Charlotte Godfrey-Romo Kalanianaole

Pump that Blood! A biomedical engineering STEM lesson (original – Clearing a Path to the Heart) www.teachengineering.org

Start with Desired Outcome NGSS MS-ETS1-4 Develop a model to generate data for iterative testing and modification of a proposed object, tool , or process such that an optimal design can be achieved. HCPS III- Standard 4: Life and Environmental Sciences: STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION IN ORGANISMS: Understand the structures and functions of living organisms and how organisms can be compared scientifically

Learning Objectives After this activity, students should be able to: Describe what happens when a blood vessel is blocked. Describe how bioengineering techniques can be used to "open up" a blocked blood vessel. Apply the engineering design process to create solutions to a problem.

Pre-req Some knowledge of circulatory system

Relevancy Do you know anyone who has had a heart attack? (Ask students to raise their hands.) Do you think that heart attacks are common? Why or why not? What causes them?

Which heart looks healthy?

Observe Phenomena What do you observe about the rates of flow in the two models? Write down 3 observations. How can we compare the models?

Teacher pre-made questions? Which model represents heart 1? Heart 2? Why do you think that? What happened to heart # to make it flow more quickly/slowly? Do you think it is possible for the flow to get completely clogged? What do you think would happen to heart?

Biomedical Engineer In teams of 3 you will design a device to unblock a clogged heart artery. Brainstorm Design Review

Discussion & Brainstorming Discuss with your team how the supplies can be used to create a device that can unclog the arteries. Draw diagrams to help explain. 2-balloons 2-Straws 1- Pipecleaner Balloon pump 2-Paperclips Wire 4-Rubber bands Tape Foil (You do not have to use all the materials)

Design & Build Go ahead and build your device and test it!

Teacher ?’s: Visit each group and ask the following questions: Why did your group decide on this design? How does this device work? What happens to the plaque after you use the device? Which specific blood vessel in the body might this represent? What would happen if you were able to unblock part, but not all, of the artery? How would having partially blocked blood vessels affect a person's body?

Review & Revise Keep track of changes you make in the design along the way.

Group Discussion Share out with all the other groups and analyze other groups designs. What worked? What didn’t work?

Do More Research…..

Final Write Up What is a heart attack? What are some solutions to heart problems? How do biomedical engineers unblock clogged arteries? Which design was best for clearing “arteries”? Use evidence gathered in the activity to support your argument.

Keywords Artery Biomedical engineering Blood vessel Body circulation Circulatory system  Engineering design process Health  Heart attack  Human body  Medical device  Model Medical  Plaque  Prototype  Stroke

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