Lower back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide. However, we do not really understand what causes lower back pain. What we do know, is that the forces our spines feel throughout the day is important to the spine’s health. Our spines are made of two main parts: vertebrae, or the boney part, and intervertebral discs (IVDs) which are spongey discs that sit between our vertebrae. To better understand how IVD cells respond when they are exposed to the forces they would experience in everyday life, we have designed a microfluidic device that mimics the environment of an IVD. Today, you will be helping students create their own version of a microfluidic device.
Microfluidics TEK8 Student Handout
The student handout will be given to all students working on the design challenge. It gives a brief recap of the story, it helps the students identify what they are attempting to achieve, and it recaps the design process.
Microfluidics TEK8 Facilitator Guide
This Instructor’s Guide provides the instructor additional information on how to run the design challenge with alternatives for materials and test setups as well as information to help make the design challenge a good educational experience.
The Telling the Story Video conveys the societal impact of the student’s research that is the basis for the design challenge and will set the problem-solving context for students.
The Design Challenge Video leads students through the design process. It indicates materials available, states what the criteria are for success and any constraints. It also gives a second ‘level’ of the design challenge that allows ‘early completers’ to move on to a slightly more difficult challenge.