BME 210 Introduction to Biomedical Engineering in a Clinical Environment 2008
Library and Information Resources for Assignment
Dorothy Byers and Jim Clasper

A.  Identify the clinical need for the device

• MedlinePlus at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ (consumer information for getting started with terminology). MedlinePlus is part of PubMed (under quicklink Related Resources - Consumer Health)
• Computers and Applied Sciences Complete (CASC) at http://www.libraries.uc.edu/libraries/engr/selfhelp/casc.html
• Business Source Complete at http://www.libraries.uc.edu/libraries/engr/selfhelp/bussp.html for company view
• Company Information on UC Libraries business subject guide at http://www.libraries.uc.edu/research/subject_resources/business/index.html (see upper right hand link under FindFast for Company Information link)
• New from ASME: Journal of Medical Devices starting with vol. 1, no. 1 in March 2007.
• See also the Health Sciences Library web page for other databases. 

Search for mention of your device and what it is used for in a clinical setting. Note that consumer device information is geared to what consumers use (crutches, pacemakers) versus what doctors use in surgery....

B. How does the device work, including the technology and its basic principles

• UC library catalog at http://uclid.uc.edu/search/X keyword search to find books on medical device technology (includes access to online books) or on specific device. 
  • Note Library of Congress Subject Heading:  Medical instruments and apparatus
  • See also outline of the Library of Congress Classification System
• Engineering Reference Guide on Biomedical Engineering at http://www.libraries.uc.edu/libraries/engr/resources/bioengr.html . See section entitled "Handbooks, Encyclopedias and Bibliographies"
  • Encyclopedia of Medical Devices and Instrumentation (R856.A3E53 2006 v.1-6)
  • Medical Device Register       inside:   

C. Identify the patent and the information associated with the patent for your device

• USPTO (US Patent & Trademark Office) databases at http://www.libraries.uc.edu/libraries/engr/selfhelp/uspb.html
• