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Unit outline_

BMET9921: Biomedical Engineering Technology

Semester 2, 2022 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit of study provides an introduction to the field of biomedical engineering, from the point of view of the engineering and the global biomedical industry itself. After completion of this unit, students will have a clear understanding of what biomedical engineering is, both from the engineering perspective and the commercial/industry perspective.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Biomedical Engineering
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
MECH3921 OR BMET3921 OR AMME5921 OR BMET5921
Assumed knowledge
? 

1000-level biology, 1000-level materials science and some engineering design

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Sandhya Clement, sandhya.clement@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Sandhya Clement, sandhya.clement@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Guest Lecture Report
A brief report of a guest lecture/ site visit/ biomedical company.
5% Multiple weeks About 2-3 pages per report.
Outcomes assessed: LO3
Assignment Logbook
A regularly updated document on individual’s contribution to the project.
20% Multiple weeks About 5-10 pages per fortnight.
Outcomes assessed: LO6 LO7
Assignment group assignment Technical Design Report (Draft)
A draft technical report on the proposed technology solution.
5% Week 07 No maximum length.
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO9 LO8 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO2
Online task Quiz
Canvas based quiz covering lecture material.
20% Week 11 60 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO9 LO8 LO6 LO4
Assignment Industry Report
A brief report on a biomedical company discussing the role of engineers.
5% Week 12
Due date: 30 Oct 2022 at 23:59
Multiple weeks
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO10
Presentation group assignment MedTech Innovation Presentations
A video presentation of the device design.
10% Week 13 4-10 minutes (to be confirmed)
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO8
Assignment group assignment Technical Design Report (final)
A technical report on the proposed technology solution.
25% Week 13 No maximum length.
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9
Assignment Peer Evaluation
Peer review: Peer Evaluation will be used to moderate the total group mark.
10% Week 13 n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO5
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Quiz: Canvas based quiz where students will answer questions covering lecture material and may take the form of multiple choice, true/false, matching questions, and short answer questions. It worth 20% of the total marks.
Industry report: one short report (about 2 pages) based on independent research on a biomedical company of your choice. The report will be focused on articulating industry needs and pathways for growth and this will be assessed for 5% of total marks based on a rubric published in the Canvas.
Logbook: A regularly updated document that details an individual’s personal contributions to different aspects for the group project. This logbook which will be assessed triweekly (end of Week 4,7,10 and 13) till the end of the semester against a rubric (published in Canvas) and this assessment accounts for 20% of the total marks.

Guest Lecture Report: one short report (about 2 pages) based on the guest lecture held during the semester. The report will be assessed for 5% of total marks based on a rubric published in the Canvas.

Technical Design Report: A detailed biomedical device design report, to be developed in a team. Submissions will be progressive. A progress report worth 5% will be used to provide feedback for the final report which accounts for 25% of the total marks.
MedTech Innovation Presentation: A team video presentation of the device design. This assessment accounts for 10% of the total marks.
Peer Evaluation: Feedback from team members about the contribution of each individual and is accountable for 10% of the total marks.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

A late penalty of 5% of the maximum awardable marks will be applied per day (or part thereof). After 10 calendar days, work will not be marked and will receive a zero.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Unit introduction and meeting your group Lecture (2 hr) LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 02 The design process Lecture (2 hr) LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 03 Regulatory, clinical, and ethical considerations Lecture (2 hr) LO3 LO4 LO9
Week 04 Verification and validation Lecture (2 hr) LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 05 Project consultation Workshop (2 hr) LO3 LO4 LO6 LO8 LO9
Week 06 Project consultation Workshop (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9
Week 07 Prototyping and scaling-up Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 08 Intellectual property and commercialisation Lecture (2 hr) LO3 LO4 LO9
Week 09 Clinical readiness and deployment Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO4 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 10 Special Activity Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO8 LO9
Week 11 Quiz Online class (2 hr) LO3 LO4 LO6 LO8 LO9
Week 12 Trial Presentations Rehearsal (2 hr) LO1 LO7 LO8 LO9
Week 13 Final Presentations Presentation (2 hr) LO1 LO7 LO8 LO9
Weekly Presentations and discussions with representatives from companies and other organisations in the medical technology and healthcare domain during lecture time. Online class (1 hr) LO3
Group project: in-class time. Online options will be provided Project (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
Group project: outside of class time Independent study (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5

Attendance and class requirements

Students are expected to attend a minimum of 90% of all timetabled activities.

See the Faculty resolutions for more information:

https://sydney.edu.au/handbooks/engineering/general/faculty_resolutions.shtml

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Students may find the following book to be a useful reference. 

Biodesign : the process of innovating medical technologies.

Yock, Paul G., editor.; Zenios, Stefanos A., editor.; Makower, Josh, editor.; Brinton, Todd J., editor.; Kumar, Uday N., editor.; Watkins, F. T. Jay, editor.; Denend, Lyn, author.; Krummel, Thomas M., editor.; 2015.

https://sydney.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/61USYD_INST/1r05knn/alma991031577735105106 

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. present research to peers through seminars and group discussions
  • LO2. collaborate with project stakeholders from outside the engineering domain
  • LO3. understand the biomedical engineering industry both locally and globally
  • LO4. articulating the regulatory, legal, and ethical considerations in relation to biomedical device design and use (e.g. in clinical trials), as well as intellectual property issues
  • LO5. demonstrate the ability work cohesively in a team, integrating inputs from different sources in the pursuit of a design solution
  • LO6. understand and be able to plan the biomedical design process, including design iteration and testing protocols
  • LO7. create a detailed design brief for a biomedical device that addresses a specific problem, with reference to international standards
  • LO8. use evidence to justify methodological and design choices with reference to prior art
  • LO9. understand the therapeutic, rehabilitation, and clinical contexts in which biomedical devices are required to operate, and the role of regulation within these contexts.
  • LO10. Understand the various roles of engineers in the biomedical industry

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

The unit outline will remain the same as that delivered in S1 2022.

Site visit guidelines

Site visit guidelines will be published on Canvas (will not apply due to COVID).

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.