30602 - Clinical Engineerig

Learning outcomes

At the end of the class, students will be aware of the essential elements of the main equipment for patient monitoring and diagnostic imaging. They will know the guidelines and rules for classification and mark certification for medical devices. They will be able to indicate the main criteria for the effective and safe management of biomedical technology in a healthcare facility. They will have also developed the ability to understand the technical and functional specifications of the systems and methods that are used in the medical field for prevention, safety, diagnosis, therapy and rehabilitation, aimed at planning of health services.

Course contents

Diagnostic systems. Physical principles and technological features of the following diagnostic systems: electrocardiograph, monitoring systems, x-ray, computed tomography, echography, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, radiotherapy systems.

Medical devices. Definition, classification and certification process of medical devices.

Health Technology Assessment. Biomedical Technology. Clinical Engineering. Acquisition, maintenance and management of biomedical equipment. Technology Assessment, criteria for the dimensioning of a health service. The regulations to ensure the correct and safe use of biomedical technologies.

Seminar lectures will be held on specific topics by experts in the field.

Readings/Bibliography

Handouts and materials provided by the teacher.

C. Lamberti, W. Rainer: Le Apparecchiature Biomediche e la loro Gestione. Collana di Ingegneria Biomedica. Patron Editore, Bologna, 1998.
Massimo Garagnani, Claudio Lamberti: ECOGRAFIA: principi fisici e sviluppi tecnologici. ATHENA Audiovisual Edizioni. Modena, 2003.

Fondamenti di ingegneria clinica: 1 e 2 - Francesco P. Branca, Edizioni Springer

Teaching methods

Frontal lectures in which portable diagnostic systems will be shown to the students.

During the course, several visits to hospital labs, radiology and clinical engineering departments are also included.

Assessment methods

During the course anonymous questionnaires will be administered through web applications to monitor the level of comprehension of the contents in real time and eventually carry out remodulations. The final exam consists in a written test at the end of the course. Students who decide not to take the written test or did not pass it can take an oral exam aimed at the evaluation of their technical knowledge of the course contents. The student's ability to illustrate the contents covered during the course, also performing comparative evaluations between the different methodologies will be evaluated as well as the capability to solve problems related to health technology assessment. Language skills, clarity of presentation, level of detail will be an integral part of the evaluation.

Teaching tools

Overhead projector, notebook

Office hours

See the website of Cristiana Corsi