BI2MR22-Medical Robotics and Prosthetics

Module Provider: School of Biological Sciences
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Prof William Harwin
Email: w.s.harwin@reading.ac.uk

Module Co-convenor: Dr Yoshikatsu Hayashi
Email: y.hayashi@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module considers innovation and design in the areas of prosthetics, robotics, exosketons, medical equipment etc to help humans and animals. The module will explore current state of the art, and the techniques needed to innovate and invent new devices and methods. The course will also look at the foundational maths that guides the movement of robots and people.

Aims:

• To introduce students problems in providing functional prosthetic, robotics, exoskeleton and medical equipment (e.g. surgical robotics) for medical and rehabilitation applications.


• To give students hands on experience, and fundamental underpinnings in, prosthetics, orthotics and robotics and complex medical equipment .Ìý To give students an appreciation of the engineering across these domains.Ìý


• To ensure students can understand basic principles of forces, torques and joints as applied to humans, animals and mechanisms.Ìý


• To expose students to how matrix methods can be used to define the equation of motion of robots, humans and animals


• To encourage students to research new ideas and demonstrate functional solutions.

Assessable learning outcomes:

Students should be able to:

• articulate mechanical and engineering design principles needed to create new devices, robots and orthotics.


• describe in detail specific examples of robotics and advanced in areas such as prosthetics, orthotics, robotics, medical equipment, assistive devices, surgical robotics andÌý more general industrial application areas.


• understand and demonstrate both theoretical and physical solutions in a specific problem area.


• appreciate the wealth of literature and use this literature to justify their approach.

Additional outcomes:

Students will understand more about engineering design and the interplay between group solutions and individual contributions. Students will also learn a range of tools and techniques that can be applied across a range of problems.

Outline content:

Topics covered will include engineering design methods, Engineering materials and their performance, computer aided design, rapid prototyping techniques, free-form-fabrication methods, passive joints, active joints (i.e. motors and actuators), structures, sensing and control.Ìý

Students will be encouraged to research a range of topics such as legged machines, intelligent upper limb and lower limb prosthetics, assessment of technologies (e.g. Cybathlon), surgical robotics, haptics in rehabilitation, transcutaneous implants, implanted mechanisms and sensors etc.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Lectures and open laboratories.