2014

SMBE Victoria 2014
Christmas Party

Tuesday 2 December 2014

Commences 6.30pm (1830hrs)

Barefoot bowls at Fitzroy Bowls Club(www.barefootbowling.com.au)

578 Brunswick St, North Fitzroy (Tram 11)
Note: flat shows are okay if you don't want to be barefoot

Cost: $25 pp includes bowls and BBQ dinner
There will be a BBQ and drinks at the bar. The SMBE inaugural bowls tournament will begin at approximately 7pm.

Please RSVP to smbevic.info@gmail.com by Thursday 27th November with your choice of Beef/Chicken/Vegetarian for the BBQ.

All welcome

SMBE Victoria 2014
Annual General Meeting


Tuesday 18th November 2014

Commences 6.00pm (1800hrs)
At the completion of the EA Student Presentations (below)

Engineering House, 21 Bedford St, North Melbourne

All welcome

Agenda for SMBE Vic 2014 AGM

              1. Opening
              2.Apologies
              3.President’s report
              4.Treasurer’s report
              5.Meeting program for 2015
              6.Election of 2015 committee
              7.Next meeting
              8.Other business

          SMBE AGM 2014 Committee Nomination Form Download
          SMBE Finances 2013-14 Download

 

engineersauscorp_logo 
Biomedical College Victoria

ANNUAL STUDENT PRESENTATIONS

Tuesday, 18 November 2014

Commences 4.00pm (1600hrs)

Engineering House, 21 Bedford St, North Melbourne.
Venue Access from 15:00 hrs

      Event: 

      The Annual EA BCV Student Presentations are not to be
      missed. This regular event highlights presentations from our
      future Biomedical Engineers. Come and support the student
      endeavours. A most stimulating evening is assured.

      THE BEST PRESENTATION WINS $300.
      Student presentations will commence promptly at 16:00, and,
      when completed, we will adjourn to a local Hostelry for Dinner.
      COMPLIMENTARY DINNER IS PROVIDED FOR ALL
      PRESENTING STUDENTS.
      Students must be studying any Biomed degree excluding PhD
      students. The judges take into account the years of study.
      Talk 10 - 15 minutes, questions 5 minutes.

      Presentations:   Commence promptly at 16:00 hrs

      Dinner Venue: The Castle Hotel www.thecastlehotel.com.au
      Judges:  To be advised
      Costs:  Nil. But do join us for dinner afterward with an à la carte menu.

      Prizes:  Best Presentation Award, Presentation Certificates and presenter’s meals sponsored by Engineers Australia, Biomedical College Victoria.

      Further Details: Contact:
      Andrew Smale, a.smale@alfred.org.au, 9076 5114

New Developments in the Treatment of Retinal Disease

W.Heriot-214x320Associate Professor Wilson Heriot
Principal,  Eye Surgery Associates
Melbourne

Tuesday 21 October 2014

Starts 6:00 PM (Refreshments available from 5:30 PM)

Mayfield Education, 2-10 Camberwell Rd, Hawthorn East

All welcome

Biography
Associate Professor Wilson Heriot (MBBS, FRACO, FRACS) is a Principal at Eye Surgery Associates where his clinical practice includes both medical and surgical retina.  He is particularly involved in the application of treatment advances in age-related macular degeneration, including the Lucentis drug which was added to the PBS Scheme in Australia in August 2007 is an example of this.  Lucentis is applied by injection and, for patients for whom this is appropriate, is having a tremendous impact on their health and well-being.

A/Prof Heriot is chair of the Oceania Retina Association (ORA) and board member of the Macular Degeneration Foundation.  He has been a faculty member of the Retina Satellite meetings for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Duke Eye Centre and Cleveland Clinic retinal update courses and an invited speaker at a variety of international meetings.

Following completion of his general ophthalmology training in Melbourne, Dr Heriot spent two years in New York conducting research on pigment epithelial phototoxic injury and initiation of choroidal neovascularisation.  His subsequent vitreoretinal fellowship with Dr Robert Machemer allowed continued research on pigment epithelial injury and repair.  His other research interests have been on the epidemiology of diabetic retinopathy, management of submacular haemorrhage and most recently treatment advances in age-related macular degeneration.

