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Collaboration UTEP

innovativeadmin1093 • Oct 14, 2017
Engineering Students

Second Collaboration Between UTEP and Watershed Puts Engineering Students in Heart of Biomedical Innovation

EL PASO, Texas – After a tremendously successful first course in the Fall of 2016, The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and Watershed Idea Foundry are underway training the next wave of mechanical engineering students in the principles of biomedical device design.


The innovative public-private class gives 36 senior-level mechanical engineering students the opportunity to learn from Watershed engineers and surgeons. Following nearly four months of instruction, the students will present final projects at the end of the semester focused on orthopedic designs that include general biomedical principles with broad applicability.


“Today’s technological advances have yielded tremendous opportunities for the engineering community to create truly life-changing innovations in surgical applications,” said Nick Cordaro, CEO of Watershed. “The only limits are our imaginations, and the program at UTEP is spurring the imaginations of some talented students who will undoubtedly push the bar even higher in the healthcare medical device design field.”


The Orthopedic Medical Device Design course incorporates medical device design with proficiencies of working within healthcare requirements and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) compliance. During the course, students utilize traditional manufacturing methods, with a basic introduction to quality control, and adapt them to more advanced manufacturing methods such as additive manufacturing and 3D printing to make life-improving orthopedic devices.


Over the 15-week class, students design and develop their spinal implant, conduct three design review presentations, complete a design history file, and test prototypes of their designs. To further enrich the class, Watershed provided guest lecturers such as San Antonio’s renowned spine surgeon, Dr. Frank K. Kuwamura, III, M.D., to share real-world experiences designing and using medical devices, particularly with regards to how mechanical engineering concepts are applied to human anatomy.


“Besides being a unique learning opportunity for these students,” said Ryan Wicker, Ph.D., P.E., professor of mechanical engineering and director of UTEP’s W.M. Keck Center for 3D Innovation, “the class also provides a differentiator in job interviews as they enter the market. Our students will have the ability to demonstrate knowledge learned from the curriculum by showcasing their final project designs.”

3D Machine

Over the 15-week class, students design and develop their spinal implant, conduct three design review presentations, complete a design history file, and test prototypes of their designs. To further enrich the class, Watershed provided guest lecturers such as San Antonio’s renowned spine surgeon, Dr. Frank K. Kuwamura, III, M.D., to share real-world experiences designing and using medical devices, particularly with regards to how mechanical engineering concepts are applied to human anatomy.

“Besides being a unique learning opportunity for these students,” said Ryan Wicker, Ph.D., P.E., professor of mechanical engineering and director of UTEP’s W.M. Keck Center for 3D Innovation, “the class also provides a differentiator in job interviews as they enter the market. Our students will have the ability to demonstrate knowledge learned from the curriculum by showcasing their final project designs.”

For More Information Contact:

Bonnie Caver

512-832-8588

TAGS: #UTEP

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University of Texas at El Paso Mechanical Engineering Students Benefit from 2nd Year of Watershed Collaboration

By innovativeadmin1093 • 14 Dec, 2017
What: Orthopedic device design class presentations When: 2:30-3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017 Where: W.M. Keck Center for 3D Innovation, Engineering Building, UTEP 821 NE ‘G’ Avenue, Fabens, Texas EL PASO, Texas – The University of Texas at El Paso and Watershed Idea Foundry will see the second installment of their public-private class in the mechanical engineering department conclude with final student presentations Thursday, Dec. 14. In the Orthopedic Medical Device Design course, 36 students working in teams designed and developed their own spinal implant. Students were guided throughout the 15-week course by Watershed engineers, surgeons and guest lecturers who offered real-world knowledge on the principles required to successfully design orthopedic medical devices and achieving FDA approvals for their implementation. The students’ final projects focus on orthopedic designs that include general biomedical principles with broad applicability. “This course is in line with UTEP’s mission of preparing our students to be productive members of the workplace immediately,” said Ahsan Choudhuri, Ph.D., chair of UTEP’s mechanical engineering department. “We are fortunate to have Watershed lend its expertise and innovation to our students’ curriculum for a second year.” The class incorporated medical device design with proficiencies of working within healthcare requirements and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) compliance. Additionally, students had the opportunity to utilize traditional manufacturing methods, with a basic introduction to quality control as well as more advanced manufacturing methods such as additive manufacturing and 3-D printing. “We see this class series at UTEP as an opportunity to seed innovation for medical device design,” said Nick Cordaro, CEO of Watershed. “Students bring their imaginations and openness to problem solving, and we provide the structure and understanding of the processes and FDA approvals. It is exciting to experience the transition these talented students make within a semester.” Students and faculty will be on hand to explain their assembled devices and their ramifications in the healthcare field during their presentations.
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