Bringing an integrative modeling experience to a freshman biomedical engineering course

As an integrating lab experience in our Fundamentals of Bioengineering freshman course, we have included a Major Project that ties together many of the principles of biomechanics and bioelectricity covered in the lecture. It uses the human systemic cardiovascular system as a model. During the first half of the semester, students solve finite-difference equations describing the flow of blood in the cardiovascular system using Matlab. During the second half, teams of two students each assemble an electrical circuit analog of the same system. With the models, they make measurements of pressure and flow for both healthy cardiovascular parameters and for several common diseases.