Tour of KSU Wellstar College of Health and Human Services Biomechanics Lab and Orthopedic Facilities

Upon arriving at a KSU campus, we walked to a main building and were greeted along the way by a manager of student projects. Upon entering the structure, we were asked of our interests and given a description of some of the general areas of study that the school provided classes for such as sports medicine and orthopedics. Preceding this, we were led to the biomechanics lab in which the main room contained some equipment for fitness exercises and the side rooms, which were to the left of the entrance of the main room, used for measuring physical components such as bone density and aspects of bodily responses such as muscle reactivity. However, the main room was primarily characterized by eight cameras used to identify markers in 2D, which would then, based off their collective measurements and position, be used to make a three-dimensional image similarly to how there is a use of cameras to identify markers in the development of blocking in CGI yet is more precise in measuring movement. As used in alignment with the cameras, a pressure plate in the center of the room is used to measure the force applied upon it, which is input into the same software as the cameras in order to better visualize movement. This technology was told to be used to study movement of those with physical disorders and athletes. Upon finishing the tour of the room and its technology, we were given souvenirs, of which I received a USB as shown in a picture below. Preceding this, we departed on a bus to a building that partially contained the civics center, which we did not visit, and entered a classroom in which contained orthoses and prosthetic legs. Within the classroom, we were given perspective from a teacher and two students detailing their experience with prosthetics and college education. The student body was then allowed to ask questions followed by the division of the class into two groups. The group I was in stayed in the room and continued to ask questions and gain further incite from the teacher as we assembled and disassembled prosthetic examples. In this, we learned that there were aspects of both art and biomedical engineering in the designing of prosthetics as well as what locomotion within the body is required to move a leg and therefore, how the prosthetic legs must be designed. Based of the prosthetics represented, it was deduced that there is consistently a socket connected to the end of the severed limb that is tightened through pressure, yet multiple designs as to the location of joints, length and outer design of a prosthetic limb. Joints displayed either consisted of a that which would swing when pressure was applied at the end of the foot or a pipe that would run through another which was secured by four screws on each side.  We then switched rooms with the other group to encounter a lab in which orthopedic research is done which was notable for displays of trifolds depicting student and faculty research. The visiting student body was then driven to another building where plaster sheets are molded to form casts of the rigid end of prosthetics that encapsules the distal end of malformed appendages. To create the plaster casts, molds were carved based on measurements of the ends of the appendages' dimensions. Proceeding their formation using an oven, the casts are then smoothed by use of machine that spins sandpaper for plaster typically forms bumps as the mold contains a few cavities. The sandpaper used has varying levels of coarseness of which those that have a greater rough texture are used first followed by smoother sandpaper for precision as prevent agitation to patients preceding the appliance of the prosthetic.  

Biomechanics Lab mainroom; 

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Enrichment Trip: Sophomore  Trip to the National Mall  4/3/2024 - 4/6/2024

