Medical Technology: Bionics

Experiments
OUTCOME 2:
2.10 gather, identify
data sources, plan,
choose equipment or
resources for, perform
a first-hand
investigation and
analyse information
about changes in the
heartbeat rate before
and after physical
activity

The heart rate increases when you exercise

because your heart and body requires more
oxygen and must get rid of carbon dioxide at a
faster rate.
The heart beats faster and therefore the pulse rate
increases.

The heart rate of different people will vary due to a

variety of factors:
- Level of fitness people with high levels of fitness tend
to have faster recovery rate after exercise
- Food intake before investigation
- Individual differences e.g. body weight
Independent variable: amount of activity
Dependent variable: rate of the heartbeat
Controlled variables: pace of exercise, timing of
exercise

2.11 plan and perform

an investigation to
identify individual
aspects that comprise
the heartbeat

Conclusionthe heart rate changes as the level of

physical activity changes. This is because as the pulse
rate increases, the body and heart require more oxygen.
The cardiovascular system links to the respiratory
system to work the bodys muscles. The body and heart
needs to get rid of carbon dioxide at a faster rate.
The heart contracts in the SYSTOLE phase and
relaxed in the DIASTOLE phase.
The opening and closing of the heart valves cause
lub dub sounds.
An electrocardiogram records the electrical
activity of the heart as it goes through its rhythmic
beating process.

Senior Science By Natalie C 2014

Electrocardiogram (ECG):
TP

interval (ventricular diastole): atria and ventricles

are relaxed; blood flowing into atria via veins.
P wave (atrial systole): SA node fired, atria contracts,
forcing all blood into ventricles.
QR interval (end of ventricular diastole): the AV
valves remain open as all the remaining blood is
squeezed into ventricles.
RS interval (ventricular systole): as the blood is now
all within the ventricles and so pressure is higher here
than in atria, the AV valves close. The ventricles start to
contract.
ST segment (ventricular systole): pressure increase,
causing the SL valves to open, blood is ejected into
aorta as ventricles contract.
T wave (ventricular diastole): ventricles relax;
pressure reduced; causing SL valves to close.

Senior Science By Natalie C 2014

2.12 identify data

sources, gather,
process and analyse
information to outline
the historical
development of
pacemakers and use
available evidence to
identify types of
technological advances
that have made their
development possible

1950

Pacemaker worn externally, had external

power source
1952 Pacemaker is able to be implanted into
patient through surgery
1957 Battery-powered pacemaker
1958 Internal pacemaker
1959 Successful implantable pacemaker
1960s Leads that could be fixed to the heart via a
vein was introduced
1970s Leads with pronged or screw in ends were
developed; coating of pacemaker were
improved to titanium
1990s More sophisticated, much smaller in size,
more data can be stored in them

2.13 process
information to identify
different types of
functions of artificial
valves in the heart

Early pacemakers delivered an electric shock to

the heart of the person; device was plugged to
wall socket
Technological advances that led to the development of
the modern day pacemaker:
1. Leads that attach to the wall of the heart
2. Portable battery
3. Surgically implanted
4. Development of smaller pacemakers
5. Improvements in design, battery life, materials
used, reprogramming outside the body
Mechanical valves
E.g. ball and cage metal, disc in cage, bileaflet
valve
Ball and cagemetal housing with carbon discs;
they replicated the function of normal heart
valves; very durable
Bileaflet valvetwo semi-circular discs which open
and close; replicate function of normal heart
valve; last indefinitely
Biological valves
E.g. pig, calf, human
Made from animal tissue; is treated so it wont be
rejected by recipient; less chances of rejection;
degenerate gradually (need replacements)

OUTCOME 3:
Senior Science By Natalie C 2014

3.11 perform a firsthand investigation to

remove calcium
compounds from
chicken bones to
examine the flexible
nature of bones

3.12 perform an
investigation to
examine the
relationship between
cartilage, muscle,
tendon and bone in an
animal limb

Bones consist of living and non-living parts. The nonliving part is made up of calcium which keeps the
bones hard & rigid. The living part includes strands
of protein, called collagen, which gives bones
flexibility.
By removing the calcium in a chicken bone, via
hydrochloric acid, the hardness of the bone is
removed.
Calcium & organic matter gives strength to bones.

