Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2024-2025

Module ENGI45630: Biotechnology Design Project

Department: Engineering

ENGI45630: Biotechnology Design Project

Type Tied Level 4 Credits 30 Availability Available in 2024/2025 Module Cap
Tied to H1KH09

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • As specified in programme regulations.

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • As specified in programme regulations.

Aims

  • To present the design process for designing medical devices and artificial organs.
  • To introduce the regulations required for developing and producing medical devices.
  • To explore the analytical and experimental techniques used for producing prototypes.
  • To invoke innovation in designing equipment/devices for specific purposes.
  • To present an overview of the environmental issues related to the life cycle of medical devices.

Content

  • The design process for developing medical/biotec devices.
  • Designing with the environment in mind.
  • Regulations of designing medical devices.
  • Production techniques and materials used in Biotechnology.
  • Human-devices interaction.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • Awareness of to the historical development of medical/biotec devices.
  • A knowledge of the design process used for designing medical/biotec devices.
  • An appreciation of the difficulties of modelling physiological problems and limitations of such models.
  • A knowledge of trends of using modelling techniques in the field of medical/biotec devices.
  • A range of mechanical and electrical/electronic techniques and their interactions in designing biotechnological/medical devices.
  • An awareness of challenges associated with designing for medical/biotechnology devices.
  • Awareness of future developments in the area of biotechnology.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • Ability to use the regulatory affairs in making informed judgements in designing medical/Biotech devices.
  • Develop an ability for the students to communicate their designs effectively.
  • The ability to evaluate and understand the environmental and societal impact of solutions to broadly defined problems and identify any ethical concerns and make reasoned ethical choices informed by professional codes of conduct.
Key Skills:
  • Capacity for independent self-learning within the bounds of professional practice.
  • Specialised design skills appropriate to an engineer.
  • Ability to critically analyse the patent literature of medical/biotec devices design and formulate informed opinions that contribute to the students’ designs.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Biotechnology design is taught through (i) a series of Design Seminars (workshops) on the wider aspects of biotechnological products design as well as their routes to market and design IPR (ii) a group design project which requires the application of advanced analytical knowledge and skills. A part of the project will be devoted to developing plans for launching a specific product to the market and all the relevant finance and marketing aspects of such an endeavour.
  • Students will be organised into groups who will then be assigned a tutor team comprised of an academic tutor and an industrial tutor with expertise in the field of biotechnology design and the health sector.
  • The Learning Outcomes of this module are assessed through a combination of presentation and two comprehensive written reports (feasibility and a final design report).

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Design Lectures and CAD training 10 Typically fortnightly during the Michaelmas Term 10 hour 10
Design Tutorials (Group Activity) 10 Every two weeks 2 hours 20
Site Visit 1 In Epiphany 8 hours 8
Project group work, preparation and reading 262
Total 300

Summative Assessment

Component: Coursework Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Feasibility Report 20% Yes
Presentation 20% Yes
Final Report 60% Yes

Formative Assessment:

N/A


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University