MODELLING AND SIMULATION


Model Medical Devices


GEMMA CHURCH REVEALS HOW SIMULATION AND MODELLING ARE AIDING THE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF A RANGE OF MEDICAL DEVICES


The healthcare industry has been slow to adopt engineering simulation compared to other


sectors. However, an intrinsic need for modelling and simulation has become increasingly apparent as medical technologies continue to advance. Valerio Marra, marketing director at Comsol, explained: ‘In an industry where safety is of paramount importance, the capability to investigate different scenarios by specifying boundary conditions, material properties and physiological mechanisms allows for early and harmless correction of design mistakes.’ The medical devices sector is now taking steps to integrate modelling and simulation into its design and development processes. Paul Goossens, vice president of engineering solutions at Maplesoft, said: ‘While system-level modelling is something that companies in other industries, such as aerospace and automotive, have been using for decades, it is becoming a more popular tool in the medical device market.’ Goossens added: ‘One of the driving


factors is the current increase in safety and functionality issues within the medical device industry, and the growing concern surrounding product recalls. Products are removed from the market for several reasons and the complexity of many of these devices requires an early diagnosis in the design process, which is where early insights and diagnosis in system behaviour can allow for safer products without the time and costs associated with the standard cycles of medical device testing.’ Simulation and modelling reduce the lengthy timescales and high costs often associated with medical device developments. Medtronic, which makes


18 Scientific Computing World December 2018/January 2019


 Visualisation of the motion of


bacteria particles in a room with a displacement ventilation system


such instruments, recently claimed the use of computer models helped reduce its time to market by two years and cut the cost of clinical trials by $10 million for a specific treatment. Many practical issues associated with


real medical tests can be overcome. Marra added: ‘Especially for medical devices, the fact that simulation results can be accessed in locations where it would be impractical (if not impossible) to place sensors on a physical prototype, or in the human body, is greatly appreciated.’ Multiphysics simulation can boost


medical device design in many ways, according to Marra. It reduces the need for physical prototyping, makes available the measurements of any modelled variable at any point in a medical device and its surroundings, and provides high-fidelity medical device modelling. However, a range of challenges still needs to be addressed and managing the complexities of both the human body and the medical devices is paramount.


Regarding the complexity of the


medical devices, Goossens explained: ‘A typical approach for the development of multi-domain systems often carries the risk of high costs and time- consuming re-engineering, due to the lack of interoperability between different domains. ‘From powering systems to the mechanical, electrical and fluid components involved in medical devices, these multi-domain systems present many challenges, not only because of the complexity in modelling the related sub-systems, but also when it comes to interfacing each of these sub-models into one single integrated model,’ Goossens added.


When it comes to the complexities of the human body, Thierry Marchal, global industry director for sports and healthcare at Ansys, said: ‘This never- ending challenge requires more research and investment to improve the models in their accuracy, long-term predictability and


@scwmagazine | www.scientific-computing.com


Simulation example made using Comsol Multiphysics software and provided courtesy of Comsol


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