Future of Design Thinking in Medical Devices: A Generative Design Approach

The demand for medical devices is rapidly growing with a forecast of global annual sales to reach nearly US$800 billion by 2030. But a one-size-fits-all approach in surgery often results in major complications such as infection, delayed or incomplete healing, and revision surgeries that contribute to diminishing clinical outcomes. A new approach with design thinking is now necessary to help solve these challenges. Researchers at University of Birmingham, Autodesk, Manufacturing Technology Centre (UK), and the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust have developed a novel design framework to create personalized knee implants from a CT scan using generative design for treating arthritis. This class will showcase how generative design can be implemented in an all-encompassing digital workflow to explore customized devices and make a positive impact to improve patient outcomes. The team will also discuss the fabrication of functional prototypes using cutting-edge manufacturing, post-processing, and validation techniques.