Senior Project Reflection

Directions: Please answer the following questions and turn it in to the blog.

Due Date: The day after your two-hour presentation by 8:00 A.M.

(1) Positive Statement

I am proud of making time during my 2 hour because I was going through my answers really fast at first and by my third answer, I was able to tie things back to my previous answers and summarize the presentation. Everyone told me that I was very factual and people like thine information I gave.

(2) Questions to Consider

a.     What assessment would you give yourself on your 2-Hour Presentation (self-assessment)? Why?

AE           P            AP            CR            NC

P/AP. I feel that I did what was required but there were some times where I had to flip back to a previous slide to show an example and some may have felt it seemed unprepared. However, I was relaxed and followed through the presentation and felt I only had minor problems.

b.     What assessment would you give yourself on your overall senior project (self-assessment)? Why?

AE             P            AP            CR            NC

P/AP. Again, I did everything that was required, however, I dd turn things in late which is why I may have gone down. Since I changed my EQ, there was a time where I kind of fell behind since my project was kind of put on pause. If lateness was not a factor, I feel I probably deserve a P.

(3) What worked for you in your senior project?

Being able to work in a hospital for my service learning and talk to those in the medical field. It was helpful for my project, as well as making new connections in the career field. It was a great experience to feel firsthand what the medical field is like.

(4) What didn’t work for you in your senior project?

My initial EQ. My first EQ which is what I was going off of for most of the year really felt like I was limited and I wanted to expand more. In doing this, I gave myself a shorter time to find a lot of useful research and it was pretty hard to understand the complex mechanics and calculations and stuff. Some of the vocab was hard and I had to figure out what everything meant compared to before I changed my EQ where I had background knowledge.

(5) Finding Value

How has the senior project been helpful to you in your future endeavors?   Be specific and use examples. 

It has given me experience in the medical field and the opportunity to work with medical equipment such as IV pumps, patient monitors, pulse oximeter, etc. Winston, my service learning mentor, has even told me that I receive training similar to most biomeds. Also, the research I have done has given me a better idea of what the career is all about and some of the different methods they have when making a prosthetic. I feel that I am much more ready now to go into biomedical engineering as a career field and to study it in college.

2 Hour Presentation

Lesson plan link is posted at right ----->

Service Learning

Content:

(1) LIA Response to blog:

    Literal

·       Kathleen Riveros - (951)233-2150 ext. 2195

    Interpretive

The experience of being a biomedical engineer and working with common medical equipment in a hospital and receiving training similar to biomed trainees.

   Applied

It helped me answer my initial EQ because I got to work in a hospital and perform tasks that clinical biomedical engineers perform on a daily basis. 

Independent Component 2

Literal

(a) Statement saying: “I, Kenji Karuhaka, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.” 

(b) For my independent component, I decided to complete tasks that require some kind of technical or mechanical work. I looked at circuit boards and soldered off components such as diodes, resistors, and capacitors of different sizes. My father also taught me about how to remove and replace components without damaging the traces in the board. I also have had problems with my laptop and replaced the LCD monitor and d/c input jack for the charger. While I was replacing the monitor, I originally thought it was a bad connector, however, after testing a new one, I realized the LCD was damaged. I also worked on my R/C car. At my service learning, I was told that it is good for biomeds to have hobbies such as R/C since it teaches about basic electronics as well as allowing you to practice different skills. This caused me to get back into R/C and learn about all the different components and how to replace worn or damaged parts.

Interpretive

It shows 30 hours of work because as I was doing the different tasks, I also had to learn about what I was doing. I had to look up instructions on how to complete tasks the right way as well as plan what I had to do. The task itself would also at times be hard, due to losing of components, not being able to locate a certain part, or just figuring out how to attack the problem. The work was time consuming and sometimes caused me to work in my room for a few hours at a time, but it would be fun.

Applied

It helped with my original EQ of what is most important for success as a biomedical engineer because I was able to use skills usually used by engineers of different fields. My new EQ, "What is most important when creating prosthetics using biomedical engineering?" was helped because I got to work with different mechanical systems that use motors and pulleys with my R/C car which can be used in robotic prosthetics.

Helping 2013

Kendall Delgado: April 26, 2012 - 5:20 pm

1) She wanted to do either autistic child development or event planning. She wanted to do child development because she knows someone with autism and already has some connections in that area. Event planning, was another option, however, she felt that it may be difficult to get service learning and I explained that she should pick whichever one is more fun for her and she is more passionate about because of possibly getting tired of senior project. I also told her about Norma who is also doing event planning and maybe talking with her for more info.

2) Since she knows someone with autism, she thought she could do service learning with that person's teacher. For event planning, she was gonna ask her friend's aunt who works as an event planner. I told her that those would both be great places to start and again talked about Norma.

3) She hopes to learn more about child development and event planning. She wants to see the senior presentations on those topics in order to learn more and decide on a final topic.

4) She didn't have any other questions and I just went over how she should think when she decides on a topic because I felt that it's better to get a fun topic vs a rigorous academic topic.