Maximising Asset Utilisation Using 13552b8Intelligent Tools

Mr Michael Kalogeropoulos
Lifecycle Growth Leader ANZ
GE Healthcare

Tuesday 16th September 2014

Starts 6:00 PM (Refreshments available from 5:30 PM)
Engineering House 21 Bedford St, North Melbourne

All welcome

Abstract
With the healthcare system facing substantial challenges and a heavy reliance on medical
technologies to deliver improved patient outcomes, the need for innovative solutions that
improve asset utilization is greater than ever.
In the technical context, biomedical engineering departments are being challenged to deliver
more with less, and access to digital tools through strategic partnerships could unlock
capacity, delivering better outcomes for equipment users, administrators and ultimately the
patient. During this session we examine a new set of tools that will assist biomedical
engineering teams to deliver a faster, more proactive response with minimal impact to the
care delivery pathway.

Biography
Michael Kalogeropoulos (BE, MBiomedE) is the Lifecycle Growth Leader for Services
across ANZ in GE Healthcare, accountable for designing & launching innovative service
solutions that improve operational effectiveness and reduce total cost of ownership. He has
over 12 years of service management experience across operational and commercial
segments.
Previously, Michael held the role of Modality Service Leader for the Life Care Solutions
portfolio where he developed all-encompassing service solutions across the fastest growing
segment of GE Healthcare, successfully redesigning the service delivery model from breakfix to professional service support throughout the product lifecycle utilising strategic
partnerships and developing new infrastructure.

Multi-scale Engineering Solutions for Biomedicine

Professor James Goh
H
ead of Department of Biomedical Engineering
National University of Singapore

james_goh_7aMonday 25th August

5:30 PM for 6:00 PM Start

Engineering House

21 Bedford St. North Melbourne

All Welcome

 

Short Biography

James C.-H. Goh is Professor and Head of Department, Department of
Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore. He was awarded BSc (1st Class) in Mechanical Engineering and PhD in
Bioengineering by University of Strathclyde, UK. He has been conducting cutting edge research at NUS. He has published widely in musculoskeletal
biomechanics and tissue engineering, and has given numerous invited/plenary talks in international conferences. He has organized many international conferences and was International Vice-President of the World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering (Seoul, Korea, 2006), Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the 3rd WACBE World Congress on Bioengineering (Bangkok, Thailand, 2007), Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the 6th World Congress of Biomechanics (Singapore, 2010), and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of TERMIS-AP Conference (Singapore, 2011). He currently serves as President of the Biomedical Engineering Society (Singapore), Vice-President of the International Federation of Medical and Biological Engineering, Member of the World Council of Biomechanics, and Secretary General of the Asia-Pacific Association for Biomechanics.
http://www.bioeng.nus.edu.sg/people/PI/James/default.html

 

Australian Synchrotron and Medical Research
SITE TOUR

Dr Graeme Polglase
Professor Gary Egan
Professor Stuart Hooper


Hosted by the Monash Biomedical Imaging Group

Tuesday 15th July 2014

6:00 PM for 6:15 PM Start

Venue: Australian Synchrotron
800 Blackburn Rd, Clayton VIC


Attendance for the tour is capped at the first 75 people to register. If you would like to attend the tour please register your attendance ASAP at

http://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/events/australian-synchrotron-and-medical-research-site-tour

Presentation: Early Detection of Preterm Brain Injury
Dr Graeme Polglase

Abstract

Dr Polglase’s current research focuses on improving the respiratory, cardiovascular and neurological outcome of infants born preterm. Being born preterm is the single greatest cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. His findings continue to expand understanding of how key events during fetal development, birth, and post delivery influence the pulmonary, cardiovascular, and cerebral circulation lead to organ inflammation and injury to improve
outcomes. As the single greatest cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality, he hopes this
work will improve outcomes for some of our tiniest patients.

Biography
Dr Polglase is an internationally recognised physiologist who leads the Perinatal Transition Research group, within The Ritchie Centre, MIMR-PHI Institute and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University. Dr Polglase's research focuses on improving outcomes of preterm and compromised term infants. His research influences clinical practise as evidenced by his publications cited in Australian, European and International resuscitation guidelines.
Dr Polglase’s particular accomplishments include the awarding of NHMRC fellowships (early career fellowship and career development fellowship), the inaugural Rebecca L. Cooper Medical Research Fellowship, and significant funding from the NIH, NHMRC, National Heart Foundation of Australia, Cerebral Palsy Alliance and Financial Markets for Children. Dr Polglase has 80 career publications, 2 book chapters and >1000 citations.

