MEC3828 · Biomedical engineering and healthcare system

Overview

This unit provides you with an overview of the application of Mechanical engineering concepts, such as heat and mass transport, fluid dynamics and control theories in the field of biomedical engineering and healthcare. This is conveyed through consideration of various topics in healthcare and medicine, and their comprehension through ordinary and partial differential equations. You will learn to solve these differential equations analytically and numerically using the commercial software COMSOL Multiphysics and Matlab. The following topics will be the focus of this unit: 1. Heat transfer in a biological system 2. Fluid flow in the circulatory system 3. Mass transport in biological tissue 4. Medical imaging system 5. Physiological modelling 6. Glucose insulin system 7. Cardiopulmonary system 8. Mechanical ventilation system 9. Ethics and biosafety Topics 1 - 3 cover the application of classical engineering theories to describe biophysical processes of the human body. Topic 4 introduces students to different medical imaging systems, such as infrared thermography, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound. Topic 5 introduces the concept of physiological modelling. This is followed by Topics 6 - 8, where the application of physiological modelling in important human systems are studied. Finally, Topic 9 provides an overview of the importance of ethics compliance and biosafety in biomedical engineering.

Offerings

The Handbook publishes no offerings for this unit.

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Continuous assessment: 50% Final assessment: 50% This unit contains hurdle requirements that you must achieve to be able to pass the unit. You are required to achieve at least 45% in the total continuous assessment component and at least 45% in the final assessment component. The consequence of not achieving a hurdle requirement is a fail grade (NH) and a maximum mark of 45 for the unit.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

Learning outcomes

1. Apply theories of heat and mass transfer to solve problems related to biomedical engineering.
2. Differentiate the medical imaging systems used in healthcare.
3. Apply physiological modelling techniques to solve complex problems in biomedical engineering.
4. Reflect on the role and importance of ethics compliance and biosafety in biomedical engineering.

Workload

The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of 3-6 hours of scheduled learning activities and 6-9 hours of independent study per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher-directed learning, peer-directed learning and online engagement. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.