Engineering a Better Cast
An example of a prototype build.Copyright 2021 Shari Morasco, University of Pittsburgh RET
The traditional plaster cast we use to heal a broken bone needs an overhaul! This cast design is over 250 years old and is heavy, stinky, and cumbersome. Students design a new device for a client with a broken ankle as they engineer a better cast. This activity mimics what a biomedical or materials engineer needs to consider when they must meet medical “must-haves” and address client needs.
Biomedical engineers tackle innovation under the constraint of medical necessity. This activity asks students to design to the client/patient needs and the medical requirements of bone healing. Exploration of bone cells, nutritional requirements and vascular capability are combined with material selection, weight limits, and safety requirements that engineers typically deal with. Students investigate electricity, magnetism, the light spectrum as well as the use of different materials (fiber carbon, nylon, plastics) that may be used to build prototypes.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Investigate the action of different bone cell types in the fracture healing process.
- Prioritize medical must-haves and combine with client wants.
- Evaluate different materials to be used in a re-design of the traditional plaster cast.
- Analyze effectiveness of a prototype.
- Communicate new design with classmates/medical professionals.