2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

This SHARE paper discusses the development of medical device prototypes aimed at addressing various physiological conditions, including Electrocardiography (ECG), Electromyography (EMG), Heart Rate, Photoplethysmography (PPG), and Electrooculography (EOG) measurements. Project-based learning can help close gaps in students' knowledge, from fundamental concepts to hands-on fabrication skills. However, time constraints present a challenge in creating and executing these projects. The project scope and deliverables need to be manageable within the limited time available in the course. Additionally, access to necessary project materials may be limited. It is essential that the components required for prototype fabrication are readily available to complete the tasks. In the Biomedical Instrumentation laboratory course offered at this university, third-year biomedical engineering students work in teams of up to three to design, test, and build biomedical instrumentation that acquires measurements and interprets data from physiological systems. Students gain practical experience with relevant hardware, software, and data collection during the first three quarters of the course. In the final quarter, students select their projects using a white paper proposal approach for approval before starting. The course concludes with a conference-style poster presentation judged by faculty, graduate students, and seniors. The final assessment is a technical report of their project, written in a journal peer-review format to teach students how to prepare a manuscript. Detailed resources for implementing this learning activity, including links to the course syllabus, anonymized student-developed medical device prototypes, and presentation rubrics, are available.