Software Aids for Biomedical Engineering Design Courses



Software Aids for Biomedical Engineering Design Courses[i]

Paul H. King[ii], Paul Clayton[iii]

Abstract - This paper will introduce and discuss several examples of software packages and their place in the teaching of design in Biomedical Engineering.

Key words - Design, software, teaching

I. INTRODUCTION

Paralleling the growth of the field of Biomedical Engineering has been the growth of software aids as the personal computer has become a mandatory addition to our teaching tool kits. This paper will review some current recommendations for software aids in the teaching of design based upon several years of use in a senior design course at Vanderbilt. Brand names mentioned are for illustrative purposes and do not especially imply endorsement of a particular product.

II. INTRODUCTORY COURSES

At the freshman level, and throughout the curriculum, at least the following tools are mandated: an e-mail package, for basic communication purposes, a word processing package, a spreadsheet program, a web browser with a decent search engine, and any good web page-authoring system. Microsoft Office[iv], with either Netscape or Microsoft Explorer and a good search engine should be adequate. The addition of FrontPage is a low cost addition if one buys the Office suite. Search engines such as Yahoo and Hotbot are readily available, but search engines that utilize multiple other search engines, such as GO Network Express Search engine are far more useful. With the above software most freshman design courses can be comprehensive in coverage, given the technical level of the students. A word of warning, however, a good virus protection program with regular updates will prove mandatory, as a common occurrence will be the mailing of viruses as attachments to homework problems.

Students at the freshman level would be expected to report design results at least through e-mail methods. Most are capable, given minimal training, of reporting results on web pages.

As students come in to a first course with better preparation, it is suggested that use of a database program also be included in the design course. Suggested programs would include Microsoft Access or Cold Fusion[v]. Given sufficient exposure, freshmen are capable of elementary web-database design as is the thrust of Cold Fusion.

III. UPPER LEVEL COURSES

By the senior year, if not before, recommended additional packages include project planning software and flowcharting software for process documentation. Such software would include either or both Microsoft Project and Micrografx FlowCharter[vi]. Project, available for purchase or evaluation download, can be used to augment instruction in and planning of projects. FlowCharter is of value in outlining the course of action in a process and is therefore useful as both a documentation and training tool.

By the senior level, the use of a database package is mandatory for documentation of revision levels, parts lists, and standards documentation. Using blinded patient databases we have in addition demonstrated the use of databases for the development of search strategies relevant to patient care. For those students whose design project involves Medical Informatics, the decision as to which tool to use (Access or Cold Fusion based) is very important.

Specialized packages, such as designsafe[vii] – for safety analyses of devices and processes, FMEA analysis – for failure mode analyses, and QFD designer - for quality/function/deployment applications are recommended as courses become more specialized. Use of the program designsafe was stressed in my teaching this year. It enables one to analyze a product or process in a fairly structured fashion, ending with a documentation of the current state of safety and safety "fixes" on the device or process. Such a ranking ranges from "guard against" to "design out."

All students this year had to do two exercises with designsafe, one a group effort, one individual. The group effort required students to investigate a device failure, as reported in the FDA database MAUDE, which resulted in a death. Students were to analyze the device and report on the failure mode, and suggest means of correction of the failure. Devices studied included bed side rails, oxygen regulators, pacemakers, and glucose test strips. For individual projects the students were permitted to analyze any device that caused harm or injury. Projects included analyses of drink dispensing machines, hand rails, ovens, cribs, lasers, and wheelchair release belts. Students did a reasonable, thoughtful, and comprehensive analysis of device faults in a variety of areas using this software.

One of the requirements for each design project reported in our senior design course is that students do a safety analysis of their device or process if appropriate. Designsafe has enabled students to do a complete job of this each year.

IV. SENIOR/ADVANCED DESIGN

Recommendations for senior or graduate design aids include software such as Working Model 2-D and 3-D modeler[viii] for motion analysis and trajectory modeling. CAD software such as SolidWorks[ix] or Think3[x] is recommended for design layouts, if the students have had introductory courses in the use of such software, or have the time to learn it as needed. Given sufficient preparation, prototypes from these packages can be generated and tested.

The program TechOptimizer[xi] is strongly recommended for advanced level design courses, if one can afford the license cost. TechOptimizer will guide one through and assist in the design process, once sufficient time is spent learning how to use the software. Options in the use of the software are routines that guide one through product or process analysis, evaluation of feature transfers, and generation of similar effect listings. At a bare minimum, this program can be used to do both a general web search using a logical Boolean search, and to do a similar patent search of either or both the US Patent Office listing or the Japanese Patent Office listings.

One may purchase a subset of TechOptimizer, KnIS (knowledge and information server) which will do the web and patent searches only. It is recommended by the company that one purchase a small number of the larger program and a sufficient quantity of the KnIS. KnIS is also recommended as a purchase for any group interested in Intellectual Property, be it a design group or your Technology Transfer Office.

V. CONCLUSIONS

There exists a minimum level of computer support that can be suggested for use in Biomedical Engineering Design courses. Most of this software has become available in the past several years as personal computers have become more prevalent. It is recommended that if one can afford them, that they become incorporated in such instruction.

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[i] This work was supported in part by the Engineering Research Centers Program of the National Science Foundation under Award Number EEC-9876363

[ii] Department of Biomedical Engineering

Vanderbilt University

Nashville TN 37235

Paul.h.king@vanderbilt.edu

[iii] Address above, email: Fredrick.p.clayton@vanderbilt.edu

[iv] Microsoft Corp, Redmond WA

[v] Allaire Corp., Cambridge MA

[vi] Micrografx, Inc. Richardson TX

[vii] Design Safety Engineering, Ann Arbor MI

[viii] Knowledge Revolution, San Mateo CA

[ix] SolidWorks Corp, Concord MA

[x] Think3, Santa Clara CA

[xi] Invention Machine Corp., Boston MA

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