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For full details about the Simulation and Modelling 2022 conference, please visit the event website.
Please briefly explain your current role and involvement in simulation and modelling technologies
Diogo Geraldes (DG): I am a technical specialist at a notified body, ensuring medical devices are safe to enter and remain in the EU market. I leverage the experience gained as a designer of patient-specific implants for complex cases in limb salvage and paediatric oncology, as well as the computational modelling skills developed as part of a PhD in Structural Biomechanics and a Post-Doctorate in the development of a shoulder implant.
What is the number one challenge holding back the integration of simulation and modelling?
DG: I am a firm believer that simulation and modelling will play a key role in the pre-clinical development of medical devices, saving both time and resources, while allowing for exploration of different scenarios that would not be adequately captured as part of the clinical trials these devices have to undergo (for example, worst-case scenarios, sizes not commonly used or niche indications). They will be fully embraced by industry when they are required by regulation and their validation, verification and usability are cost-effective.
What are the most common gripes you hear from engineers in the deployment of digital twins?
DG: As mentioned above, validating and verifying digital twins can be time consuming and a never-ending task. Knowing when to draw the line while remaining physiologically meaningful is an important skill to have and hard to master.
What key topics are you excited to discuss at this year's conference?
DG: I am very much looking forward to seeing how simulation and modelling can help companies from different industries develop safe and effective devices and improve the sustainability of their products.
What can engineers expect from your presentation at the event?
DG: My presentation will hopefully highlight how biomechanical modelling and experimental testing can be leveraged to develop new orthopaedic implants in silico, saving time and money in crucial concept development design phases whilst ensuring results are physiologically meaningful.
Who else are you most interested in hearing from on the programme?
DG: Given my interest in orthopaedics, I am very much looking forward to hearing from Lin Wang and how computational modelling is being used in pre-clinical testing of hip replacement devices.
What key development/s in simulation and modelling are you most interested in for the future and why?
DG: I would like to see simulation and modelling being adopted as the state of the art and necessary by regulatory requirements. In that aspect, the medical device industry lags way behind other mechanical engineering specialties.
Why is it important for engineers to join this event?
DG: It is always important to draw from other industries - whether it is a modelling technique, an approach to validation or a new application, exposure to real-life examples of simulation and modelling techniques will benefit anyone in the field.
The Simulation and Modelling 2022 conference will take place on 20-21 September 2022 at the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry
Join us in 2022 to hear how thought-leaders and senior engineers are using new technologies and techniques for digital twinning, design, validation, fault detection and process optimisation. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with colleagues and peers across multiple industries and take back fresh perspectives of how these technologies are being used to optimise design, development, testing, manufacturing and operational engineering: for full details about the Simulation and Modelling 2022 conference, please visit the event website.