Title: Additive-manufacture for Design-led Efficient Patient Treatment - ADEPT
Funder: Arts and Humanities Research Council

Abstract: The research team created for this project would seek to inform the development of intelligent software systems that_x000D_ capture the tacit knowledge of designers, engineers and medical specialists into vastly improved laser melting driven_x000D_ production chain. The academic partner's role in this project is aligned to enabling the design freedoms and IP frameworks_x000D_ of AM to create successful business transformation. The purpose of research within this project is to improve the_x000D_ applicability and acceptance of a new service, where the aim is to create a commercially viable output that is significantly_x000D_ more efficient than competitors. In order to achieve this, structured research based on a Design Research Methodology_x000D_ (drM) framework (Blessing and Chakrabarti, 2009) would first seek to define research goals, establish the criteria of_x000D_ success and identify influences and how they interact._x000D_ This first research phase is linked to project work package 1. This is fundamentally about understanding end user (the_x000D_ medical specialists who would use the new service) requirements in terms of implant design intention and software_x000D_ interface requirements. The research team would work with the Maxillofacial Unit at Morriston Hospital and other end_x000D_ users to employ the principles of a User-Centred Design (UCD) approach. UCD is multidisciplinary approach that requires_x000D_ experts from various disciplines to examine, analyse, interpret and synthesise user needs and behaviours and translate_x000D_ these to end products, often in an iterative process. It is value-adding both in terms of improved design output (leading to_x000D_ greater commercial success) and in considering the overall experience of product/service interaction for the user. Crucial to this approach is the involvement of product/service users, in this case medical professionals, in the very early stages of_x000D_ insight generation, through to the development and evaluation of concepts. This is contrary to more commonly used_x000D_ approaches that first establish concepts and prototypes before engaging with the end users. The approach significantly_x000D_ reduces the risk of developing services that do not meet the market needs._x000D_ A combination of observational techniques and structured reviews would be used during work package 1 to capture user_x000D_ requirement at the points of potential application. Stakeholder interaction mapping would be used to define and quantify_x000D_ how new services developed as part of this project would impact implant production. The data generated would be used to_x000D_ define an optimum workflow, measures of project impact and a product specification, against which new approaches can_x000D_ be developed. This information would be used to develop a testable software-based platform based on low-fidelity, 'throw_x000D_ away' prototyping for evaluation by end users. Low-fidelity prototypes are not constrained by current technical knowledge_x000D_ and by nature contain no coding that could be used in the final solution; they are, however, an important mechanism that_x000D_ will be used to assess the user requirements that may make the product successful in the market, without committing the_x000D_ significant resources required to build a final system. User feedback will be used to filter more viable options into highfidelity,_x000D_ evolutionary prototypes, with increased function. These prototypes would be evaluated in theoretical clinical case_x000D_ studies that can be evaluated against the specification developed in work package 2._x000D_ User-insight generated research developed during work packages 1-3 would then be used to inform the software_x000D_ engineering team for final, functional product development._x000D_ Benchmark data and the concluded impact measures defined during work package 1 will be used to evaluate the_x000D_ demonstrator platform created in work package 7. This would determine the effectiveness of the project and research_x000D_ outcomes.


Research activity codes: 1.3 CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES;5.3 MEDICAL DEVICES
Health categories: MUSCULOSKELETAL