Presentation: Monash Biomedical Imaging – Capabilities and Clinical Applications
Professor Gary Egan


Abstract
Monash University has a world-class integrated network of technology platforms in the areas of biomedicine, science and engineering. The Monash Biomedical Imaging (MBI) research platform currently operates the following research infrastructure: an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner (human clinical and large animal preclinical), a 9.4 Tesla MRI scanner for small animal research, a small animal PET-SPECT-CT scanner, a small animal PET-CT scanner,
and a small animal fluorescence scanner.
The MBI facility is located adjacent to and connected with the Australian Synchrotron Imaging and Medical Beam Line, which together constitute the only integrated synchrotron imaging and multi-modality biomedical imaging research facility worldwide.
A key objective of the MBI platform is to achieve excellence in clinical and preclinical imaging capability in order to support scientific discoveries in biomedical research, and in particular to accelerate translation of the discoveries into clinical research and clinical practice. The biomedical imaging methods and techniques currently in use and being implemented at MBI will be presented, and recent findings using these techniques will be discussed.

Biography
Gary Egan is the Foundation Director of the Monash Biomedical Imaging (MBI) research facilities and Professor in the School of Psychological Sciences at Monash University. The MBI research infrastructure includes advanced ultrahigh field MRI and PET-CT scanners for clinical and preclinical research. The MBI facilities are located adjacent to and connected with the Australian Synchrotron that is the only integrated synchrotron imaging and multi-modality biomedical imaging research facility worldwide.
Gary is the Director of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function to understand the link between brain activity and human behaviour. He is also the Deputy Director of the Australian National Imaging Facility and node director of the Monash University node of NIF. He leads the development of advanced MRI methods to develop MR biomarkers for use in future clinical drug trials in neurodegenerative diseases.
His research focuses on the development of neuroimaging biomarkers to enable identification of progressive neurodegeneration and neural dysfunction in the clinical neurosciences.
Egan has published over 220 papers in peer reviewed journals and has a Google h-index of 58 with over 9,000 citations (see http://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=XyuvcXMAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao). He has been a chief investigator (CI) on 23 peer reviewed funded grants in the past five years that have received over $40 million in funding.

Presentation: Functional Lung Imaging
Professor Stuart Hooper


Abstract
Imaging the first breaths after birth using a synchrotron.

The transition to newborn life at birth represents one of the greatest physiological challenges that any human will encounter during their lives. Before birth the fetal lungs are filled with liquid and this liquid must be cleared at birth to allow the entry of air and the start of pulmonary gas exchange. This process of lung aeration is not only critical for the onset of air-breathing, but also triggers major changes in the cardiovascular system. These changes include rapid restructuring of the circulatory system, which transforms it into the adult phenotype that is required for independent life.
To study the process of lung aeration at birth, we have developed a X-ray imaging technique that uses synchrotron radiation to resolve the air/liquid interfaces in the lung with a high degree of resolution. The technique, called phase contrast X-ray imaging, uses the refractive index difference between air and water to produce contrast of all air/liquid boundaries within the lung. As the lung is liquid-filled before birth it displays no absorption contrast with surrounding tissues and no phase contrast and so is not visible using this technique.
However, as air enters the lungs after birth the air-filled airways strongly exhibit contrast and immediately become visible. Consecutive images acquired during this process can be compiled into movies and, as a result, the entry air into the lungs can be visualized allowing the factors that regulate this process to be studied in detail. Using this technique we have identified the primary mechanisms regulating lung aeration at birth, which has overturned almost 40 years of accepted scientific wisdom. Furthermore, based on the concepts derived from this knowledge, we have been able to identify ventilation strategies that assist infants born very premature to aerate their lungs after birth. Premature infants commonly struggle to clear their lungs of liquid and commence effective gas exchange at birth. This can have severe consequences for the infant, including death or severe life-long disability, which requires substantial clinical intervention if it is to be avoided. Our primary research aim is to improve the outcomes for these infants, who are the most vulnerable in our society.

