Masters in BioMedical Engineering

General information
July 2011

Introduction

Biomedical Engineering Are you interested in technology and also in health care? Biomedical Engineering is the perfect mix of both. In Groningen there is a unique cooperation with the University Medical Center Groningen. Many experts medical doctors and engineers bring students into contact with current clinical practice, which increasingly depends on new technologies developed by biomedical engineers. A biomedical engineer trained in Groningen has learned to cooperate in multidisciplinary teams and to communicate effectively with medical doctors, other engineers, biologists and biochemists. The Biomedical Engineer Current-day medical practice relies increasingly on technology, such as electronics, information technology, mechanical and materials engineering. In a multidisciplinary setting of medical sciences, natural sciences and engineering technology, biomedical engineers develop new methods for the diagnosis and treatment of patients. The results of their efforts may range from ever more advanced imaging instruments to scaffolds for tissue engineering, and from modelling software to new surgical appliances. In a clinical environment they may be responsible for setting up, adapting and maintaining state-of-the-art medical facilities. Biomedical engineers are qualified to analyse and solve problems in health care using a combination of engineering and biological perspectives. Hence, they have an understanding of the special difficulties of working with living systems and are able to create and evaluate a range of possible solutions. Biomedical engineers are trained in analytic and synthetic methods of physics and chemistry, mathematics and computer science, electrical and mechanical engineering. They are also well versed in medical and biological basic knowledge and know the rules and standards of professional conduct. Career prospects The programme prepares you for three different jobs: 1. (Fundamental) research on new techniques for diagnosis and therapy Universities, UMCs Companies 2. Design of new diagnostics, therapies Companies Universities, UMCs 3. Application of new diagnostics, therapies UMCs, Hospitals The multidisciplinary nature of the MSc programme in Biomedical Engineering adds significantly to employment possibilities in both research and management-oriented jobs. Industry, research agencies, hospitals, universities and government organizations dealing with health-related products and services are potential employers. Biomedical engineers may contribute to research, to engineering design and product development, or to business aspects of engineering and technical management. They are also experts who may advise on the development of long-term strategies and policies in the field of medical life sciences.

Programme content

General aim The general aim of the study is to train you for solving problem: From bed to bench and back. For patients laying in bed find practical solutions at your research bench = new diagnostics and new therapies and bring them to the patient, who is still laying in bed. In the first year you are following topics in all fields of Biomedical Engineering, like imaging techniques, physiological control engineering, rehabilitation engineering, implant and prosthesis engineering, cell and tissue engineering and infection prevention, as well as on aspects of medical ethics and law. The first year is finished with an internship at a company or hospital. In the second year students choose one of two specializations within the programme: Clinical Physics and Prostheses & Implant Interface Technology. These specializations correspond to the research areas briefly described below. In the first semester courses will be followed and the Masters project will be prepared. In the second semester a Masters project, related to the specialization, will be performed. Clinical Physics Medical Imaging focuses on the visualization of structures and processes within the human body. It ranges from the visualization of metabolic processes within a cell to the measurement of electrical activity in the brain. Nowadays a wide variety of imaging techniques are used, such as X-ray and CT, MRI, PET and ultrasound cameras for the medium and large scale (down to 1 mm). Different types of optical and electron microscopes cover the range toward micrometre or even nanometre scale. A further topic is radiation therapy. Medical instrumentation is concerned with non-imaging equipment and control systems. Examples include surgical technologies, anaesthesia equipment, non-invasive diagnostic equipment using light, and instruments for the measurement of parameters of body function, as used in an intensive care environment. Other important topics concern modelling of physiological processes and the physiology of bioelectrical phenomena at the cellular or organ level, such as in muscle tissue or the neural system. In this specialization students learn to develop or improve imaging and other medical instruments, in hardware and/or software. Prostheses & Implant Interface Technology This field deals with techniques that are intended to restore body functions. Examples include implants, artificial organs, prostheses & orthoses. Implants must be biocompatible, which means that they will be accepted by the body and will not evoke a severe rejection reaction. Biomaterials can also be biodegradable, which means that they are slowly broken down into harmless substances in the body. At present, new tissue engineering techniques for the restoration of tissue structures are being developed. Important topics in this specialization include biomechanics, materials science, design methodology and molecular-cellular techniques. You can choose between: a more engineering specialization, focusing on the design of prostheses, orthoses and implants; a more biological specialization, focusing on implant infection and tissue engineering.

