Profession medical device engineering technician

Medical device engineering technicians collaborate with medical device engineers in the design, development and production of medical-technical systems, installations, and equipment such as pacemakers, MRI machines, and X-ray devices. They build, install, inspect, modify, repair, calibrate, and maintain medical-technical equipment and support systems. Medical device engineering technicians  are responsible for the operational readiness, safe use, economic operation and the appropriate procurement of medical equipment and facilities in hospitals.

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Personality Type

• Realistic / Investigative

Knowledge

• Medical devices materials

  The different materials used to create medical devices such as polymer materials, thermoplastic and thermosetting materials, metal alloys and leather. In the choice of materials, attention must be paid to medical regulations, cost, and biocompatibility.

• Biomedical engineering

  The biomedical engineering processes used to create medical devices, prostheses and in treatments.

• Medical device regulations

  The set of national and international regulations with regards to the manufacture, safety, and distribution of medical devices.

• Electricity

  Understand the principles of electricity and electrical power circuits, as well as the associated risks.

• Medical device test procedures

  The methods of testing the quality, accuracy, and performance of medical devices and their materials and components before, during, and after the building of the systems.

• Pneumatics

  The application of pressurised gas to produce mechanical motion.

• Medical devices

  Equipment and devices used in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of medical issues. Medical devices cover a wide range of products, ranging from syringes and protheses to MRI machinery and hearing aids.

• Design drawings

  Understand design drawings detailing the design of products, tools, and engineering systems.

• Electrical wiring plans

  Pictorial representation of an electrical circuit. It shows the components of the circuit as simplified shapes, and the power and signal connections between the devices. It gives information about the relative position and arrangement of devices and terminals on the devices, to help in building or servicing the device. A wiring diagram is often used to troubleshoot problems and to make sure that all the connections have been made and that everything is present.

• Mechanics

  Theoretical and practical applications of the science studying the action of displacements and forces on physical bodies to the development of machinery and mechanical devices.

Skills

• Perform maintenance on installed equipment

  Perform the maintenance on installed equipment on-site. Follow procedures to avoid uninstalling equipment from machinery or vehicles.

• Adjust engineering designs

  Adjust designs of products or parts of products so that they meet requirements.

• Manufacture medical devices

  Put together medical devices according to company specifications and national and international regulations. Use specialised materials, tools, and machinery to assemble the medical devices. Apply molding, welding, or bonding techniques according to the type of medical device. Retain a high level of cleanliness throughout the manufacturing process.

• Maintain medical devices

  Ensure all medical devices and appliances are properly stored and taken care of so they maintain their functionality and appearance.

• Inspect quality of products

  Use various techniques to ensure the product quality is respecting the quality standards and specifications. Oversee defects, packaging and sendbacks of products to different production departments.

• Read engineering drawings

  Read the technical drawings of a product made by the engineer in order to suggest improvements, make models of the product or operate it.

• Wear cleanroom suit

  Wear garments appropriate for environments that require a high level of cleanliness to control the level of contamination.

• Align components

  Align and lay out components in order to put them together correctly according to blueprints and technical plans.

• Liaise with engineers

  Collaborate with engineers to ensure common understanding and discuss product design, development and improvement.

• Prepare production prototypes

  Prepare early models or prototypes in order to test concepts and replicability possibilities. Create prototypes to assess for pre-production tests.

• Perform test run

  Perform tests putting a system, machine, tool or other equipment through a series of actions under actual operating conditions in order to assess its reliability and suitability to realise its tasks, and adjust settings accordingly.

• Record test data

  Record data which has been identified specifically during preceding tests in order to verify that outputs of the test produce specific results or to review the reaction of the subject under exceptional or unusual input.

• Assist scientific research

  Assist engineers or scientists with conducting experiments, performing analysis, developing new products or processes, constructing theory, and quality control.

• Resolve equipment malfunctions

  Identify, report and repair equipment damage and malfunctions; communicate with field representatives and manufacturers to obtain repair and replacement components.

• Repair medical devices

  Repair or modify medical appliances and supportive devices according to the specifications.

• Use testing equipment

  Use equipment to test performance and operation of machinery.

• Conduct routine machinery checks

  Check machinery and equipment to ensure reliable performance during use and operations in worksites.

• Consult technical resources

  Read and interpret such technical resources such as digital or paper drawings and adjustment data in order to properly set up a machine or working tool, or to assemble mechanical equipment.

• Install pneumatic systems

  Install systems and components that use pneumatics to create mechanical movements such as air brakes, pneumatic cylinders, air compressors and other systems.

• Fasten components

  Fasten components together according to blueprints and technical plans in order to create subassemblies or finished products.

• Use measurement instruments

  Use different measurement instruments depending on the property to be measured. Utilise various instruments to measure length, area, volume, speed, energy, force, and others.

• Test medical devices

  Make sure the medical devices fit the patient and test and evaluate them to ensure they work as intended. Make adjustments to ensure proper fit, function and comfort.

• Install electrical and electronic equipment

  Install equipment which is dependent on electric currents or electromagnetic fields in order to work, or equipment to generate, transfer or measure such currents and fields. This equipment includes switchboards, electric motors, generators or direct current systems.

• Operate scientific measuring equipment

  Operate devices, machinery, and equipment designed for scientific measurement. Scientific equipment consists of specialised measuring instruments refined to facilitate the acquisition of data.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB