The aim of this project is to develop modules that provide laboratory experience in undergraduate biomedical engineering elective classes. Within the biomedical engineering elective courses, nine modules are being developed: (1) experimental stress analysis of orthopedic materials, (2) stress-strain analysis of soft tissue, (3) study of hand tool vibration, (4) measurement of fluid mechanical properties of cardiac valve prostheses, (5) study of transport properties in hemodialysis, (6) use of indicator/dilution techniques for flow measurement, (7) pressure measurement in a mock circulatory system, (8) electrical safety of biomedical equipment, and (9) analysis of respiratory flow. Many of these modules compare the data generated to industrial standards to introduce realistic experiences into the curriculum. Equipment requested includes an oscillograph recorder and IBM PC for data acquisition and signal conditioning; strain gage instrumentation for stress analysis; accelerometers for determination of hand tool vibration; pressure transducers and flowmeter probes for instrumentation of two mock circulatory systems; a spectrophotometer to measure concentration of solutes in hemodialysis; thermal and dye dilution systems for measurement of cardiac output; an electrical safety analyzer for determination of safety of medical equipment; and a pneumotachograph and animal ventilator for the study of respiratory flow. These modules should be of interest to biomedical and other engineering educators since they allow students to learn methods of data collection and analysis while enhancing their understanding of fundamental engineering science principles.
