Students will apply technological knowledge and skills to design, construct, use, and evaluate products and systems to satisfy human and environmental needs. - Students:
• Identify and operate familiar systems • Assemble simple systems
New York State Science Learning Standards a.) Intermediate Standard 1: Analysis, Inquiry, and Design.
- T1.1: Identify needs and opportunities for technical solutions to from an investigation of situations of general or social interest. - T1.1a: Identify a scientific or human need that is subject to a technological solution which applies scientific principles. - T1.3a: Identify alternative solutions base on the constraints of the design.
b.) Intermediate Standard 6: Interconnectedness - 1.2: Describe the differences and similarities between among engineering systems, natural systems, and social systems. - 1.4: Describe how the output of one part of a system can become the input to other parts. - 4.1: Describe how feedback mechanisms are use in both designed and natural systems to keep changes within desired limits. - 6.1: Determine the criteria and constraints and make trade-offs to determine the best decision.
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Biomechanical Hand
Duration
45-50 Minutes
Concepts Covered
Bioengineering
Biomechanics
Prosthetics
Medical Applications
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Bioengineering Discussion: (2 Minutes )
Background Information:
Bioengineering is the application of engineering principles to address challenges in the fields of biology and medicine. Bioengineering is the application of the principles of engineering design to the full spectrum of living systems. Group Discussion: Bioengineering Background
(Pose the following questions to the group and let discussion flow naturally… try to give positive feedback to each child that contributes to the conversation)
What do you think bio (biology) means?
• The study of life and a branch of the natural sciences that studies living organisms and how they interact with each other and their environment.
• The study of the environment. • The study of living organisms and living systems.
What do you think engineering is? What do you think it means to be an engineer?
• A technical profession that applies skills in: o Math o Science o Technology o Materials o Anatomy o Environmental Studies
Discuss with the students what bioengineering is and the broad scope of areas that bioengineering includes. For this discussion, provide students with examples of bioengineered products and applications.
• Bioengineering applies engineering principles in the fields of medicine, biology, robotics, and any other living system.
• Examples of products that have been bioengineered are: o Prosthetic Joints o Artificial Limbs o Hearing Aids o Artificial Organs – Heart, Lungs, Etc. o Dialysis Machines. o Contact Lenses.
T.E.A.K. - Bioengineering Mechanical Hand Lesson Plan 9
Mechanical Hand Activity Introduction: (5 Minutes )
Background Information:
This kit is designed for students to gain a better understanding of how engineers solve engineering problems and design systems to improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities and perform complex medical procedures. It further explains how engineers must analyze and acquire data from a biological system in order to design and fabricate a biomechanical product. The main focus of this kit is the design and fabrication of the hand and fingers, engineering problem solving, engineering team work, and practical applications.
Mechanical, or Robotic, limbs can serve different purposes. They can help people with disabilities live a more normal life by serving as an artificial limb. They can also help doctors perform complex medical procedures. As new technologies become available, there becomes new ways to use these technologies to make human life better.
Simplified Definitions:
• Prosthesis aka Prosthetics – An artificial extension that replaces a missing body part. Used to replace body parts lost by injury, missing from birth, or to supplement a defective body part.
• Telesurgery – New technology using a robotic hand that allows a doctor in one location to perform surgery at another location. The doctor wears a glove that transmits his movements to the robotic hand controlled by air muscles.
Group Discussion: Biomechanics
This discussion will occur after the introductory discussion and will lead into the Mechanical hand activity.
(Pose the following questions to the group and let the discussion flow naturally… try to give positive feedback to each child that contributes to the conversation)
What is Biomechanics?
• Application of mechanical principles to living organisms. o Creating a model of a human joint o Prosthesis – arm, leg, knee, elbow, teeth, hip o Robotics
Why would someone need a mechanical limb?
• To replace a lost or missing limb. • To perform a task that cannot be done by a human. • Increase strength or motion of human limb.
T.E.A.K. - Bioengineering Mechanical Hand Lesson Plan 10 What do engineers need to know to create a mechanical model of a body part?
• Range of motion • Strength • Size • Location • Shape • Purpose
Students will then be given the materials to construct their own mechanical hand. One instructor will go through each step of the construction, while the other helps the students individually.
Instructions are on following pages, each students or group receives a copy of instructions
Biomechanical Hand Activity – 30 Minutes
End Biomechanical Hand Activity
T.E.A.K. - Bioengineering Mechanical Hand Lesson Plan 11 Biomechanical Hand Activity Instructions
Materials
• 3 Pieces of Wood
• 1 Piece of Rubber band
• Masking Tape
• 1 String
• 1 Piece of Cardboard (or whiteboard)
• 4 Pieces of Straw
Instructions
1. Lay the three pieces of wood next to each other the long way (like a finger).
2. Tape across the two seems in the middle of the finger; label this side the “Inside”.
3. Turn the finger over (so the inside is face down) and place the rubber band down the middle of
the finger sections as shown.
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4. Tape around the middle of each piece of wood making sure to leave the ends of the elastic
untaped and hanging over one side, as shown. Make sure you tape the rubber band tightly.
5. Bend the short end of elastic over the tape and tape around the finger once more to prevent the
rubber from slipping
6. Tape the inside of the finger to the piece of cardboard (the hand).
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7. Turn the hand over and tape the rubber band to the hand.
8. Tape the piece of string over the end of the finger
9. Thread the pieces of straw onto the string.
10. Tape three of the straws in the middle of each of the finger sections and one to the hand as
shown below on the inside
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11. Operate the finger by pulling the string.
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Concluding Discussion: (5.0 Minutes )
What were you able/unable to pick up with your hand?
What were some of your limitations?
• Strength of material • Size of fingers • Spacing of fingers • Shape of hand/fingers
Students will be given the dynamometer (grip streng th tester) to measure their own grip strength.
What do you think would happen if tried to squeeze that hard with your mechanical hand?
• The wood would break • The string would break • The tape would rip •
What are some improvements you would make to have your mechanical hand work like your hand?
• Use a stronger material. (metal or plastic) • Use a material with more friction • Make a thumb
If resources are available video on robotic hand wi ll be shown. Afterwards instructors will talk about new technologies associated with me chanical hands/air muscles.
