Summer SAVY, Session 2 Day 2, Biomedical Engineering (1st-2nd)
It was another exciting day in Biomedical Engineering! Our day started with our big question, “How Do Biomedical Engineers Collect and Analyze Data about the Human Body to Help Design Technologies?” We took on the role of biomedical engineers hired by “Fast Feet Shoe Company” to collect and analyze data about foot shapes, sizes, and arch heights, and used this data to recommend how many different types of shoes the company should design. We used our wet footprint outlines to compare and contrast our foot length and categorize our arches to determine the best number of designs the shoe company could make.
We began the first step in the engineering design process (Ask) and worked as a class to create these questions: How do we build and create a functional knee brace that can help Mattias’ injured knee work like a healthy knee with the materials and tools available? What shape, size, and features would create the type of brace to help his knee get better? We sketched out initial design ideas using the information we’ve learned about knee anatomy and the function of various materials technologies.
In the afternoon, we had a presentation from our guest speaker, Dr. Anguiano, PT, DPT. She explained the parts of the knee, including its main bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. She explained five main types of knee braces, their function and design, and their pros and cons. We learned about what physical therapy is and how the goal is to help the body regain typical function with as little outside support as possible, as well as what it takes to become a physical therapist. Ask your learner what they learned from Dr. Anguiano!
Big takeaways from today are that: 1) engineers collect and use data about the human body and how it works to inform the design of various technologies, 2) there is natural variation in the shape and size of human feet, and 3) athletic shoes and knee braces are examples of technology.
Some dinner table questions:
- Why is it important as a biomedical engineer to use data to inform designs?
- Why do you think _____ is designed that way?
- Look at the soles of your shoes. Where are they most worn? What does that tell you about the way that you walk? What could the shoe designer have done differently in the design to prevent your shoe from wearing down where it did?
See you tomorrow!
Warmly,
Ms. Courtney and Ms. Sharon