Procedures

Course selection Before the start of the Masters please select the courses that you would like to follow and discuss them wth Tjar Koiter. When they are approved, please register yourself at these courses. Masters project and Industrial internship regulations The Masters project (35 EC) is to be conducted at one of the research groups of the University of Groningen or University Medical Center Groningen that are active in Biomedical Engineering. The industrial internship (15 EC) is to be performed at an industry that develops and/or produces medical products or at a hospital. The Masters project and the industrial internship are arranged by one of the nine Masters project co-ordinators: Prostheses & Implant Interface Technology dr. M.C. Harmsen, m.c.harmsen@med.umcg.nl dr. T.G. van Kooten, t.g.van.kooten@med.umcg.nl mw. prof. dr. H.C. van der Mei, h.c.van.der.mei@med.umcg.n prof. dr. Ir. G.J. Verkerke, g.j.verkerke@med.umcg.nl Clinical physics prof. dr. P. van Dijk, p.van.dijk@kno.umcg.nl dr. M.J.W. Greuter, m.j.w.greuter@rad.umcg.nl dr. ir. A. van der Schaaf, a.van.der.schaaf@rt.umcg.nl dr. ir. A.T.M. Willemsen, a.t.m.willemsen@ngmb.umcg.nl dr. R.J. Renken, r.j.renken@med.umcg.nl The Masters project will be performed within one of the many research groups involved with research in the field of Biomedical Engineering. An overview of these groups can be found via Nestor, course Biomedical Engineering General information, Masters 201-2012, semester 3a and 3b. The procedure is as follows: Industrial Internship 1. Contact one of the Masters project co-ordinators as soon as possible, preferably at the start of your Masters, because it needs much time, at least half a year. Then you can formulate your Masters project. and select an internship. A supervisor for the Masters project is assigned to you. 2. Fill in the form about the internship (to be found on the Nestorsite) and send it to the programme coordinator. 3. The internship must be finished with a report and a presentation. The report will be assessed by your local supervisor and your Masters thesis coordinator, using a form that can be found on Nestor. Research project (Masters project) 1. If you have finished the internship and at least 30 EC of mandatory courses, then you are allowed to start your Masters project. 2. Fill in the form about the Masters project (to be found on the Nestorsite Biomedical Engineering General Information) and send it to the programme coordinator. 3. During your Masters project you have to follow 7 colloquia. A colloquium is a presentation of a scientist (staff members and guest lecturers) about a

specific topic. The topics can originate from many disciplines, as long as they have a link with BME. Presentations of PhD-students about the progress of their research are not valid as colloquium. You can discuss with your Masters project coordinator which colloquia you will follow. There is a form available to mark each followed colloquium; this form can be found as well on Nestor, course Biomedical Engineering General information. 4. Halfway there will be a midterm review. Your supervisor will fill in the midterm form present it to you and discuss your score. The form can be found on Nestor. 5. The Masters project is finished with a report and a presentation. For the assessment of your Masters project forms will be used that can be found as well on Nestor. The assessment will be performed by your supervisor and a co-referent. The co-referent is a staff member from another research group as the one of your supervisor. You have to name the co-referent on your report. For the presentation you have to make an appointment with the secretariat of the research group, where you perform your Masters project. A copy of the report that is approved by your supervisor needs to be send to the secretary of the programme Mrs Ellen Lageman. For all changes to these rules permission is required of the exam committee. More information Please consult the study guide, it contains all necessary information. For the latest information, please consult Nestor, course Biomedical Engineering General information regularly.

