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Computational methods in biomedical engineering design

When you'll study it
Semester 2
CATS points
15
ECTS points
7.5
Level
Level 7
Module lead
Markus Heller
Academic year
2025-26

Module overview

Computational methods play an ever increasing role for the successful development of cost-effective and robust engineering solutions to address the challenges emerging from a healthcare agenda calling for prolonging independent living and the personalisation/stratification of care in our ageing societies.

The module will provide the theoretical basis and practical training in fundamental engineering skills required to develop innovative and robust design solutions for a range of technologies such as surgical tools, instrumentation, artificial joints, stents, minimally invasive surgery, and assistive technology including devices for rehabilitation and independent living. The module will introduce some of the key theories and computational methods that capture essential aspects of patient variability in predictive numerical tools and enable the development of robust technology for prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation.

Demonstration of the use of the computational methods will concentrate on orthopaedic applications and more specifically on the analysis of the biomechanical behaviour of the musculoskeletal system. Here, key concepts and approaches with which the students will be familiarized with include methods for the reconstruction of 3D musculoskeletal anatomy from medical image data, the recording and description of skeletal kinematics as well as state of the art approaches for the calculation of muscle and joint forces. In a further step, these techniques will provide input to advanced numerical modelling techniques to predict and optimize the performance of joint replacements and the course of bone healing after a fracture.

The presentation and discussion of further case studies on cardiovascular applications will enable the students to understand how such computational tools can be successfully applied to a broad range of biomedical engineering design problems.

Linked modules

Pre-requisite: SESM3033