Medical Devices and Diagnostics

The demand for new and improved devices is increasing as our population ages and new technologies generate treatments that were unimaginable only a few years ago. New diagnostics are allowing earlier, more sensitive, less invasive and less expensive detection and monitoring of a wide variety of diseases and conditions. The design and manufacture of biomedical devices and diagnostics benefits from an interdisciplinary approach that draws on engineering, chemistry, physiology, medicine and computer science. Professionals who attain this interdisciplinary knowledge and who also understand the business and regulatory issues involved in bringing new devices and diagnostics to market are in high demand in this industry.

The objective of the Medical Devices & Diagnostics focus track is to provide students with the requisite knowledge and skills to succeed in the medical devices and diagnostics industry.

Career Options
R&D Science/Engineering
Technical Evaluation
Business Development
Product Development/Management
Project Management
Quality Assurance/Control
Regulatory Affairs
Clinical Research
Marketing & Communications

Topics in the Curriculum
Microfabrication/Nanofabrication
DNA and Protein Microarrays
Spectroscopy & Mass Spectrometry
Immunoassays
High Throughput Screening/Lab Automation
Flow Cytometry
Electrokinetics and Electro-osmosis
Chip-based Capillary Electrophoresis
Photolithography
Pace Makers and Cardiac Devices
Drug Delivery and Controlled Release
Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics 
Polymers & Biodegradable Materials
Surgical Instrumentation and Equipment
Tissue Engineering
Insulin Pump/Artificial Pancreas
Bioethics

Course Offerings in the Medical Devices and Diagnostics Career Focus Track

Technical Courses
Students may choose any combination of courses from the following list that comprise a total at least four units over both semesters.
ALS 408  In Vitro Diagnostics 
ALS 409 High Throughput Technologies (1/2 course)
ALS 420 Advanced BioInstrumentation Laboratory
ALS 425 Instruments: From Product Definition to cGMP Manufacturing
ALS 426 Medical Device Development and Market Release (1/2 course)
ALS 435 U.S. Regulatory Affairs

Business Courses
Students may choose any combination of courses from the following list that comprise a total at least two units over both semesters.
ALS 452 Applied Entrepreneurship Practicum* (1/2 course)
ALS 454 International Business and Global Health
ALS 455 Building a Biomedical Enterprise
ALS 456 Managing Strategic Networks
ALS 458 Applied Entrepreneurship**

*ALS 452 may count as a business/management course only with permission of the faculty instructor.
**ALS 458 begins in October and continues through March for a total of one course unit.