Cartilage is a bluish white rubbery tissue found in

humans. It is found at the
ends of bones & cushions
the bone against shock
(shock absorber) which
reduces friction.
Muscles make the body
move. The hold bones of
the skeleton together.
Muscles move bones by
pulling on tendons.
A tendon is a strong white
cord which connects muscle to bone.
When bones meet a joint is formed. Ligaments tie the
bones together at the joints (bone to bone).

Senior Science By Natalie C 2014

3.13 perform an
Types of synovial joints in the body;
Body part
Range of
investigation to
movement of
demonstrate the
the joint
different types of
Shoulder, hip
- Side to side
joints and the range of
- Back & forth
- Rotational
movements they allow
Elbows, knees,
ankles
Base of thumb
Spinal bones,
tarsal bones of
feet & hands
Base of skull
(neck)

3.14 process
secondary information
to compare the shock
absorbing abilities of
different parts of
bones

Type of
synovial joint
Ball and socket
joint

movements
- Back & forth

Hinge joint

Double hinge
joint
Sliding/gliding
joint

Back & forth

Side to side
Back & forth
Side to side

- End of one
bone rotates
inside a ring
formed by the
other bone

Pivot joint

Comparing bone to cartilage, which has greater shock

absorbing ability, why?
Cartilage has greater shock absorbing ability than
bone because it is flexible.
Discuss the shock absorbing ability of the different parts
of the bone (e.g. cartilage, tendons, muscle):
A bone is generally made up of 2 types of tissue;
spongy & compact bone. The spongy, porous part of
a bone is less dense & has lower shock absorbing
ability. Compact bone is much denser & therefore

Senior Science By Natalie C 2014

has a higher rate of shock absorption e.g. arms,

legs.

3.15 plan, choose

equipment or
resources for and
perform a first-hand
investigation to
demonstrate
properties of silicone
such as acid
resistance, flexibility
and imperviousness to
water that make it
suitable for use in
bionics

3.16 analyse
secondary information
to compare the
strength of UHMWPE
and superalloy
metal

Conclusion different parts of the bone have different

shock absorbing abilities due to their density & structure.
The bone has different elasticity than the cartilage
between the bones. Cartilage is designed to absorb more
shock because it acts as a cushion between the bones. It
is flexible but strong, supportive tissue.
Relating to silicone...
Flexibility very flexible, soft and sticky
Resistance to acid high resistance, does not change
shape & hardens slightly to stay together
Imperviousness to water high imperviousness, silicone is
not penetrated by water
Effect of body temperature hardens and sticks to itself
Independent variable: condition in which the silicone
sample is subjected to
Dependent variable: flexibility, acid resistance, water
imperviousness
Controlled variables: time, amount of silicone
Silicone has the characteristics of being inert, flexible,
water resistant, acid resistant, and easy to shape which
makes it an optimal material for the use in bionics.
Comparison of stainless steel & titanium alloys;
Property

Tensile
strength
Elasticity
Density

Stainless
steel

Titanium
alloy

UHMEPE

960

960

17

200
7.8

110
4.5

700
0.95

Ultra high
molecular
weight
polyethylen
e

OUTCOME 4:
4.6 perform an
investigation to model the
action of the diaphragm in

Air enters the lungs when the chest cavity is

expanded. To do this, the ribs are pulled outward & the
diaphragm contracts & moves downward.

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inhalation and exhalation

Air is exhaled when the muscles

relax & the diaphragm moves up
to its original position.

Inhalation diaphragm contracts

(moves down)
Exhalation diaphragm relaxes
(moves up)
4.7 perform a first-hand
investigation to identify
carbon dioxide in inhaled
air and in exhaled air and
determine which has the
greater concentration

4.8 gather, process and

present information from
secondary sources to
identify monitoring and
other devices that
constitute life support
systems and use available
evidence to explain their
roles in maintaining life.

The air we breathe in contains about 21%

oxygen & 0.03% carbon dioxide.

Immediately exhaled air contains 16% oxygen &

4% carbon dioxide.

In this experiment, lime water is the indicator of

the presence of carbon dioxide. The greater the
amount of carbon dioxide the more precipitate is
produced & the whiter the solution.

