Course Pre-requisite(s): Undergraduated level
Course Overview
Medical engineering is connection of materials and technologies, which are relevant for production of medical devices and tools. As the spectrum of medical products is very versatile, polymers and polymer blends and composites are the most used materials here as there is no other material class able to be tailored in such extent.
The aim of this course is to provide an insight into the key issues that underpins the development of materials for medical applications. Focus will be turned also to the requirements for materials that are sustainably sourced, processed, utilised, and disposed of. On one side, introduction to polymers as newest material class will be given, on other side, relevant medical products and related processing technologies will be discussed.
The study material will be eminently practical with case studies and discussions that will provide an insightful view of the cutting edge research performed in a wide range of scientific topics. It will also provide a firm foundation for those considering a deeper study of medical science and related areas such as neuroscience, nanoscience, bioscience.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course students should be able to recognise the importance of the polymer materials of choice (e.g. synthetic vs. bio-polymers) in a wide range of medical applications. They should also have a good understanding of their relevance to specific processing technologies as well as having a strong foundation of their scientific study and how to interpret the relevant scientific literature.
Course Content
This course will introduce students to the study of the properties & technologies of relevant materials for medical applications. Focus will be turned also to the most relevant considerations for the development of materials in terms of green and sustainable technologies. The scientific aspect of medical science and the methods required for the development of novel tailored materials will be covered, including review of relevant scientific literature on the subject matching the interest of the students with practical cases and live discussions.
Instructional Method
The course will consist of a series of lectures with especial emphasis in the scientific research related to sustainable materials in medical applications. The sessions will include discussions on the points of interest to the students and their individual fields of study. Seminars will also be a part of the course in which relevant scientific literature will be assessed and discussed in relation to their field of interest. A hands-on workshop on the design of technological devices with sustainable materials, where the students will experience the integration of multiple materials, will offer a great insight on the topic. Potentially, a following visit to the Neurosurgery clinic at the JKU where multiple research teams work with a number of characterization techniques could be arranged to give the students a unique inside perspective to practical applications.
Required Course Materials
No materials required. Access to a computer and email address is desired but not mandatory.
Assessment
The evaluation of the students will be based on oral presentations at the end of the course of relevant scientific topics chosen by the students. The presentations will be assessed on the level of understanding the student will display on the relevance of the issue tackled by the proper information recherche. The rest of the students will be encouraged to participate on the discussion after each presentation and they will also be evaluated based on their contribution to it.