Undergraduate Courses BIOENG 1255

BIOENG 1255 - Dynamic Systems: A Physiological Perspective

Instructor: Sanjeev G. Shroff, Ph.D.

Credits: 4

Term: Spring

Description: : The objective of this course is to build the foundation of basic systems concepts by combining modeling of dynamic systems with physiological examples. It is expected that the curricular goals related to systems understanding (analogous thinking, engineering synthesis and analysis, and integrative system approaches in solving problems) and bioengineering design (recognizing the potential applications of both engineering principles to biology and biological principles to engineering) will be met. Typically, registration for this course will be limited to 2nd semester bioengineering juniors who have either already completed or currently taking the human physiology course (e.g., BIOSC 1250 in the School of Medicine).

Prerequisites: Junior standing in Bioengineering, MATH 0290, BIOENG 1320, BIOSC 1250.

Required Texts: Custom-developed handouts and biological system models (SimBioSys), access to a textbook in physiology as reference material, MATLAB with SIMULINK (student version).

Course Objectives: There are two major goals of this course:

1. To develop skills and competence in methods of dynamic systems modeling including: (a) Building dynamic models of bioelectrical, biomechanical, biochemical, and physiological systems, (b) Solving systems of equations representing dynamic models including analytical, numerical, and graphical software methods, (c) Validating models including descriptive, predictive, and explanative validation, and (d) Applying models to scientific and engineering applications including analysis and synthesis relative to identification and simulation.
2. To develop an understanding of physiological processes in dynamic system terms.

Topics Covered: Use of balancing techniques in building models of conserved quantities such as: electrical charge, material, energy, momentum, etc.; Relative roles of theory (physical laws) and empirical observation (constitutive relations) in model construction; Distinctions between deterministic vs. probabilistic systems; linear vs. nonlinear systems; and time-varying vs. time-invariant systems, spatially lumped vs. distributed systems; Contrast the use of modeling in engineering analysis, synthesis, and design vs. its use in scientific analysis, prediction, and explanation; Physiological systems: cardiovascular, body fluid, respiratory, metabolic, neuro-endocrine, bio-electric, and musculo-skeletal.

Class/Laboratory Schedule: The lecture portion of the course is presented in standard lecture format (2 sessions per week, approximately 75 minutes per session). Laboratory portion includes computer-based projects that are performed in teams (1 session per week, approximately 3 hours).

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