Biomedical Engineering
Engineering for the human body — prosthetics, medical devices, biomechanics.
Lessons
All lessonsThe Mechanics of Artificial Valves
Explore how biomedical engineers replicate the complex fluid dynamics of human heart valves.
Decoding the Electrocardiogram
Understanding how we measure electrical signals from the heart.
The Physics of Pulse Oximetry
Learning how light is used to measure oxygen levels in blood.
Medical Imaging: Seeing Inside the Body
Exploring the technology behind X-rays and ultrasound.
How Pacemakers Keep the Rhythm
Discover the engineering behind keeping your heart beating steadily.
Challenges
Bio-Inspired Haptic Feedback Actuator
Design and prototype a soft-robotic tactile interface capable of mimicking the haptic response of human mechanoreceptors during micro-manipulation. The system must demonstrate closed-loop feedback control to maintain constant contact pressure while adjusting to varying surface textures without exceeding 50 millinewtons of force. Participants must quantify the latency between input signal and physical actuation, aiming for a response time under 15 milliseconds.
Microfluidic Hemostatic Scaffold Design
Design and fabricate a bio-inspired microfluidic channel system capable of simulating controlled platelet aggregation under laminar shear stress conditions. You must analyze the impact of channel geometry on clot formation kinetics and demonstrate a method to quantify thrombus occlusion times using your apparatus. Your solution should focus on optimizing perfusion rates and structural surface modifications to enhance hemocompatibility.
Microfluidic Hemostatic Scaffold Optimization
Design and prototype a microfluidic device capable of simulating interstitial flow to analyze the degradation rate of a synthetic hydrogel scaffold intended for rapid hemostasis. You must quantify the structural integrity of your material against shear stress levels ranging from 0.5 to 2.0 dyne/cm² while demonstrating precise control over localized fluid permeability. Document the trade-offs between scaffold cross-linking density, pore interconnectivity, and the resulting mass transport kinetics observed during your simulated vascular trauma trial.
Microfluidic Hemodynamic Analog Design
Design and fabricate a multi-channel microfluidic device capable of simulating pulsatile flow through a bifurcated arterial model with a localized stenosis. Participants must demonstrate precise control over fluid shear stress gradients and incorporate a passive filtration mechanism to trap 10-micron surrogate particulate matter. The final design must provide quantitative data on flow rate consistency and pressure drop across the constriction under varied input frequencies.
Vascular Bypass Flow Simulator
Design a model of a human arterial system that demonstrates how to bypass a restricted blood vessel using a synthetic graft. You must create a functional fluid circuit that maintains steady flow despite a simulated arterial blockage while preventing leaks at the connection points. Your device will be evaluated based on the pressure consistency and the structural integrity of your bypass connection.