Specific goals of the Masters programme

Specific goals of the specialisation Prostheses & Implant Interface Technology After following the specialisation Implants and Function Restoration the student must be able to: realise restoration of body functions by designing prototypes of new, technological innovative implants, artificial organs, prostheses and orthoses that are based on fundamental scientific research. For this the following courses have to be followed: course because Biomechanics 2 Students have to know how to determine the forces or stresses that will act on their implants and the resulting movement of limbs. Biomaterials 2 Students must select the optimal biomaterial for their implants. Design of implants Student must be able to create the best implant for a lost body function. Quality of life Students must realize that the main target for their implant is to improve the quality of life of patients. So they have to know how it is defined and how it can be determined. Technology and Students have to realize the impact of new ethics implants in terms of an increase or decrease of health care costs, increased independency on technology. conduct scientific research on the functioning of implants, from a biological, chemical and mechanical point of view and based on a modelling approach. For this the following courses have to be followed: course because Surface Students must know how the surface of an characterization implant can be characterised. Interface biology Students must know the interactions between biomaterials and their surrounding. improve existing implants concerning interaction with the body, from biological, chemical and mechanical point of view. For this the following courses have to be followed: course because Recent developm. in Students must know the latest developments on biomaterials improving biomaterials Colloid and interface Students must know how they can influence the science interface between biomaterials and their surrounding. Integrated lab Students must be able to apply their knowledge course biomaterials on biomaterials and their interface in practice.

follow a post-graduate training in Biomedical Engineering. work in interdisciplinary teams For this the following courses have to be followed: course because Multidisciplinary Students must learn and experience how to project work in multidisciplinary teams, composed of students with another background. Industrial internship Students must learn and experience how to work in multidisciplinary teams, composed of employees from industry and/or hospitals. Thesis project Students must be able to apply their knowledge on implant design, biomaterials and their interface in a multidisciplinary team.

Specific goals of the specialisation Clinical Physics After following the specialisation Medical Instrumentation and Imaging the student must be able to: conduct scientific research on the functioning of medical instruments, both from a biological and physical point of view and based on a modelling approach For this the following courses have to be followed: course because Biomedical Students should have an overview of the current instrumentation possibilities in diagnostics. Physiological Students must have insight in the physical instrumentation principles of diagnostics Neurophysiology Students must know fundamental biophysical properties order to understand the related properties in the functioning of neuro cells Medical physics for Students must know the physical and technical radiation oncology aspects of delivery of a specific dose of ionizing radiation to destroy a tumour Radiation physics Students must know the physics behind a radiation treatment conduct scientific research on medical imaging techniques, both from a biological and physical point of view and based on a modelling approach For this the following courses have to be followed: course because Scientific Students must have an overview of current visualization ways to visualise human organs and tissues. Imaging techniques Students must know the technique and physics in radiology of the commonly used diagnostic techniques in radiology MR physics Students must have knowledge on the physics of MRI Nuclear Medicine, Students must know the fundamentals of SPECT and PET functional imaging with radionuclides

improve diagnosis by designing prototypes of new, technological innovative medical instruments and imaging techniques that are based on fundamental scientific research, For this the following courses have to be followed: course because Signal analysis Students must know how to analyse the signals, created by various types of instruments to be able to improve signal analysis Control systems Students must have knowledge on the basics of the control of systems to be able to improve devices on that aspect. Lab course control Students must apply their knowledge on control systems systems the opportunities and limitations better. Technology and Students have to realize the impact of new ethics implants in terms of an increase or decrease of health care costs, increased independency on technology.

work in interdisciplinary teams follow a post-graduate training in Biomedical Engineering For this the following courses have to be followed: course because Multidisciplinary Students must learn and experience how to project work in multidisciplinary teams, composed of students with another background. Industrial internship Students must learn and experience how to work in multidisciplinary teams, composed of employees from industry and/or hospitals. Thesis project Students must be able to apply their knowledge on implant design, biomaterials and their interface in a multidisciplinary team.