Section 500: Tuesday/Thursday 2:30PM-4:00PM 1504 GG BROWN

MECHANICS AND MATERIALS FOR THE DESIGN OF BIOMEDICAL DEVICES AND ORTHOPEDIC IMPLANTS
George Wynarsky/Elizabeth Hildinger

Mechanics (forces and stresses) and materials are critical for the design of any engineering device. Biomaterials and biomedical devices have been developed to the point that they can successfully replace parts in the human body. Some examples include total hip and knee joint replacements, spinal disc spacers, bone plates, temporomandibular (jaw) joint replacements, and total artificial hearts. We will examine various engineering aspects of these implant systems with particular focus on mechanics and materials. However, topics will cover a broad spectrum of integrated engineering disciplines including biomedical engineering (biocompatibility and implant fixation), corrosion, design, mathematics and statistics.

Term project: teams of four or five students will investigate and analyze a particular orthopedic implant or medical device chosen by the team members from a wide range of topics. The project will focus on the following steps of a research and design process:

1. Define medical problem; identify need for engineering solution
2. Describe relevant anatomy
3. Review history of implant/device development
4. Describe implant/device components and function
5. State what materials are used and why
6. Describe competing systems
7. Define engineering and medical limitations of implant/device - define problems
8. Provide a design recommendation - address current implant/device limitations

Throughout the course, you will be required to present work in a variety of formats, including homework problem sets and oral/written reports. This class will introduce you to a broad range of communication situations to help prepare you for a professional work environment. The major assignments are listed below:

1. Three homework sets
2. Several in-class team assignments
3. Project proposal
4. First oral presentation and written report
5. Ethics paper
6. Project progress report
7. Final oral presentation and written report

The other major components to the course grade will be two exams, a final exam, and contributions to the class and your team. The course grade will be based on about 2/3 individual and 1/3 team performance.

This research-oriented section should be particularly well suited for students interested in materials science and engineering, mechanical engineering, and biomedical engineering. Prior courses in physics (high school) and mathematics (through pre-calculus) would be helpful, but not necessary.