International service learning senior design projects: Human power and medical devices

Acute lower respiratory infections are common and deadly in Central America. Nebulizers are relatively expensive medical devices that aerosolize medicine for inhalation into the lower respiratory tract. Senior design students at Marquette University have worked on low cost nebulizer designs that can be used in remote poor areas in Central America. These students´ senior design experience has been unconventional. Problem identification and customer interviews have occurred during immersion trips to Central America. The project has been continued over several years with multiple groups. Service learning has been incorporated into the senior design course. Sustainability and other design related issues pertaining to the developing world were given a higher priority than other design parameters. The designs focused on the use of human power that can be implemented within the economic, technical, and medical constraints of the Central American market. Regulatory and ethical issues were also addressed. Students in these groups were exposed to many engineering design issues as well as issues of global health and social justice in Central America.