Christopher Hernandez: April 26, 2012 - 1:00 pm

1) His ideas were either video game journalism or WW2 reenactments. I could tell he was passionate about both and felt.either topic was fine. Just service learning may be hard especially for video game journalism because it is like the entertainment industry and he may not have a lot of options. But we also talked about independent component options.

2) For video game journalism, he wasn't too sure. He was gonna write reviews on games, but it seemed more like an independent component. For reenactments, he knows a group that does things like that and was thinking of talking to somone in charge of the group and perhaps joining them.

3) For senior pesentations, he was hoping to go into gaming or history ones and also kind of get more ideas. He wants to see presentations be interesting and factual and I told him aboit some of the different topics we have this year according to his interests.

4) He didn't have any other questions and I talked to him a little more about his topics.

Answer 3

EQ: What is the best way to create a prosthetic limb using  biomedical engineering?

Answer 3: Determine what you want the the limb to do and make a specific function a goal.

Evidence: If someone gets a prosthetic arm, making the arm to have the ability to apply specific amounts of pressure can make an arm feel more realistic which is sometimes what the patient wants.

Sources: InMotion: A brief history of prosthetics
                National Geographic Magazine: Bionics
                Wikipedia: Bionics

Answer 2

Content:

• EQ = What is most important for success as a biomedical engineer? (May change)
• Answer 2 
•  An efficient Biomedical Engineer should know how to work at the component level so that when doing repairs, the biomed will not have to rely heavily on another person to do repairs. This also applies to higher levels of biomed such as R&D due to the heavy amounts of electrical and mechanical engineering they are exposed to as well.
• Evidence
• Many new biomeds do not have this skill and get used to sending the defective equipment to someone else in order to get it repaired.
• When working in R&D, different kinds of medical equipment use different kinds of electronics. Due to the fact that you will be creating, designing, and researching these technologies, you must have an understanding of all the functions of the equipment to the component level. 
• Many trainees don't see components or work with them, thus making those who have the experience seem more qualified and able to do their job.
• Source 
• Winston Gotte

Independent Component 2 Plan Approva

CONTENT:

 (1) Write a description of what you plan on doing for your independent study component

For my independent component, I am deciding whether to do extra hours at San Dimas Community Hospital or do something very focused and allows me to practice a skill. I was thinking of taking circuit boards from medical equipment and identifying all the components and dissecting the boards. This will give me an experience with electronics and can be very useful in engineering fields.

(2) Describe in detail how you think your plan will meet the 30 hours work requirement.

The circuit boards will take a long time to dissect and organize due to the many components on a single board. Extracting the board from medical equipment also takes some time. I hope to be able to dissect, and then reassemble parts of a board by studying schematics for available equipment.

(3) How does your independent study component relate to your EQ?   

As of now, I felt that having experience with technology at the component level is a very valuable skill. My service learning has told me that many biomeds don't know the basics about circuit boards which results in longer time to repair a certain piece of equipment because they need to send it to another individual who then fixes the tech. This is very time consuming and inefficient and can be avoided with basic knowledge of schematics and components.

The Product

As of now, the product of my senior project is the experience I have obtained with different medical equipments. I have gotten an intro into electrical engineering with wire soldering and circuit boards as well as the different components. I can use my experiences as references if I go to any kind of engineering. I also can have experience in the biomedical field which I would not have had the opportunity to do if it wasn't my senior project.



Product Definition:
Have obtained different skills such as getting better at troubleshooting different technical problems not only with medical equipment but as well as everyday pieces of technology. I am also dissecting circuit boards as an independent component and am going into signal chasing. These are skills that many biomeds lack and is very useful in many engineering fields.

Evidence:
Pictures will be posted up at a later date as independent component is started.

Fourth Interview Questions

Please post:

• 20 questions
• Open-ended
• Do not use is, are, did questions
• Purpose of the questions: To help you answer your EQ or understand your answers.

1) What is most important for success as a biomedical engineer?
2) In what direction is biomedical engineering going as a career field?
3) How often do new kinds of medical technology come out?
4) Why are biomedical engineers taught to think simple when analyzing a problem?
5) How important are communication skill to a biomedical engineer?
6) What kinds of skills should a biomedical engineer possess?
7) What kind of background do you think helps you most when becoming a biomedical engineer?
8) How important are biomedical engineers to the medical field?
9) What is something that not a lot of people know about biomedical engineers?
10) What does a biomedical engineer do everyday?
11) What is one thing that a biomedical engineer always needs?
12) What kinds of things do you learn when majoring in biomedical engineering in college?
13) What must every biomedical engineer know?
14) How close do you think we are from bionic limbs and other futuristic technology in everyday life?
15) I have heard that many biomeds come from the military. Why is that?
16) How important do you think it is to do constantly do repairs other than because it is your job?
17) What is important in maintaining medical equipment?
18) What kinds of steps do you take when analyzing medical equipment?
19) What do you do if you can't fix a piece of equipment?
20) What do you do everyday in order to be the best possible biomed you can be?

