Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Heart of the Matter
Hands-on experience with valves and water flow supports young researchers' understanding of valve operation. Attached resources for learners are text-dense; I'd break up the text into smaller pieces for groups to read and present...
Curated OER
Do You Have the Strength?
Learners examine the strength and resilience of the human heart. They squeeze a tennis ball to demonstrate the strength of the human heart, record and analyze the results on a worksheet, and create a poster of a design of a device to...
PBS
Nova: Electric Heart
NOVA chronicles the story of a handful of brilliant surgeons and researchers who have pursued the target of a practical artificial heart for decades. The website contains a wonderful map of the human heart, amazing heart facts,...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Artificial Heart Design Challenge
Students are presented with a hypothetical scenario in which they are biomedical engineers asked to design artificial hearts. Using the engineering design process as a guide, the challenge is established and students brainstorm to list...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: The Heart of Our Cardiovascular System
Students learn about the heart and its role at the center of the human cardiovascular system. In the associated activity, students play out a scenario in which they are biomedical engineers asked to design artificial hearts. They learn...
American Academy of Achievement
Academy of Achievement: Michael E. De Bakey, m.d.
Learn about the influential Dr. Michael E. DeBakey known as the "Father of Modern Cardiovascular Surgery". Read about his background and myriad of achievements, listen to an interview, and view a gallery of pictures.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Scientific American: Body Building: One Way Valves
Investigate biotechnology design by creating a model of a one-way valve from plastic tubing. Describe the mechanical action of the valve.
PBS
Pbs: Scientific American Frontiers: Searching for a Substitute
This article on the history and development of the artificial heart examines past attempts at artificial heart transplant and looks at future research and development.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Invention of the Week: Robert Jarvik: Artificial Heart
Read about Robert Koffler Jarvik, the "inventor of the first permanently-implantable artificial heart." This article provides a biography of the inventor, the reasons why he became interested in creating an artificial heart, and his...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Do You Have the Strength?
In this activity, students squeeze a tennis ball to demonstrate the strength of the human heart. Working in teams, they think of ways to keep the heart beating if the natural mechanism were to fail. The goal of this activity is to get...
A&E Television
History.com: 7 Groundbreaking Inventions by Latino Innovators
From entertainment devices to lifesaving medical technologies, Latino inventors have advanced humankind through their contributions. Latino inventors have created revolutionary devices that have transformed our everyday world - and often...
PBS
American Experience: Technology Timeline: 1752 1990
Short descriptions of important technological innovations produced in America and the date of their introduction.
National Inventors Hall of Fame
National Inventors Hall of Fame: Willem J. Kolff
Read a brief bio on Willem J. Kolff, inventor of the artificial kidney dialysis machine, and learn the extent to which this invention is being used in the U.S.
A&E Television
Biography: Michael De Bakey
A biography of Michael DeBakey (1908-2008), a pioneering doctor and cardiovascular surgeon. He invented a number of revolutionary devices and surgical procedures.
CNN
Cnn: Patient Gets 1st Totally Implanted Artificial Heart
In July 2001, a major advancement in medical science was made. Find out about the first completely implanted artificial heart that totally replaced the function of the human heart. Read about what the AbioCor is and view a video on the...