Electrocardiograph Building
Electrocardiographs are examinedCopyright 2004 Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399 USA. All rights reserved.
Building on concepts taught in the associated lesson, students learn about bioelectricity, electrical circuits and biology as they use deductive and analytical thinking skills in connection with an engineering education. Students interact with a rudimentary electrocardiograph circuit (made by the teacher) and examine the simplicity of the device. They get to see their own cardiac signals and test the device themselves. During the second part of the activity, a series of worksheets, students examine different EKG print-outs and look for irregularities, as is done for heart disease detection.
Biomedical engineers designed the electrocardiogram (EKG), giving healthcare professionals a way to assess heart irregularities in patients. An EKG can provide life saving early detection of potentially fatal heart conditions. Understanding how the heart works and how EKGs works, engineers can further develop new and better ways to detect heart diseases.
After this activity, students should be able to describe how the bioelectrical signal propagates though the heart and how that signal is able to be captured. In addition, they should be able to describe a biological problem as an engineer would.