BIOE 1000: Orientation and Introduction to Bioengineering

Designation:

Required

Description:

Orientation to the University of Toledo, the College of Engineering and the Department of Bioengineering. Topics also include a general introduction to the field of bioengineering, and a survey of engineering computing resources.

Prerequisite:

Acceptance into Bioengineering

Textbook:

Course Units for BIOE 1000: Introduction to Bioengineering
D.A. Christensen, R.D. Rabbitt, and A.M. Yamauchi (2004)
This coursepack contains all of the course units discussed in the lectures as well as information on the major project.

Objectives:

To learn that Bioengineering is a very quantitative field
To learn that engineering principles can be applied to living systems
To obtain a realistic view of the Bioengineering curriculum and of the Bioengineering field
To demonstrate key principles and engineering concepts taught in various courses throughout the Bioengineering curriculum
To help students make an informed decision about whether or not Bioengineering is in line with their skills and interests

Topics:

This course provides a one-semester overview of the biomechanical and bioelectrical aspects of the Bioengineering field. The course is broken down into unit modules that illustrate key engineering principles and concepts. A major project based on the modeling of the cardiovascular system (implemented in MATLAB and PSpice) integrates the course units.

Basic units, dimensions, scientific notation
Record keeping - the role of a laboratory notebook
Darcy's law - pressure driven flow through a membrane
Poiselle's law - pressure driven flow through a tube or pipe
Hooke's Law - elasticity and stress/strain relationship
Starling's Law of the heart, windkessel elements, and conservation of mass/volume
Euler's method - first order time constants and numerical solution of differential equations in MATLAB
Equilibrium statics and dynamics - muscles, leverage, work, energy, power, force, levers, and moments
Ohm's law - current, voltage, and resistance
Kirchhoff's voltage and current laws
Operational amplifiers
Coulomb's law, capacitors, fluid/electrical analog
Series and parallel combinations of resistors and capacitors (RCs)
Thevenin equivalent circuits and first order RC time constants
Nernst potential, cell membrane equivalent circuit
Fourier transforms - AC current and frequency domain

Schedule:

3 - 50 minute lectures per week
1 - 50 minute project review session per week

Contribution:

Engineering topics

Outcomes:

(a)		An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
(b)		An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data
(c)		An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability
(e)		An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
(g)		An ability to communicate effectively
(i)		A recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning
(j)		A knowledge of contemporary issues
(k)		An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice
(8a)		An understanding of biology and physiology
(8c)		The ability to make measurements on and interpret data from living systems, addressing the problems associated with the interaction between living and non-living materials and systems

Prepared by:

Scott Molitor (scott.molitor@utoledo.edu) and Tammy Phares (tamara.phares@utoledo.edu).