Surgical Resident for a Day
Students doing surgery on a cardboard box.Copyright Duke University
Students act as surgical residents for the day. Working in teams, they use surgical instruments to complete tasks that are inside of a box, hidden from direct view. They are able to see inside of the box with the help of a "laparoscope" (webcam and flashlight). This engaging activity shows students one application of engineered medical instrumentation and gives them first-hand experience in seeing how form fits function. They also learn that an engineer's job does not end with a finished product because s/he must train others to use the device correctly.
Engineers work with physicians to design and test creative new tools for medical applications. This activity looks at how new technology developed by engineers is changing surgery by reducing the number of invasive procedures.
After the activity, students should be able to:
- Describe how surgeons are trained to use medical devices created by engineers.
- Define laparascopic surgery.
- Explain why laparascopic surgery is better for patients than other more invasive surgical techniques.