1. RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION DESIGN © 2015
www.PosterPresentations.com
Health care providers frequently identify issues in need of
innovative solutions for healthcare and training purposes, but
often lack the time and engineering expertise to bring them to
fruition. To answer this need, we have created a partnership
between the Mayo Clinic’s J. Wayne and Delores Barr
Weaver Simulation Center in Florida (MCF) and The
University of North Florida (UNF) School of Engineering to
foster the development of new inventions for implementation
into training and clinical practice. This agreement allows
engineering students to obtain course credit while
simultaneously accomplishing Mayo Clinic-driven goals for
medical device innovation.
OBJECTIVES
Mechanical and electrical engineering students enrolled in the
EML 4804 Mechatronics course at UNF are placed on teams
and select a project from a pre-determined list. The teams are
assigned both technical and clinical support from MCF as
well as an MCF physician champion. Project ideas are then
vetted for feasibility by the UNF and MCF teams during a
session of concept design, collaboration and brainstorming.
The students design, build, and implement a working
prototype under the supervision of the UNF engineering
professor, MCF support staff, and physician champion.
Project reports and status updates occur periodically,
culminating in a final project report, final presentation, and
system/prototype demonstration.
METHODS
To date, 10 projects and prototypes have been completed for
use in the J. Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver Simulation
Center at MCF, including a cricothyrotomy trainer, a chest
compression simulator, and an ultrasound-training probe.
Additionally, the process of patenting some of the projects in
collaboration with UNF for future use in simulation and
patient care. Evaluation of the program both by MCF and
UNF demonstrate a mutually beneficial relationship.
Suggestions by students and support staff to streamline the
process have been integrated to improve communication and
quality of the final product. Suggestions include the creation
of an intake form to clarify goals and objectives, a formal
timetable with deliverables, and a limitation on the number of
project per semester.
RESULTS CONCLUSION
Partnership between the J. Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver
Simulation Center at Mayo Clinic Florida and the University
of North Florida School of Engineering has created a
sustainable mechanism for medical innovation and a pathway
to introduce engineering students to healthcare. Students are
able to perform hands-on projects, receive course credit, and
apply what they are learning to a real world product.
“There is no excuse today for the
surgeon to learn on the patient.”
William J. Mayo M.D., 1927
REFERENCES
Reid P, Building a Better Delivery System: A New
Engineering/Health Care Partnership. National Academies
Press. 2005: 1-9
Zenios S, Makower J et al. Biodesign: The Process of
Innovating Medical Technologies. Cambridge University
Press 2009
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
J. Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver Simulation Center
The University of North Florida, School of Engineering
Simulation Staff:
Conrad Dove
Eugene Richie
Amy Lannen
Michael Maniaci, M.D.
Leslie Simon, D.O.
UNF Engineering Staff:
Daniel Cox, Ph.D.
Mayo Clinic Florida and The University of North Florida
Dove, JC ; Richie, EM ; Schultz, BC ; Lannen, AM ; Cox, DJ ; Maniaci, M ; Simon, LV
An Innovative Partnership between a Simulation Center and an
Engineering School
MISSION STATEMENTPROJECT EXAMPLES
Ultrasound Probe Trainer
Cricothyrotomy Trainer
Simple Chest
Compression Trainer
Compression Vest