Biomedical Engineering Design: Teaching Innovation

Matthew R. Glucksberg

October, 2013

Biomedical engineering is a discipline that advances knowledge in engineering, biology and medicine, and improves human health through cross-disciplinary activities that integrate the engineering sciences with the biomedical sciences and clinical practice. It includes: 1) The acquisition of new knowledge and understanding of living systems through the innovative and substantive application of experimental and analytical techniques based on the engineering sciences, and 2) The development of new devices, algorithms, processes and systems that advance biology and medicine and improve medical practice and health care delivery.

Engineering Design

User needsStakeholders and Design InputDesign Process

- Requirements- Specifications- Proof of Concept- Prototyping- Manufacturability (cost)

Design Output and Testing (Verification)Validation

BME, FDA and Design

BME Design for Underserved Populations

Underserved Population?

The poorThe young“Small markets”

Main problem everywhere is cost, especially the cost of consumables

Capstone BME Design Projects

• Infant incubator• Formula feeder• Oral rehydration• Arsenic removal• Hand hygiene• Rx Compliance• UVGI for TB• Digital X-ray• HIV Inactivation• Hospital bed• Homeless diabetics

• Neg. press. socket• Prosthetic alignment• IMCI Tablet• HIV monitor• STI screen• Pediatric monitor• Fetal alcohol screen• Diabetes monitor• Premie apnea• Premie CPAP

Deaths attributed to 19 leading factors,by country income level, 2008

WHO 2010

Percentage of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs)attributed to 19 leading risk factors, by country income level, 2008

WHO 2010

Things are complicated

Things change

Policies make a difference

The disease burden is different in the different places

Solutions?(from my perspective in Chicago)

• Give money• Build things• Give stuff• Educate• Change the system – sell stuff• Get out of the way

Perhaps all of the above, but understanding is the key to design in any environment.

Global Health Technologies &Community Health Technologies

Undergraduates and MS students in an immersive training environment.

Solving health problems through design

Premature Infant Care

25

30

35

40

45

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Time (min)

Tem

p (C

)

heat pack water

Infant Incubator

Kangaroo Mother Care

Respiratory MonitorPhototherapy Blanket

CPAP

for KMC

Respiratory MonitorPhototherapy Blanket

CPAP

for KMC

Low-cost piezoelectric

respiratory monitor

Infantrust, Stellenbosch, S. Africa

Mowbray Materity Hospital, Cape Town, South Afica

KangarooMother Care Products

-Apnea

Low-cost LED-based

Blanket for Phototherapy

Infantrust, Stellenbosch, S. Africa

KangarooMother Care Products

Biliblanket

Preventing Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV

Breast Feeding

Breast Milk Pasteurization

Problem posed: Need a better method

Overheating is the problem

Need a Thermometer!

Overheating is the problem

Need a Thermometer!

Wax

Breast Milk Pasteurization(Extreme Affordability)

X-ray services

Guatamala

Integrated Management of Childhood Illness

Integrated Management of Childhood Illness

eChart: IMCI in a tablet