The “It’s Alive” project will focus on electronic devices
that interface with biological systems. By doing this work, we hope to strongly
motivate and reinforce the material you will be learning in physics.
We will begin the semester by studying and building an
incredible non-invasive monitoring device – a pulse Oximeter. We will then form
groups and build a number of more sophisticated projects. Example projects
include an EKG, EEG, EMG, diffuse-optical tomography system (that measures brain
activity as conveyed by increased blood flow on the surface of the brain),
muscle stimulator, exercise dynamometer, etc …
We plan to integrate into the final projects an exploration
of their practical utility in the marketplace, and assess what business
opportunities their further development may present.
We also will have guest speakers in from the
bio-electronics industry to speak about different state of the art technology.
We’ll end the semester with a demonstration of our
prototypes and a presentation by each group at the Olin Expo.