Independent Component 1

Literal

I, Kenji Karuhaka, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.

While working at San Dimas Community Hospital under Winston Gotte, I have learned about some of the basics of being a Biomed. I have helped repair and maintain different equipment during "Preventative Maintenance" or PM's. I have also taken apart and put back together several defective medical equipment in order to get used to taking things apart, the layouts of common equipment, and get an intro to electrical engineering.

This is where I work when in Biomed and taking things apart.



This is used to test patient boxes which are used to monitor patient vitals.



These are also used with the above monitor and can simulate different situations.



This is an analyzer that Winston had me take apart and pointed out different parts of the circuit board.






Interpretive

I worked at the hospital in the Biomed department during my service learning. I feel that since my topic is Biomedical Engineering, this is very relevant. I am also learning about hospital layouts, basic skills for a Biomed, the different equipment within a hospital, and how different departments associate with Biomed. Much of my service learning, is spent shadowing and assisting in little jobs with Winston. However, when we have free time, he shows me different things that he feels is important to know or does things that he usually does with trainees, such as taking apart medical equipment. 

This is an IV pump which I also got to take apart when I started. This is one of the most common pieces of equipment in a hospital.

 I also took apart this recorder for practice.


Applied

I feel that it helps answer my EQ because hospital equipment is essential and makes a job a lot easier if you know what everything is. There were times where I had to pick up a piece of equipment from a department. I would use the exact name for whatever I had to pick up, however, sometimes people would get confused as to what I was asking for. However, if it was a new piece of equipment to me, I had no way to explain it. This resulted in the errand taking longer than it had to. 

Communication is also very important because sometimes, you are asked a question by a patient and you need to assist as much as possible. Or when, like mentioned before, you are talking to hospital staff and can not get a message across. I have also seen this with Winston when someone asks about "defective" equipment, and he has to explain that it was just a small error. It can sometimes be irritating, however, you must always remain patient and collected. 

Simplicity is a big thing for Biomeds. This is because sometimes, the problem is so small and there is no need to over complicate things. Time wasted on something is time that could have been used more efficiently on another item. Winston told me that one thing he feels is essential is do to repairs, even if you have to do it on your own time. He said that he likes to tinker with different things in order to learn their layouts. "PM's rot your brain" is the reason why he suggests doing full repairs and tinkering in order to stay used to the technology.

Answer 1

(1) What is answer 1 to your EQ? Be specific in your answer and write it like a thesis statement.
A successful biomedical engineer is someone who is always up to date with medical equipment repairs and maintenance, is responsive whenever and wherever needed, and adaptive to different situations, people, and repairs that may need to be made.

(2) What possible evidence do you have to support this answer?
At my service learning, I am able to observe what a biomed does in the hospital setting. He constantly tells me how you need to be patient with people and that a lot of work is due to paperwork. I have helped with maintaining medical equipment such as patient monitors and IV pumps. I have also seen him do repairs on equipment used in operating rooms and the labs such as microscopes and vital monitors. Since I am at a community hospital, I don't see much of the bigger, more expensive equipment, but I always see common medical equipment. I am also learning about circuits and the different components. He has me sometimes look at something and figure out what may be wrong.

(3) What source(s) did you find this evidence and/or answer?
A majority of what I learn comes from my service learning (Winston Gotte). Research I get usually say the same things in more detail.

Service Learning

• Where are you working for your service learning? 
• San Dimas Community Hospital
• Who is your contact?
• Kathleen Rivero (Volunteer Coordinator)
• Winston Gotte (Biomed Engineer) - This is who I work with

• Summarize the services you have performed to complete the 10 hour requirement
• Winston has taught me how to solder wires, a brief look into circuit schematics and the different components. I have also assisted in different maintenance checks as well as gone to different departments to deliver or retrieve medical equipment,
• How many hours have you worked?
• 30-35 hrs

ESLR's

L: I am focusing on lifelong learner and being a citizen. This is because a biomedical engineer always has to stay up to date about new technologies and has to work in teams and other workers in a hospital. I feel that focusing on these aspects will help me develop the mentality of a Biomed.

I: I am always learning about new things as I go to my service learning. I practice different skills and learn about different medical equipments. I practice being a citizen because I always have to work with people in other departments and be respectful to the patients and workers.

A: It will help me become better because it sets me on the path of being a Biomed and helps start the skills I will need. I am also learning about the hospital environment and electrical engineering skills.

Third Interview Questions

1) What is most important for success as a Biomedical Engineer?
2) What kind of personality do you think a Biomed should have?
3) Would you become a specialist if you wanted to?
4) How often do you need to become updated on new technologies?
5) Do you often have to practice skills that on a regular basis so that you stay efficient?
6) On a busy day, about how many different departments do you usually tend to?
7) Do all hospitals only have one or two Biomeds?
8) What is the most amount of PM's you have had to do in one day?
9) Do you ever take your work home with you if you can't finish at the hospital?
10) What is your motivation to be a Biomed?