MS4611: Biomedical Devices

Academic Units3
Semester2
Pre-requisite(s)Nil
Co-requisite(s)MS3011; MS4013

Course Instructors

Associate Professor Dalton Tay Chor Yong

Course AIMS

The course aims to enable you to:

  1. Demonstrate an understanding on a broad range of biomedical devices (e.g. cardiovascular devices, orthopaedic implants, ophthalmologic devices, and tissue implants)
  2. Appreciate the issues relating to the materials selection, design considerations, sterilization requirements, biocompatibility, and contemporary challenges within the context of biomedical devices development..

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you (as a student) would be able to:

  1. Define and classify different types of biomedical devices categories.
  2. Discuss structural organisation and functions of featured organs.
  3. Explain the working principles and design considerations of featured biomedical devices.
  4. Explain thermodynamics of proteins -materials interaction and factors influencing this process.
  5. Describe the physiological wearing and degradation mechanisms of implants.
  6. Discuss the concept of biocompatibility with reference to host-device interaction and tissue response.
  7. Distinguish the different biomedical device sterilization techniques in terms of their working mechanisms and suitability for different classes of biomaterials and/or device.
  8. Describe the different types of test methods to evaluate biological performance of biomedical devices.
  9. Apply engineering and analytical concepts to critique performance and failures of polymeric, ceramic, and metallic devices.

Course Content

Biomedical implants and devices; host-material interaction and tissue responses; biomedical device sterilization; Biosafety evaluation; in vivo performance and failures of biomaterials

Reading and References

Suggested reading:

  • Biomaterials Science: An Introduction to Materials in Medicine, 3rd Edition, edited by B.D.Ratner, A.S. Hoffmann, F.J. Schoen and J.E. Lemons, Academic Press, 2012.


Additional reading:

  • Biological Performance of Materials, 4th Edition, J. Black, CRC Press, 2005.
  • Biocompatibility Assessment of Medical Devices and Materials, J.H. Braybrook, John Wiley &Sons, 1997
  • Handbook of Biomaterials Evaluation: Scientific, Technical and Clinical Testing of Implant Materials, 2nd Edition, A.F. von Recum, CRC Press, 1998.