TE Activity: You be the Radiologist!
Contributed by: VU Bioengineering RET Program, School of Engineering, Vanderbilt University
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Copyright © 2004 Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399 USA. All rights reserved. |
Summary |
Engineering Connection |
| Biomedical engineers conducting cancer research have recently shifted their attention toward tumor classification as finding characteristics common to all types of malignant breast cancer will increase the validity in cancer diagnosis. One characteristic which has been found to distinguish breast cysts from cancerous tumors is a dense fibrous area surrounding the lesion. This occurs as the body attempts to ward off the malignant tumor. Benign tumors are found to be much softer. On a very basic level, in this activity, students apply this concept to Young's Modulus of elasticity. In generating the strain graph, the malignant region is depicted with a much higher Modulus of Elasticity indicting a stiffer region with less deformation. This understanding is applied in the generation of the strain graph as well as the brochure generated as part of the associated lesson's assessment. |
Contents
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| Grade Level: 11 (10-12) | Group Size: 3 |
| Time Required: 40 minutes |
Activity Dependency  :Lesson 3: Presenting Painless Breast Cancer Detection! |
Expendable Cost Per Group
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US$ 0 |
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| Keywords: Breast Cancer, Hooke's Law, Stress, Strain, Young's Modulus of Elasticity | |
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Related Curriculum
:
| subject areas | Physical Science Physics |
| curricular units | Using Stress and Strain to Detect Cancer! |
| lessons | Presenting Painless Breast Cancer Detection! |
Pre-Req Knowledge (Return to Contents)
A complete understanding of Hooke's Law, Stress, Strain and the associated relationships.
Learning Objectives (Return to Contents)
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Model a tumor in normal tissue using a stress strain relationship.
- Depict a tumor using a graph in excel.
- Understand the advantages and disadvantages of this imaging technique.
Materials List (Return to Contents)
Each student needs a copy of the attached handout (doc).
Introduction/Motivation (Return to Contents)
Today we will finally complete our unit and it will be your task to create an image depicting a tumor amidst healthy breast tissue. You will each receive a handout with an image which, after making the appropriate calculations, should be depicted in a graph generated in Microsoft Excel. Please read the directions on your assignment and ask any me any questions you may have. Today's assignment will be worth 50 points, like your brochure. Together the two assignments will be worth 100 points, a test grade. Not to worry though! You all are more than prepared to create your challenge solution. Please clear everything from your desks and remember this is an individual assessment so please only look at your computer screen.
Vocabulary/Definitions (Return to Contents)
| Cancer: | A malignant and invasive growth or tumor tending to recur after removal and to metastasize to other sites. |
| Stress: | The physical pressure, pull, or other force exerted on a system by another, producing a strain. Measured by the ratio of force to area. |
| Strain: | Deformation of a body or structure as a result of an applied force beyond limit. |
| Force: | An influence on a body or system, producing a change in movement or in shape or other effects. |
| Spring: | An elastic body such as a wire of steel coiled spirally that recovers its shape after being compressed, bent, or stretched. |
Procedure (Return to Contents)
Background
This activity provides students with the first portion of the Go Public phase of the legacy cycle. Students are prompted to create a strain plot without any aids. They will be graded on their solutions. This activity will test the students on their acquisition of the material that has been presented thus far. This includes the concepts of Hooke's Law, stress, strain, and biomedical imaging techniques.
With the Students
Pass out the handout Show Me the Tumor! (doc). Explain to students that they may not use their notes or any other aids. This is an individual assessment which along with the take-home portion, will count as a test grade.
Attachments (Return to Contents)
Investigating Questions (Return to Contents)
- What fundamental concepts does this method of cancer detection rely upon?
- Is this method reliable?
- Is this method of tumor detection cost effective?
- Is this method reasonable for clinical use?
Assessment (Return to Contents)
Activity Embedded Assessment
Students will be graded on the accuracy of their graphs as well as their supporting calculations.
References (Return to Contents)
Dictionary.com. Lexico Publishing Group,LLC. Accessed December 28, 2008. (Source of vocabulary definitions, with some adaptation) http://www.dictionary.com
Contributors
Luke Diamond , Primary Author, Meghan MurphyCopyright
© 2007 by Vanderbilt UniversityIncluding copyrighted works from other educational institutions and/or U.S. government agencies; all rights reserved. The contents of this digital library curriculum were developed under a grant from the National Science Foundation RET grants no. 0338092 and 0742871. However, these contents do not necessarily represent the policies of the National Science Foundation, and you should not assume endorsement by the federal government.
Supporting Program (Return to Contents)
VU Bioengineering RET Program, School of Engineering, Vanderbilt UniversityLast Modified: November 10, 2009