Kidney dialysis machine

The kidney dialysis machine is a device which replaces
the function of the kidney when the patients kidney is
not doing the job adequately. The kidneys function is
to filter blood & remove wastes & toxins from the
human body.
This dialysis machine filters blood by removing wastes.
It is connected to a patient through a tube in the
patients artery in which the blood flows into the device
where the blood is filtered. Then a separate tube
carries blood back into a vein into the arm.
The kidney dialysis machine as a life support system

Senior Science By Natalie C 2014

helps to maintain life by filtering blood which is

essential in removing waste from the body. If the
wastes were not properly removed then the toxins
would build up & the patient can die as a result.

OUTCOME 5:
5.4 identify data sources,
gather, process, analyse
and present information to
discuss the advantages
and disadvantages of noninvasive and minimally
invasive medical
techniques

Non-invasive techniques
General advantages less risk to patient, fewer
side effects, less chance of infections, faster recovery
time, less need for medication.
General disadvantages limited number of
treatments per year (x-rays have radiation)
Advantages & disadvantages of non-invasive
techniques;
X-rays Adv; cheap, widely available, provides
images of bones & internal organs. Dis; only 2D, may
be hard to interpret, cannot see structures deep
within tissue, amount of x-rays must be limited (as it
can damage or destroy tissue: cancer)
CAT scan Adv; clearer than x-ray, allows the
changes in organs as they work to be viewed, e.g.
blood flow. Dis; require more skill to interpret images,
more expensive
Ultrasound Adv; can examine many areas of the
body, pregnancy: no risk to mother or baby. Dis;
cannot determine conditions of the bone or lungs.
MRI Adv; provides very detailed images, good for
diagnosis of many conditions (MS, tumours,
infections, strokes), 3D, no radiation. Dis; some
people cannot have MRI (pacemakers, dentures),
long procedure, very expensive, difficult for
claustrophobic patients.
Thermography Adv; large areas can be assessed,
safe & fast, no pain or radiation. Dis; extremely
expensive, images are hard to interpret
Minimally invasive techniques
General advantages keyhole: allows surgeon to
view inside the body without making large incisions,
smaller scars, less pain, less risk of infection
General disadvantages endoscopes only allow a
small area to be illuminated at a time, may not
detect some conditions, risk of infection
Senior Science By Natalie C 2014

5.5 gather, process and

analyse information and
use available evidence to
discuss how technological
developments have
impacted on the
understanding of how the
body works

How the discovery of ultrasound led to the

understanding of blood flow in the body
A Doppler ultrasound is a non-invasive test that can
be used to estimate the blood flow in blood vessels
by bouncing high-frequency soundwaves
(ultrasound) off circulating red blood cells. A regular
ultrasound uses soundwaves to produce images, but
cant show blood flow.

It may help to diagnose many conditions blood

clots, poorly functioning valves in leg veins (venous
insufficiency), heart valve defects and congenital
heart disease, blocked arteries, decreased blood
circulation to legs (peripheral artery disease), bulging
arteries (aneurysms), narrowing of arteries.
How the discovery of x-rays led to the
understanding of bones and its movements
The x-ray machine helped to revolutionise how
doctors detected disease & injury. X-rays were used
in treatment of illnesses like real & imaginary pains.
The discovery allowed doctors to see inside the
human body for the first time without surgery. X-rays
provided insight into our skeletal systems which was
an important step in understanding how the human
body functions movement-wise.
How antibiotic developments were
important in understanding how the bodys
immune system works
Antibiotics are a group of medicines that are used to
treat infections caused by bacteria & certain
parasites. Antibiotics do not aid the immune system,
it weakens it but replaces one of its functions. They
only work on bacterial infections these chemicals
kill the bacteria cells but do not affect cells that
make up the body.
Sometimes the bodys immune system is unable to
activate itself quickly enough to outpace the
reproductive rate of harmful bacteria. Other times,
Senior Science By Natalie C 2014

the bacteria are producing toxins so quickly they will

cause permanent damage before the immune
system does it jobs. In these cases, the immune
system needs help from something that can kill the
invading bacteria directly (antibiotics).

Senior Science By Natalie C 2014