Biography
Professor Stuart Hooper is a NHMRC Principal Research Fellow and Head of the Ritchie Centre, MIMR-PHI and Research Director for Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Monash University. He is a fetal and neonatal physiologist whose research focuses on fetal and neonatal lung development and cardiovascular physiology as well as on understanding the fetal to neonatal transition at birth.

Devices for Physiological Simulation of High Altitude. Why and How?

Mr. Oleg Bassovitch
Managing Director, Biomedtech Australia Pty Ltd

Tuesday 17th June 2014

6:00 PM (Refreshments available from 5:30 PM)

Engineering House
21 Bedford St, North Melbourne

All welcome

Abstract
Physiological simulation of high altitude interests several markets:
1. Travellers to altitude can reduce incidence and severity of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS).

2. Intermittent hypoxic training (IHT) for athletes has had much attention since the Mexico City Olympic Games (1968). They were held at altitude of 2240 meters. IHT is a proven means of human performance enhancement (drug- and adverse-effects-free).

3. Hypoxia is the most serious single hazard during flight at altitude, hence aviators need to be educated on the insidious nature of gradually developing hypoxia. Since WWII, worldwide Air forces continue to acknowledge the importance of practical hypoxia demonstration. This form of training has been compulsory.

In the clinical context, hypoxia presence is considered a hazard that needs to be managed, for example by using an oxygen mask. However, hypoxia condition can be part of normal physiology, for example, mountaineers or even passengers in the cabin of a commercial aircraft, are to some extent, subjected to environmental hypoxia (hypobaric hypoxia). An imbalance between demand for oxygen and its supply can also be demonstrated during strenuous physical exercise. Over the last two decades there has been a multifold increase in number of scientific research and publications worldwide, for the research topic “intermittent hypoxia.” However, it remains that for different investigators the term often has different meanings. 

Biography
Oleg Bassovitch, MSc. (Biomed.Eng.), has specialised in development and manufacturing of devices and systems for physiological simulation of high altitude for over 25 years. In 2000 he completed his Master's Thesis: "Hypoxic Simulation in Sports and Medicine - Considerations for Equipment Design," Monash University. Oleg has been involved in many research collaborations, and is a co-author of “Intermittent Hypoxia: From Molecular Mechanisms to Clinical Applications,” published by Nova Science Publishers in New York, 2009.

Oleg is a founder and the Managing Director of Biomedtech Australia Pty Ltd (since 1998 in Melbourne). 

Note to Engineers Australia Members
Could those SMBE members who are also EA members please ensure that they register their attendance on the EA events site. It is important to record EA member’s attendance and this also notes the CPD hours.

You may register your attendance using the following link: http://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/events/devices-physiological-simulation-high-altitude-why-and-how

 

matiasSimulating Phosphene Vision on portable devices

Matias Maturana
University of Melbourne
National Vision Research Institute

Tuesday 20 May 2014

Starts 6:00 PM (Refreshments available from 5:30 PM)
Engineering House 21 Bedford St, North Melbourne

All welcome

Abstract

The development of the bionic eye has the potential to transform the lives of vision impaired people. The bionic eye operates by electrically stimulating the retina, giving the user the perception of spots of light called phosphenes. An understanding of how vision is perceived by users with a bionic eye is necessary for developing methods that improve their visual experience. Simulation is a useful tool for testing and developing successful stimulation strategies, and it is also an important educational tool. We have created a simulation tool that operates on portable devices to help the general public understand the difficulties of low vision and the realistic potential of visual prosthetic devices. The application is a platform that incorporates recent psychophysical and in vitro results. It captures an image using the inbuilt camera on most phones or portable devices and transforms the image into a phosphene simulation on the device screen. Using this tool, the user can gain an understanding of the limitations of bionic vision, and also gain insights of changes that can be made to stimulation strategies that could help improve visual acuity.

Biography

Matias completed a Bachelor of Arts/Science at the University of Melbourne in 2006 and subsequently went on to complete a Masters of Engineering (Electrical) in 2012. During his Masters, Matias worked part-time at Bionic Vision Australia doing computational modelling of the intrinsic properties of retinal ganglion cells. His interest in visual neuroscience led him to begin his PhD in 2013, where he is looking at improving stimulation strategies for the bionic eye implant. 

