Bioengineering MSc

This module will introduce the following topics:

• Structure and function of cells and cell organelles
• Protein and enzyme structure and function
• Biosynthesis of cell components
• The role of cell membranes in barrier and transport processes.

Examples relating to biomaterials and medical devices will be given where appropriate.

This module considers aspects of human structure and function, and relevant terminology, pertaining to organ systems of interest to bioengineers including:

• Basic anatomical and medical terminology
• Cardiovascular system
• Gastrointestinal system
• Reproductive and excretory system
• Nervous system
• The skeletal system will be considered in greater depth with examples of normal and pathological function and engineering-based interventions.

Delivery

Assessment method

This module develops professional and research skills including academic/technical writing, communication, critical literature reviewing, and project planning. The year-long nature of the module enables these developing skills to be applied to assessments in concurrent modules.

The module provides an important link to the PGT individual project by providing visits to research laboratories and time for specific project-relating training. Training in areas including statistics and data analysis, design of experiments and health and safety requirements and assessment will also be undertaken to equip students with the skills for their individual projects.

This module covers the design and manufacture of medical devices and the regulations covering marketing sale and use of medical devices within the UK and the European Union.

There are three key themes to the module:

1. Selection of appropriate materials for medical devices, taking into account clinical use, performance in vivo, and design for manufacture.
2. The design of medical devices, taking into account the clinical need, functional requirements, relevant national and international standards, and regulations regarding design and construction.
3. The manufacture and marketing of medical devices, including processing, sterilisation, marketing, and after-market surveillance of medical devices. This will include aspects of risk management, quality control, remuneration, and after-market surveillance.

The module will include project-based learning, where students are tasked with designing a medical device and presenting their embodiment designs to an assessor in a preliminary design review meeting.

Delivery

Assessment method

This project involves students undertaking an original, independent, research study into an engineering or industrial topic appropriate to their specific MSc programme. The project should be carried out in a professional manner and may be undertaken on any topic which is relevant to the MSc programme, as agreed by the relevant Course Director and module convenor.

The project has several aims, beyond reinforcing information and methodology presented in the taught modules; the student is expected to develop skills in research, investigation, planning, evaluation and oral and written communication.

Final reporting will take the form of a written account including a literature review and an account of the student's contribution. A presentation will be made to academic staff towards the end of the project.

This module is concerned with the biomedical application of materials. It addresses three key areas: 

1. The clinical need for materials in medicine. An outline of cases where disease and trauma can be treated using materials and the tissues involved. 
2. The biological responses to materials in the body. Specifically the effect of the biological environment on materials and the effect of implantation of materials on the body. 
3. The application of materials in medicine. The material requirements, surgical procedures and expected biological performance of biomaterials. The advantages and disadvantages of using different types of materials and the importance of the design of medical implants.

Delivery

Assessment method

This module considers aspects of experimental and theoretical biomechanics including:

• Mechanical properties of biological tissues
• Hard tissues including bone
• Soft tissues including cartilage, tendon, disc and blood vessels
• Time dependent behaviour
• Experimental techniques
• Impact mechanics
• Modelling
• Custom implants

Delivery

Assessment method

This module will cover design, processing and material aspects of additive manufacturing and 3D printing technologies, as well as the current and potential applications of the technology in a wide variety of sectors. Topics include commercial and experimental systems, material requirements, design for additive manufacturing, software and systems, as well as case studies in industry and society.

This module introduces the principles, major algorithms and implementation possibilities of digital signal processing at an advanced level.

Delivery

Assessment method

The module provides students with the necessary background knowledge so that they can understand sensors and their applications.  The module covers a selection of topics where information is acquired from sensors and subsequently electronically processed. Applications will typically include, optical, acoustic, non-destructive evaluation, medical and bio-photonics.

This module consists of:

• Introduction
• Fundamental CFD theory
• Turbulence
• Multiphase
• Reactive Flow
• Quality Assurance

Method and Frequency of Class:

Activities may take place every teaching week of the Semester or only in specified weeks. It is usually specified above if an activity only takes place in some weeks of a Semester.

Method of Assessment:

The techniques for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS) are explored. The course aims to introduce the brain imaging technique of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), giving an overview of the physics involved in this technique.

The electromagnetic techniques of electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG) will then be outlined, and the relative advantages of the techniques described.

Delivery

Assessment method

This is a module which requires personal engagement in the classes and there is no examination. In this way the module is like the Individual Project.

The module has four cycles,  each comprising students individually preparing a talk, and report, on a topic within a theme and with a title that has been negotiated with the Teachers straight after the Teachers have delivered an introductory lecture on that theme.

The point of this module is to improve oral presentation and engineering report-writing skills using advanced materials as a vehicle.

The classes are seminars, where good practice is openly discussed and materials' advantages and disadvantages are openly debated.

This module is designed to deal with a wide range of materials (including advanced metallic, ceramic, glass, composite and polymeric-based materials) for a wide range of applications. Also it considers materials' themes, such as aerospace materials, medical materials, coatings, carbon-based materials, and so on.

The module deals with:

• the underlying principles behind the suitability of material properties for the targeted applications
• the processing of these materials
• the effects of processing on their subsequent structure and properties
• ultimate performance

This module focuses on understanding and manipulating of material's microstructure to avoid failure. It addresses the main areas of mechanical failure using specific material system examples to illustrate how materials design is used to develop better materials for particular applications. 

The four areas are:

• Design for strength – metallic alloys, ceramics
• Design for toughness – metallic alloys (including discussion of strength/toughness balance for Al alloys)
• Design for creep resistance - metallic alloys
• Design for fatigue resistance