Note: This unit is an archived version! See Overview tab for delivered versions.
MECH4961: Biomechanics and Biomaterials (2018 - Semester 2)
| Unit: | MECH4961: Biomechanics and Biomaterials (6 CP) |
| Mode: | Normal-Day |
| On Offer: | Yes |
| Level: | Senior Advanced |
| Faculty/School: | School of Aerospace, Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering |
| Unit Coordinator/s: |
Dr Boughton, Philip
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| Session options: | Semester 2 |
| Versions for this Unit: |
| Campus: | Camperdown/Darlington |
| Pre-Requisites: | (ENGG1960 OR ENGG1802 OR PHYS1001) AND (AMME2302 OR AMME1362) AND MECH2901 AND MECH3921. |
| Brief Handbook Description: | This course is divided into two parts: biomechanics and biomaterials: Biomechanics Biomechanics is an important discipline within the field of biomedical engineering that concerns understanding the human body and its interactions in mechanical terms. The human body consists of soft and hard tissues, fluids, articulating joints, interconnective systems and organs that interact with each other on a daily basis. These mechanical interactions are important through the whole of life including through injury, disease, treatment and rehabilitation. We will begin with a general introduction to biomechanics, modelling the human body from the macroscopic level to the microscopic level. Tissue mechanics, including linear, non-linear or viscoelastic descriptions will be covered. Specific examples of biomechanics will be explained including for: ligament, muscle, joint, soft tissue, human gait, brain injury, and implantable medical devices such as joint replacements. Analytical and practical test methods will be used to characterize biological specimens and respective medical implants designed to emulate or restore natural biomechanics. Biomaterials This course will involve the study of biomaterials from two perspectives: firstly, the response of the body towards the biomaterial – an immune response and foreign body reaction; secondly, the response of the biomaterial to the body – corrosion, biodegradation, and mechanical failure. Our study will begin with the response of the body towards the biomaterial. We will begin by looking at the immune system itself and then move on to look at the normal inflammatory response. We will then study in detail the foreign body reaction caused by biomaterials. The final part of this section is the study of protein adsorption onto biomaterials, with a strong focus on the Vroman effect. Then we will move onto the response of the biomaterial to the body. We will begin by a review of biomaterials, their applications, and compositions, and mechanical properties. We will then look at key problems such as corrosion, stress shielding, static fatigue, and mechanical failure. Finally, we will take a practical look at the materials themselves. Beginning with metals, then polymers (thermoplastic, thermosetting, and biodegradable), and finally ceramics (bioinert, biodegradable, and bioactive). |
| Assumed Knowledge: | None. |
| Lecturer/s: |
Dr Boughton, Philip
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| Tutor/s: | Kiera Taylor, Jeremy Kwarcinski, Peter Lok | |||||||||||||||
| Timetable: | MECH4961 Timetable | |||||||||||||||
| Time Commitment: |
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| T&L Activities: | Lectures Guest speakers In class exercises Team projects with practical component |
Attributes listed here represent the key course goals (see Course Map tab) designated for this unit. The list below describes how these attributes are developed through practice in the unit. See Learning Outcomes and Assessment tabs for details of how these attributes are assessed.
| Attribute Development Method | Attribute Developed |
| Follow a systematic ISO13485-defined approach to design process with capturing inputs through to generating valid outputs. | Design (Level 3) |
| Develop a body of knowledge in the fields of biomechanics and biomaterials Test hypotheses experimentally and apply technical skills |
Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 3) |
| Be able identify, access, organize and critically evaluate scientific and intellectual property knowledge alongside guidance from standards to form a solid basis for methods rationale and technical recommendations. | Information Seeking (Level 3) |
| Be able communicate knowledge gained both orally and written, including documentation of technical requirements, specifications and test methods that are critical for ISO13485 design & development process. | Communication (Level 3) |
| Engage with ethical frameworks for theoretical and practical work. | Professional Conduct (Level 3) |
| Exercise professional accumen and management skills through ISO13485-compliant traceable documentation. Take initiative to organise team responsibilities and report on positive and negative tracking outcomes. |
Project and Team Skills (Level 3) |
For explanation of attributes and levels see Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table 2018.
Learning outcomes are the key abilities and knowledge that will be assessed in this unit. They are listed according to the course goal supported by each. See Assessment Tab for details how each outcome is assessed.
Design (Level 3)
1. Utilising established research and intellectual property to form the basis for materials selection for an implantable device solution.
2. Articulate the engineering methods to demonstrate the biomaterials solution rationale suits the implantable device design requirements.
Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 3)
3. Understand all the factors involved in the selection of a biomaterial for tissue replacement, including mechanical, biocompatibility, material property and fixation factors.
4. Apply engineering theory to characterise and analyse the biomechanical interactions of human body systems and it's interface with implantable medical devices.
5. Design and execute test methodology for characterising biomechanics & biomaterials related parameters for an implantable device solution.
Information Seeking (Level 3)
6. Review and critically evaluate scientific and intellectual property knowledge alongside guidance from standards to form a solid basis for methods rationale and technical recommendations.
Communication (Level 3)
7. Improve their written and oral communication skills in a technical setting, including documentation of technical requirements, specifications and test methods/results.
Professional Conduct (Level 3)
8. Articulate an awareness of how safety and efficacy priorities are fulfilled through project work.
9. Abide by applicable occupational health & safety & integrity policies, including for team work and lab-based work.
Project and Team Skills (Level 3)
10. Demonstrate the capacity to work effectively within a team environment and generating traceable documentation.
| Assessment Methods: |
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| Assessment Description: |
CANVAS Assessments are short exercises which will be assigned during the Friday lecture. You will need to upload your completed work to CANVAS by Saturday 11pm of that week. Team projects will include Progress report, Final Report and Presentation. Attendance at the three hours of class time per week is compulsory. The roll will be marked at the beginning & end of class. If you miss more than 10% of the lectures you will not have met the attendance requirements and will fail the unit of study. |
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| Grading: |
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| Policies & Procedures: | See the policies page of the faculty website at http://sydney.edu.au/engineering/student-policies/ for information regarding university policies and local provisions and procedures within the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies. |
| Recommended Reference/s: |
Note: References are provided for guidance purposes only. Students are advised to consult these books in the university library. Purchase is not required.
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| Note on Resources: | There is no set textbook. Many general books on biomechanics, biomaterials, anatomy and physiology are in the Scitech, Badham, Medical, or Dental libraries. |
Note that the "Weeks" referred to in this Schedule are those of the official university semester calendar https://web.timetable.usyd.edu.au/calendar.jsp
| Week | Description |
| Week 1 | Lecture: Introduction |
| Other: Team Project Work | |
| Week 2 | Lecture: Biomaterials lecture 1: The immune system and biomaterials |
| Other: Team Project Work | |
| Week 3 | Lecture: Biomaterials Lecture 2: The inflammatory response to biomaterials. |
| Other: Team Project Work | |
| Week 4 | Lecture: Biomaterials Lecture 3: Protein adsorption and surface engineering of biomaterials. |
| Other: Team Project Work | |
| Week 5 | Lecture: Biomaterials lecture 4: Biomaterials as engineering materials Part 1 |
| Other: Team Project Work | |
| Week 6 | Lecture: Biomaterials Lecture 5: Biomaterials as engineering materials Part 2 |
| Other: Team Project Work | |
| Assessment Due: Team Progress Report | |
| Week 7 | Lecture: Biomechanics Lecture 1 |
| Other: Team Project Work | |
| Week 8 | Lecture: Biomechanics Lecture 2 |
| Other: Team Project Work | |
| Week 9 | Biomechanics Lecture 3 |
| Other: Team Project Work | |
| Week 10 | Other: Team Presentations |
| Assessment Due: Team Presentation | |
| Week 11 | Lecture: NO CLASS - THESIS SEMINAR WEEK |
| Week 12 | Biomechanics Lecture 4 |
| Week 13 | Biomechanics Lecture 5 & Exam Review |
| Assessment Due: Final Team Report | |
| Exam Period | Assessment Due: Final Exam |
Course Relations
The following is a list of courses which have added this Unit to their structure.
Course Goals
This unit contributes to the achievement of the following course goals:
| Attribute | Practiced | Assessed |
| Design (Level 3) | Yes | 22% |
| Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 3) | Yes | 41.5% |
| Information Seeking (Level 3) | Yes | 12% |
| Communication (Level 3) | Yes | 13% |
| Professional Conduct (Level 3) | Yes | 8% |
| Project and Team Skills (Level 3) | Yes | 3.5% |
These goals are selected from Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table 2018 which defines overall goals for courses where this unit is primarily offered. See Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table 2018 for details of the attributes and levels to be developed in the course as a whole. Percentage figures alongside each course goal provide a rough indication of their relative weighting in assessment for this unit. Note that not all goals are necessarily part of assessment. Some may be more about practice activity. See Learning outcomes for details of what is assessed in relation to each goal and Assessment for details of how the outcome is assessed. See Attributes for details of practice provided for each goal.
