Rise of the biomedical designer: engaging industrial design students in an advanced manufacturing neurosurgery project

Abstract

The aim of this study was to prepare industrial design students for emerging roles in design and health through a 13-week, neurosurgery-centric design challenge. The study gathered survey data on their before and after perceptions on biomedical design, as well as their understanding of the role additive manufacturing plays in healthcare. At the conclusion of the project, nearly two-thirds of students had an interest in pursuing biomedical design after graduation. Prosthetics, implants and surgical planning aids were seen as the top applications of additive manufacturing in healthcare, while working with 3D models of human anatomy was seen as the biggest practical challenge. 3D printed prototypes exhibited at a major hospital showed a broad range of novel, modular, haptic and multi-material solutions that evidenced the value of biomedical design within healthcare, as well as the role advanced technology like additive manufacturing plays in solving real-world neurosurgical training challenges.