SURGICAL APPLIANCE DESIGN THROUGH STUDENT CO-CREATION AT PAL-WEEK
Year: 2015
Editor: Guy Bingham, Darren Southee, John McCardle, Ahmed Kovacevic, Erik Bohemia, Brian Parkinson
Author: Garland (1), Nigel; Khan, Zulfiqar; O’Kane (2), Peter
Series: E&PDE
Institution: 1Bournemouth University, 2Royal Bournemouth Hospital
Section: Project Based Learning
Page(s): 424-429
ISBN: 978-1-904670-62-9
Abstract
PAL-Week has been developed out of the desire to transition 1st year UG Design Engineering
student’s learning responsibility and frame the expectation of their University experience through
engagement in the first academic week of the year. A novel blend of Peer Assisted Learning (PAL)
and Project Based Learning (PBL) techniques provides a rapid learning process with 1st year
expectations formed directly through working with their 2nd year colleagues.
For their brief, mixed groups of 1st and 2nd year students were asked to design a left radial arm support
to assist Interventional Cardiologists from the Cardiac Intervention Unit (CIU) at Royal Bournemouth
Hospital (RBH) when conducting Transradial Coronary Angioplasty. The surgical procedure is
generally conducted from the right side of the operating table and where the catheter is inserted
through the right arm this falls naturally for the procedure.
Students researched, analysed and designed viable solutions for the radial arm support and presented
solutions at key intervals to staff and peers. The final presentation was submitted as a narrated
YouTube video and scaled prototype with all group members questioned.
Success can be framed from four perspectives: Firstly, student expectation has been set at the outset of
their academic careers. Second, students understand their responsibilities within the transition from
taught lessons to student managed learning. Third, students have been introduced to new technology
and appropriate methodologies. Forth, the practical outcomes, from the work they have done, are
currently informing the development of a working prototype device in partnership with the CIU.