Classroom to Clinic: Merging Education and Research to Efficiently Prototype Medical Devices

• Main Authors: Nevan C. Hanumara, Nikolai D. Begg, Conor J. Walsh, David Custer, Rajiv Gupta, Lynn R. Osborn, Alexander H. Slocum
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 2013-01-01
• Series: IEEE Journal of Translational Engineering in Health and Medicine
• Subjects: Biomedical engineering education; mechanical design; mechatronics; medical devices
• Online Access: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/6567953/
• ISSN: 2168-2372

Innovation in patient care requires both clinical and technical skills, and this paper presents the methods and outcomes of a nine-year, clinical-academic collaboration to develop and evaluate new medical device technologies, while teaching mechanical engineering. Together, over the course of a single semester, seniors, graduate students, and clinicians conceive, design, build, and test proof-of-concept prototypes. Projects initiated in the course have generated intellectual property and peer-reviewed publications, stimulated further research, furthered student and clinician careers, and resulted in technology licenses and start-up ventures.