Piaggio, Davide (2021) Design of medical devices resilient to low-resource settings : from the regulatory framework to the actual design phase. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

This thesis starts from a critical analysis of the current regulatory frameworks concerning medical devices and locations, criticising their non-universality and in-applicability to low-resource settings, and moves on to presenting the main challenges faced by low-resource settings, including the lack of maintenance, the poor supply chain, the scarcity of specialized healthcare professionals, the lack of maintenance, poor plants, low-quality and discontinuous power distribution, etc. In light of such challenges, the use of military standards, which allow a more context-aware approach, together with mHealth, 3D printing, protocycling, and a circular economy and frugal engineering approach are suggested as possible solutions. Subsequently, this thesis presents two original frameworks, namely one for assessing medical locations in low-resource settings which would allow a context-aware design, and one that comprises the criteria for designing medical devices resilient to such settings. Finally, it showcases five use cases, i.e., examples of designs of medical devices or parts of medical devices that were developed throughout my PhD project, following the frugal and contextual philosophy presented in this thesis.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Subjects:	R Medicine > R Medicine (General) T Technology > TS Manufactures
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Medical instruments and apparatus -- Design and construction, Medical instruments and apparatus -- Standards, Medical instruments and apparatus -- Cost effectiveness, Biomedical engineering -- Economic aspects
Official Date:	October 2021
Dates:	Date Event October 2021 UNSPECIFIED
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	School of Engineering
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Pecchia, Leandro ; Iadanza, Ernesto
Sponsors:	University of Warwick ; Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Format of File:	pdf
Extent:	xx, 306 leaves : illustrations
Language:	eng

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