Pre-Class Monday 12-3-12

What do you think a biomedical engineer does?

Biomedical Engineering

The application of engineering principles to biological systems

Background

First recognized in the ’40s Combines a broad range of sciences (biology,

chemistry, and physics) through technology and medicine

Design instruments, devices, and software to: develop new procedures, or conduct research to solve clinical problems

In 2009, the Bureau of labor Statistics found that there were 14,760 biomedical engineers working in the US. They estimate employment growth of 72 percent over the net decade, much faster than the average for all occupations (BMES website). 

Starting Salaries

Bachelors : $53,470 Masters : $67,360 Doctorate : $77,520 But what about job security in the future?

The aging population and the focus on health issues will increase the demand for better and cheaper medical devices and systems.

For example, computer-assisted surgery and cellular/tissue engineering are being more heavily researched and are developing rapidly.

Prosthetic Hand Objective

Explore some aspects of prosthetic limbs Procedures

1) Brainstorm the parameters needed to design an artificial hand.

2) Design an artificial hand (Drawing only).3) Describe how it will work (Label the drawing carefully).4) Repeat steps 1-3 for a foot.

Conclusions1. Compare your results for the hand and foot. What similarities

or differences do you notice?2. Would your brainstorming and designing be different for an

arm? A Leg?3. Using the computer, check your brainstorming and designing

ideas. Were they complete? What did you not include?

Pre-Class Tuesday 12-4-12

The number of biomedical jobs is still predicted to increase faster than any other job field over the

next few years. What do you think is the biggest factor in this growth?

Specialty Areas

Bioinstrumentation: the application of electronics and measurement techniques to develop devices used in diagnosis and treatment of disease [similar to EE]

Biomaterials: use of both living tissue and artificial materials for implantation [research based]

Biomechanics: applies classical mechanics (statics, dynamics, fluids, solids, thermodynamics, and continuum mechanics) to biological or medical problems [a.k.a. the “physics” of the body]

Cellular, Tissue, Genetic Engineering: involve more recent attempts to attack biomedical problems at the microscopic level [a.k.a. the “chemistry” of the body]

Clinical Engineering: application of technology to health care in hospitals [similar to CE]

Specialty Areas (continued) Medical Imaging: combines knowledge of sound,

radiation, magnetism, light, etc. with high speed electronic data processing, analysis, and display to generate an image [optics]

Orthopedic Bioengineering: is the specialty where methods of engineering and computational mechanics have been applied for the understanding of the function of bones, joints and muscles, and for the design of artificial joint replacements [how the body moves]

Rehabilitation Engineering: enhance the capabilities and improve the quality of life for individuals with physical and cognitive impairments

Systems Physiology: uses engineering strategies, techniques, and tools to gain a comprehensive and integrated understanding of the function of living organisms ranging from bacteria to humans

Pre-Class Wednesday

12-5-12

Genetic Engineering involves more recent attempts to attack biomedical problems at the

microscopic level, a.k.a. the _____ of the body.

Athletic or Working Shoe

ObjectiveDesign 2 shoes: an athletic shoe and a dress shoe.

Procedures1) Brainstorm what specifics a pair of athletic shoes might

require (can be tailored to a specific sport/job)2) Design the shoe (sketch and label)3) Repeat steps 1 and 2 for a dress (working) shoe

Research (Internet) Is there a shoe on the market similar to yours? If so, what

is it? How will you market your shoe? (style, weight, cost, etc.)

Conclusions What was the biggest factor in designing your shoes?

Why? (can have different answers for each shoe) What will make your shoe better than those already

available?

Helping “Others”

Objective Work with a “doctor” to solve a

problem Procedures

Divide into groups of 2 Use the Internet to go to

www.edheads.org Complete the following

activities: Choose a Prosthetic Design a Cell Phone Crash Scene Investigation

Record observations and answers to the various questions or problems in a word doc. State the outcome as your conclusion.

Pre-Class Thursday 12-6-12

How might biomedical engineering help the sports industry? Example?

How you hear

Middle Ear has the anvil, hammer, and stirrup. Inner ear has the cochlea.

http://www.jimmyr.com/blog/hearingloss.swf

Limitations to the human eye

More than Your Eyes can See

Robotic Hand

Objective To design a robotic

hand to complete 3 “basic” tasks

Materials Lego kits Nothing else added

Procedures Design, build and test

a robotic human hand.

What it must do…

1) Hand goes from having all fingers extended to just holding up the index finger.

2) Clench tight into a fist.3) Perform a “hand shake” with the teacher.

Specific Notes:a. The robotic hand must be of adult, male size

(to include 4 fingers and 1 opposable thumb)b. Can use a motor, but mechanical driven by

human is fine (e.g. hand cranked works)