Job description
Through this Knowledge Transfer Partnership project, you will play a key role in managing and implementing strategic product developments within RUA and transferring knowledge between the University and RUA. the primary challenge you will encounter as a KTP Associate will include the modelling and analysis of heart valve prototypes, to guide and optimise the design process. The Associate will contribute to gaining regulatory approval and commercialisation of a new heart valve platform. The Associate could also be expected to input into process optimisation and Design for Manufacture.
The enabling technology for the new heart valve platform is RUA’s
ElastEon® polymers, a family of polysiloxane urethanes, which have been
demonstrated as one of the most biostable polyurethanes on the market.
Traditional polyurethanes are typically susceptible to either hydrolytic
and/or oxidative degradation but the novel, contemporary, polyurethane
ElastEon® family have been demonstrated as best in class via a copious
number of academic and surgical publications. ElastEon® polymers have been
used in long term human implants for +15 years and are the enabling
technology behind >7 million life sustaining devices.
This KTP programme will expand RUA’s knowledge base, which is critical to
the development of new and innovative materials, manufacturing processes
and product designs.
Main Activities/Responsibilities:
1. Generation of valve prototypes, and their respective components and
sub-assemblies in CAD, including textile composites
2. Using the appropriate finite element modelling techniques, and data
generated from the second Associate, predict prototype stresses and failure
modes during heart valve cycling
3. Investigation of areas of concern using finite element-based
techniques
4. Provide guidance to the valve design process
5. Scale the lead design to the target size range
6. Embedding of new knowledge and systems into the company by providing
training and support.
7. Project management and resourcing
8. Producing milestone reports and presenting work at project review
meetings
9. Completion of KTP Final Report
10. Involvement in dissemination activities including trade publications,
case studies, academic papers and external presentations
Project description
To embed an understanding of polymer chemistry, rheology and process
engineering into the business to develop platform capability and enable
identification of the platform technology strategy for ElastEon, for the
in-house
development of medical devices.
About the business
RUA Medical Devices is an experienced full-service medical device contract developer, contract manufacturer and implantable fabric specialist. In April 2020, AorTech International plc acquired RUA Medical Devices Ltd to create a fully formed medical device business. AorTech subsequently rebranded to the RUA Life Sciences Plc and is now the holding company of the group, trading through four businesses (RUA Medical Devices Ltd, RUA Vascular Ltd, RUA Biomaterials Ltd, and RUA Structural Heart Ltd) all of which exploit the group’s proprietary Elast-EonTM polymer technology. RUA Medical Devices Ltd has 32 FTE and generated turnover of over £1 million in 2022/23.
Pure and Applied Chemistry
Design
A PhD in Design and Finite Element Modelling or a related discipline. Alternatively, a good honours degree (2.1 or better) with equivalent skills gained in industry over a period of years will be acceptable.
26 May 2023
12 June 2023
532233
Through this Knowledge Transfer Partnership project, you will play a key role in managing and implementing strategic product developments within RUA and transferring knowledge between the University and RUA. the primary challenge you will encounter as a KTP Associate will include the modelling and analysis of heart valve prototypes, to guide and optimise the design process. The Associate will contribute to gaining regulatory approval and commercialisation of a new heart valve platform. The Associate could also be expected to input into process optimisation and Design for Manufacture.
The enabling technology for the new heart valve platform is RUA’s ElastEon® polymers, a family of polysiloxane urethanes, which have been demonstrated as one of the most biostable polyurethanes on the market. Traditional polyurethanes are typically susceptible to either hydrolytic and/or oxidative degradation but the novel, contemporary, polyurethane ElastEon® family have been demonstrated as best in class via a copious number of academic and surgical publications. ElastEon® polymers have been used in long term human implants for +15 years and are the enabling technology behind >7 million life sustaining devices.
This KTP programme will expand RUA’s knowledge base, which is critical to the development of new and innovative materials, manufacturing processes and product designs.
Main Activities/Responsibilities:
1. Generation of valve prototypes, and their respective components and sub-assemblies in CAD, including textile composites
2. Using the appropriate finite element modelling techniques, and data generated from the second Associate, predict prototype stresses and failure modes during heart valve cycling
3. Investigation of areas of concern using finite element-based techniques
4. Provide guidance to the valve design process
5. Scale the lead design to the target size range
6. Embedding of new knowledge and systems into the company by providing training and support.
7. Project management and resourcing
8. Producing milestone reports and presenting work at project review meetings
9. Completion of KTP Final Report
10. Involvement in dissemination activities including trade publications, case studies, academic papers and external presentations