The module will cover the following topics:

1. Safety, risk management, quality control procedures and Anatomy and Physiology; foetal growth
2. Principles of ultrasound
3. Cardiotocograph design and maintenance including properties of transducers
4. Infant incubators design, maintenance and use
5. Principles of laboratory measurements; e.g. Beer Lambert law,reflective photometry
6. Design and maintenance of laboratory equipment: blood gas analysers, laboratory centrifuges (incl. refrigerated) and blood glucose (insulin) monitors

This module will be assessed by two elements:

1. A reflective assignment of 1000 words - selecting two topics from the indicative content above; 2 and 4 or 5 drawing on the course content and practical activities at the study weekend. This report will cover LO1, 2 & 4 and accounts for 50% of the final module mark. The practical activities relating to foetal monitors and infant incubators are covered at the study weekend to address LO3.

2. A written assignment of 1000 words on a selected piece of laboratory equipment at your workplace from the list in 7 above together with the with the relevant measurement principles 6 producing a report that will provide evidence of the successful completion of the activities covering LO1, 2 and LO4. This will account for 50% of the final module mark. Practical aspects will be covered in the workplace.

Both assignments should briefly refer to the relevant safety, risk and legislation (indicative content 1 above).

Due to the professional nature and safety-critical aspects of the medical engineering programme, it is necessary for all components of assessment in this module to be passed. Students must have a rigorous understanding and working knowledge, and be able to demonstrate a minimum pass-level competence in each aspect of the module.

Students will be introduced to this module, its assessment requirements and learning strategies
at a residential study weekend, where there will also be initial practical labs relating to this module specifically on foetal monitoring and infant nursing incubators.

An online module handbook and workbook will be provided which will guide students through each topic. The workbook will contain a series of tasks which will give structure to independent academic study, research and work based investigation and practical work based learning.

Self-Directed Learning
Students will be expected to undertake a minimum of 50 hours of independent academic study during the course of the module. This will be guided by a series of academic tasks such as producing research reports, working through case studies etc., and will require access to academic resources.
Academic contact time will be used to provide academic support for student learning on an ad-hoc basis via the VLE.

Work-based Component
Students will need to spend a minimum of 88 hours over the course of the module undertaking their work-based tasks. This will include investigation of how aspects of the academic learning apply to the workplace and development of new skills related to maintenance and engineering aspects of the related medical equipment. The student will write a work based assignment explaining the theory of operation and clinical application on one of the following items of laboratory equipment: Blood gas analyser, Blood glucose meter, Centrifuge.

Fish, P. (2005, 2nd Edn.) Physics and Instrumentation of Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound. New Jersey: John Wiles & Sons.
Gauge, S. (2012, 4th Edn.) CTG Made Easy. Oxford: Churchill Livingstone
Gibb, D. and Arukumaran, S. (2017, 4th Edn.) Foetal Monitoring in Practice. Oxford: Churchill Livingstone
Hoskings, P.R. (2010) Diagnostic Ultrasound: Physics and Equipment. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
McLeod, A. (2016) Arterial Blood Gas Analysis: making it easy. Keswick: M&K Publishing.
Webb, A.G. (2018) Principles of Biomedical Instrumentation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
MEDICINES AND HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS REGULATORY AGENCY (2015) Managing medical devices:Guidance for healthcare and social services organisations. MHRA

Standards:
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION (2010) IEC 61010-1. Safety requirements for electrical equipment for measurement, control, and laboratory use - Part 1: General requirements. 3rd Ed. IEC
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION (2005) IEC 60601-1. Medical electrical equipment. 3rd Ed. IEC
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION (2014) IEC 62353. Medical electrical equipment - Recurrent test and test after repair of medical electrical equipment. 2nd Ed. IEC

Moodle
Staffordshire University Library

Demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of the technology, functionality and operation of laboratory equipment, foetal monitoring equipment and infant incubators.
(KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING, ENQUIRY, COMMUNICATION, APPLICATION).

Assess the requirements for whole life management of laboratory equipment, foetal monitoring equipment and infant incubators evaluating and explaining appropriate maintenance, repair and calibration procedures. (ANALYSIS, APPLICATION).

Apply appropriate procedures to inspect, test, analyse, repair and maintain a range of foetal monitoring equipment and infant incubators.
(PROBLEM SOLVING, APPLICATION, TEAM WORKING).

Apply appropriate regulatory, manufacturers and health and safety practice in relation to laboratory and foetal monitoring equipment and infant incubators (APPLICATION, TEAM WORKING).