​  Throughout the extent of time being in the District of Columbia, I observed the Smithsonian Zoo followed by the National Museum of Natural History, the National Air and Space Museum, several memorials, the and the National Archives Museum. Upon arriving at the Smithsonian Zoo, the first exhibit I entered housed elephants of which one lost the lower part of its ear in response to an injection of a substance used to contrast a disease. Thereafter, I went to the small mammal's exhibit of which one of its exhibits included meerkats of which I learned that meerkats will often fight each other to death for the leadership position of their mob, which required the separation of members between the leaders of which each would be put in separate enclosures. I then visited the Amazonia enclosure of which I do not remember prominent information from.       Soon after, I went to the National Natural History Museum in which, I traveled through the Hall of fossils, fossil lab, African Voices exhibit, Ocean Hall exhibit, Sea Monsters exhibit, mummies exhibit and “Lights Out: Recovering Our Night Sky” exhibit (concerned effects of light pollution) which either contained facts that I already had come to know of or that I do not remember. However, I do remember that there was live footage of ants constructing a fungal farm within the Live Insect Zoo and that Neanderthals are the only other species that performed funerals and collected flowers to put near where they laid the body. Additionally, I took photographs of a few of the skeletons within the bone exhibit as well as information pertaining the general structures of bones. In this exhibit I learned information as follows. Cassowaries and birds of the same order are characterized by their lack of clavicles and flight lessness. The order Perciform is the junk drawer order for unspecialized advanced fish (typically have fins made of spines, pelvic fins on its chest and has a maxillary bone that does not meet the lower jaw when the fish is biting) which includes swordfish, dolphin, tilefish, etc. Order Pediculate, or Angler fish, have gill openings behind its anterior fins and contain a structure called the illicium which it baits smaller fish with. Order Edentate contains mammals characterized by specialized feet and claws for digging and climbing; include sloths, Pangolins and anteaters. Differentiated teeth are primarily divided into incisors, canines, premolars, and molars which each have varying functions. Undifferentiated teeth, which are present in most fish, amphibians and reptiles, are required to consume food whole as the teeth are used to grip the food. Meanwhile Skate is composed of repeating stubs of bony tissue that rap around the jaw that are also used to grip food. Hyaline cartilage (the most common type of cartilage) is made of connective tissue fibers, organic chemicals and cartilage cells and is used to support the body and aid in smooth joint movement. Fibrous Cartilage contains connective tissue fibers and cartilage cells and has a primary function of connecting bones of joints which is similar to a ligament. Elastic Cartilage is composed of organic chemicals, connective tissue fibers, cartilage cells and elastic fibers, allowing the tissue a quick rebound after stress from pulling it. General bird skeletal system has adjustable legs, wings and head with sturdy connection between ribs, pelvis and vertebrae connecting to these structures. Salamander’s and lizard’s lateral spine movement aid in walking in addition to exertion of force against gravity. Meanwhile, in fish, the spinal column is used to aid in movement while in four legged mammals, it is used to aid in support against gravity.  On the second day of the trip, I resumed exploration of the National Natural history Museum of which the remaining intriguing facts were within the Barro Colorado Island exhibit. Here I learned that some leaf cutter ants use their bodies to form structures to go across gaps, camera traps used to capture photos of animals (first used flash photography), and the central laboratory used to contain equipment and people was initially under another organization before the Smithsonian of which new staff found that temperature and humidity recorded fluctuates, indicating that climate change did effect tropical rainforests. Additionally, I learned that all 3 species of vampire bat are native to same country the island is in.  Following the National Natural History Museum, I learned the following information: Wright brothers- May have been inspired by toy to use propeller in plane; eventually developed a wind tunnel to test designs, used hallow shafts with ropes inside for support to maintain durability, yet maintain light weight, first had no ability to turn so that there was not enough thrust and therefore lift for a safe landing (max height was much closer to landing than start despite planes consistent angle), second model added string system that would cause the plane to turn after being pulled yet resulted in rotation of plane as well as some drifting, final model contained a specially designed and constructed engine by a colleague to increase propulsion, first passenger flight line had a stops in Florida of which the vessel was sea worthy.   Next Exhibit (entrance next to last exit): Contained example of business selling build your own plane set; detailed types of flying stunts; flying car including model that had wings and back fin to attach, model drawn by MIT graduate with wings in back and last containing a parachute emergency system; use plane with person covered wearing goose like glove to aid displaced geese in flight; The Orbis- cargo plane repurposed as a hospital for diagnosing/treating optical diseases, including surgical implants of an eyes, and educating medical students/staff from around the world on how to perform these tasks, first non-land based hospital to gain U.S. accreditation. On the final day of the trip, I visited the monuments throughout the park which all contained impressive craftsmanship. Throughout the last day, the most intriguing aspect was the carving of pictures onto the wall of the Theador Rosevelt Memorial so that the blind can understand them.