 

              From Germany’s MedTech industry
Snap_2014.04.09_07h43m58s_001to innovation research in Australia

Mr. Till Klein

Tuesday 22nd April 2014

Starts 6:00 PM (Refreshments available from 5:30 PM)

Engineering House 21 Bedford St, North Melbourne

All welcome

Abstract

The presentation will address the following topics

    • Aspects of the medical device industry in Germany
    • Hidden champion and medical device manufacturer – a company portrait
    • Applied Technology: Image Guided Surgery for cranial procedures
    • MedTech Innovation in Australia – finding factors for collaboration

Biography

Till is interested in Medical Technology. Prior to his research in medical device innovation
he gained several years of industry experience.
The research is in an early stage and deals with factors which enable or hinder collaboration in the process of medical device innovation.

Till recently moved to Melbourne from Germany, where he was with an international medical device manufacturer in the team for regulatory affairs. In his position he was involved in multiple product development projects from an early stage until market release, where he helped colleagues from R&D and commercialisation to meet requirements from the Quality Management System and from international medical device regulators.

Note to Engineers Australia Members

Could those SMBE members who are also EA members please ensure that they register their attendance on the EA events site. It is important to record EA member’s attendance and this also notes the CPD hours.

You may register your attendance using the following link:
https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/events/germanys-medtech-industry-innovation-
research-australia

Snap_2014.03.03_19h43m05s_001

Biomedical Engineering Technical Aid – volunteering with a Cardiac Surgery team in PNG
jono
Mr. Jono Nevile
Consulting Biomedical Engineer

Tuesday 18th February 2014

Starts 6:00 PM (Refreshments available from 5:30 PM)

Note Change of Venue-The Castle Hotel 56 Courtney St
North Melbourne

All welcome

If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact smbevic.info@gmail.com.

Abstract
Continuing in the theme of Humanitarian Biomedical Engineering, Jono will present his recent experiences in PNG. Australian Biomeds are very well regarded providing support
outside Australia. This type of work is truly inspirational and highlights the resources of our
Biomedical industry.
Papua New Guinea (PNG) is home to 6 million people and over 800 languages. Since gaining independence from Australian administration in 1975, PNG has become one of the fastest growing economies in the world, due to natural resources. Despite this, an estimated
one-third of the population still lives in extreme poverty.

Open Heart International ohi.org.au has been delivering and teaching Cardiac Surgery in PNG since 1993. At that time there was no Cardiac Surgery in PNG. Each year a team of over 50 volunteers visit to provide surgery, support and ongoing training.
http://pngcardiac2013.gofundraise.com.au/page/jonoOOHPNG2013/
Medical devices for diagnosis, monitoring and treatment are shipped in and out. To ensure safe and reliable equipment is readily available, biomedical engineers are required on cardiac
surgery visits. Sometimes there are two. This may be the highest ratio of biomedical engineers to clinicians that exists anywhere.

The talk examines one engineer's experience volunteering with OHI in PNG in 2013. It makes the case that the benefits are professional, personal and humanitarian. The talk unashamedly challenges Biomedical Engineers to participate in this or similar programs.

Biography
Jono Nevile is passionate about biomedical engineering. He is a consulting biomedical engineer who has previously worked in the Biomedical Engineering Departments of large health-care networks. His hobbies include scuba diving, surfing, surf life saving and sailing.

Note to Engineers Australia Members

Could those SMBE members who are also EA members please ensure that they register their attendance on the EA events site. It is important to record EA member’s attendance
and this also notes the CPD hours.

You may register your attendance using the following link:
http://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/events/biomedical-engineering-technical-aid-
volunteering-cardiac-surgery-team-png

SMBE Planning Meeting

This meeting is an open invitation to all members. Everyone is invited to put forward topics of interest and ideas for other SMBE activities to be conducted in 2014.

Date: Tuesday 21st January 2014

Time:5.30pm for 6.00pm start

Who: All welcome

Where: Engineering House, 21 Bedford Street, North Melbourne

 

If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact smbevic.info@gmail.com.

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