Entry requirements

120 credits including 90 credits in science/engineering. Additive Manufacturing or participation in Additive Manufacturing in Polymeric Materials with 2 credits completed and participation in Additive Manufacturing of Metallic and Ceramic Materials with 2 credits completed. Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course the student shall be able to:

• Give examples of applications of AM in the field of biomedical engineering,
• Report on and evaluate printing methods for common polymers, ceramics and metals that are used in biomedical applications,
• Report on and evaluate common characterization methods of relevance to additively manufactured biomaterials and implants,
• Explain the limitations of AM of biomedical materials with respect to biological and regulatory aspects,
• Explain the use of bioprinting for current and future applications,
• Apply the acquired knowledge in a project, analyse, present and discuss the results with a mixed target group.

Content

The aim with the course is to give the students an understanding for how additive manufacturing (AM) can be applied within the field of biomedical engineering to develop new materials and implants that are better adapted to the specific application and/or the patient. The students are also expected to reach an understanding for the challenges specific to biomedical applications within AM, e.g. regulatory aspects and interaction with the biological system.

Introduction of AM in biomedical applications. Design and printing in different materials for biomedical applications is presented, e.g. implants for bone replacement. Common characterization methods of relevance for additively manufactured biomaterials and implants is reviewed. General and AM-specific interactions between the materials and the biological system - in vitro, in vivo and clinical aspects. Regulatory aspects and issues related to additively manufactured implants are discussed. Bioprinting, printing with cells, is discussed.

Instruction

Lectures and groupwise project work with practical parts.

Assessment

Project work (1.5 credits) and written exam (3.5 credits).

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the disability coordinator of the university.