Download Activity 5.3.2: Heart Matter

Activity 5.3.2 – Heart of the Matter
Introduction
Listen carefully. Can you hear or feel your heart beating? What do you know about
your heart other than it is beating? How does blood enter and exit the heart? What
do the valves do? What happens when something doesn’t work correctly? What
kinds of heart dysfunctions exist, and which ones can be corrected with surgery?
Of all the organs in the body, the heart is at the core of life. According to the
American Medical Association, over 70.1 million Americans have some sort of
cardiovascular disease. Deaths by heart related disease remains the #1 killer in the
US.
In this activity, you will take a closer look at the heart. You will investigate its function
and some of the more common cardiovascular dysfunctions that can occur.
Procedure
As a group, divide and conquer the following questions. Be sure to answer the
questions the thoroughly and be able to explain them to your group members.
YOUR RESEARCH SHOULD BE RECORDED IN YOUR NOTEBOOK.
DAY ONE:
General Heart Issues:
1. What is the difference between a disease and a disorder?
2. What are the most prevalent heart issues for adults and children?
3. What age group may experiences the most heart disease? What is the rate of
increase or decrease for each age group? Is heart disease a concern for
teenagers?
4. What is the medical indication that a person needs a heart transplant?
a. How many heart transplants are performed each year?
b. How many people die before receiving a heart transplant?
c. How does a person get on the recipient list and how is the order of merit
determined?
5. What is the annual national average for children or newborns in need of a heart?
What is the most prevalent cause of heart problems for children and newborns?
6. What are simple, immediate solutions to maintaining a healthy heart?
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Artificial Heart:
7. How does the artificial heart function? How is it different from the human heart?
8. Who invented the artificial heart?
9. Who was the first individual to receive an artificial heart?
a. How long did he or she live after receiving the artificial heart?
b. What engineering problems existed with the first artificial heart that were
later addressed in newer models?
10. Who currently manufactures artificial hearts? Where is this company (or
companies) located?
11. What patents currently exist on the artificial heart or on its components?
12. How long does it take for one artificial heart to be built and tested?
a. How many are manufactured per year?
b. What is the average cost to build an artificial heart?
13. When a patient receives an artificial heart, who pays for the heart, surgery and
the ongoing care?
14. What factors determine whether a person can be eligible for an artificial heart? Is
there a waiting list for an artificial heart?
People in the Field:
15. Who pioneered the surgeries involved with human heart transplant and artificial
heart implants?
a. How long did the first operations take?
b. What improvements have engineers made to the medical equipment
used?
16. Who is currently involved in the improvement of the artificial heart? What are
areas of concern for engineers?
DAY TWO:
Next Steps:
1. As a group, choose a cardiac disease or disorder to research and begin
collecting information concerning:
 Cause
 Symptoms
 Age of onset
 Possible treatments.
2. Design and sketch a device that can treat this heart problem.
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3. Based on your research, create a 3D model that is “representative” of the heart
chambers and valves. This model can be created using Autodesk or using
materials purchased by your group. One side of your heart’s model should
represent a normal heart and valves, while the other side should reflect the
disease or disorder researched. Your device created in step 2, should be able to
interact with your heart model.
4. Create a tri-fold poster display and include the following:
a. Basic research information on your HEART disorder/disease.
i. What is it?
ii. Symptoms and side effects.
iii. When was it discovered and by who?
iv. What are possible treatments?
v. Interesting facts.
b. a sketch of a normal bisected heart
c. 3D model of the heart your group created comparing a normal side to an
afflicted side. If you used Autodesk to create your model you will print out
a multi view drawing
d. Exploded and multi view drawings of your heart device.
e. Description of your heart device.
f. Basic research information on your JOINT disorder/disease.
i. What is it?
Knee Osteoarthritis is the wear and tear of your knee joint
ii. Symptoms and side effects.
-pain
-stiffness
-decreasing range of motion
-crepitus
-effusion: increase in quanitity of synovial fluid leading to swelling
-deformity
-muscle weakness
-baker’s cyst: a harmless but sometimes painful collection of joint
fluid behind the knee
iii. What are possible treatments?
Nonsurgical treatment
-exercise can increase range of motion
-Lifestyle modifications (weight loss, minimize knee activity)
-Supportive devices (cane, brace, ect.)
Drug Treatment
-inflammatory medication to reduce joint pain
Surgical Treatments
-Arthroscopic surgery uses fiber optic technology to enable the
surgeon to see inside the joint and clean it of debris or repair torn
cartilage.
-An osteotomy cuts the tibia or the femur to improve the alignment
of the knee joint.
-A total or partial knee arthroplastry replaces the severely damaged
knee joint cartilage with metal and plastic
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-Cartilage grafting is possible for some knees with limited or
contained cartilage loss from trauma or arthritis.
iv. Interesting facts.
-OA affects nearly 27 million Americans
-After age 50, women are more often affected by OA than men
-The total annual cost of OA per person living with OA is
approximately $5700.
g. Picture of functional joint.
h. Exploded and multi view drawings of your joint device.
i. 3D model of your joint with bones and muscles attached
Conclusion
As a group, answer these questions ON YOUR WEEBLY:
1. How would knowledge of the heart structure assist an engineer in designing an
artificial heart valve?
2. Physicians are highly interested in the creation of noninvasive procedures for
heart valve implants. Brainstorm and list ways to develop a noninvasive or less
invasive method for implanting valves.
3. What is the role of the three components of the heart chamber in an artificial
heart?
4. What are some engineering challenges concerning each of the heart valves?
5. What is the engineering challenge about the blood flow on each side of the
heart?
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2010
PLTW TM - BE – Unit 5 – Lesson 5.3 – Activity 5.3.2 – Heart of the Matter – Page 4