Department of Mechanical Engineering, Unit Catalogue 2008/09 |
ME30297 Rehabilitation engineering |
| Credits: 6 |
| Level: Honours |
| Semester: 1 |
| Assessment: EX 100% |
| Requisites: |
| Before taking this unit you must take ME20023 or take ME20024 or take ME20071 |
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Aims: To introduce the rehabilitation engineering as a specific speciality and describe the nature of the problems encountered and the solutions which can be provided for individuals with differing degree of disability.
Learning Outcomes: On successful completion of the unit the student will have: * Demonstrated a broad understanding of the nature of disabilities and the role of engineering in their support, including knowledge of the major items of equipment available with an emphasis on the engineering involved, and a feel for some of the current areas of research. * Applied their engineering skills to the particular problems of designing such devices, and be able to deal with the complex ergonomic issues involved. Skills: Problem solving; numeracy; working independently. Content: Major disabilities. The major disabling conditions, what causes them and what handicaps result, together with an indication of the number of people affected. Support equipment. An introduction to the major areas of support equipment with a discussion of the engineering involved, and areas of current development including Mobility, Communication, Daily Living, Equipment, Patient handling, FES, Visual and auditory support, Orthotics and prosthetics, Robotics, Smart homes and telecare. Designing for the disabled. An introduction to the problem of designing equipment with the complex human interface that disabled people present. Design methodologies that seek to deal with these problems will be outlined. Although theoretical, many examples will be given of both the problems and the effectiveness of different methodologies, and a clear indication of the multi-disciplinary nature of such work. Equipment provision. An outline of the provision of support equipment in the UK, including health and social services, wheelchair centres, etc, together with an indication of other support provision such as the disabled living centres and REMAP. A comparison with provision elsewhere in the world will be given. Future trends. A trawl of some of the more experimental techniques being explored to assist people with disabilities, with an emphasis on the engineering involved. Practical work will include attendance at clinics in a hospital environment and domiscillary visits with social services, together with visits to a DLC and wheelchair centre. It will also include involvement in design exercises with the necessary exposure to clients, therapists and other clinicians, and first stage evaluation work. |