Biological Materials and Biomedical Devices

Module overview

Engineering has transformed healthcare through technologies that restore function, improve quality of life and support the treatment of disease. From prosthetic limbs and hearing implants to cardiovascular devices and tissue-engineered therapies, biomedical engineers combine engineering principles with clinical understanding to develop life-changing technologies. This module explores the engineering science that underpins these innovations. You will investigate the mechanical behaviour of biological tissues and organs, learning how engineers model physiological systems and design implants and medical devices that interact safely and effectively with the human body. Through lectures, laboratory activities and contributions from specialist clinicians, you will develop an understanding of anatomy, biomechanics, injury and disease while exploring the design of prosthetics, cardiovascular devices, auditory implants and regenerative medicine technologies. Throughout the module, emphasis is placed on translating engineering analysis into solutions that address genuine clinical needs. By the end of the module, you will be able to evaluate and develop engineering approaches for biomedical devices and implants, combining engineering design with an appreciation of patient needs and clinical practice.

Aims and Objectives

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

The role of engineering in providing solutions to these particular clinical needs;
Auditory implants (including cochlear implants);
Prosthetic limbs
Theoretical foundations of non-linear continuum mechanics to develop mathematical and computational models of biological tissues interacting with devices;
Human anatomy, physiology and pathology relevant to the implants studied herein;
Stem cells in regenerative medicine;
How to calibrate material models for numerical simulation (e.g. Finite Element Analysis) from experimental data sets;
A range of transferrable skills linked to different engineering disciplines but also across the boundaries between engineering and medicine;
The clinical needs for implants across a range of human diseases and dysfunctions;
Cardiovascular implants and devices (including stents and heart valves);
Biophysical properties and behaviour of tissues and organs, and associated experimental characterisation techniques;
How to apply and integrate knowledge, understanding and application of engineering methods from other disciplines in a multi-disciplinary arena (e.g., the use of CAD, FEA and CFD applied to the design of biomedical devices);

Learning and Teaching

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching methods include • Lectures (3 per week) - Including guest talks from clinicians and researchers • Computing labs (2case studies) - Hands-on computing case studies related to the main implants and devices taught in the module. Assessed tasks will be set for each case study. • Visit to the Anatomical Sciences Laboratory at Southampton General Hospital • Online resources

Study time
Type	Hours
Completion of assessment task	40
Wider reading or practice	28
Preparation for scheduled sessions	18
Lecture	28
Practical classes and workshops	8
External visits	2
Seminar	2
Follow-up work	24
Total study time	150

Assessment

Assessment strategy

Two case studies will be presented in two double lab sessions followed by related assessed tasks of equal value (i.e. 25% each of the final module mark). A two hour exam will be taken as the final assessment and worth 50% of the module mark.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Continuous Assessment	50%
Final Assessment	50%

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Set Task	100%

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External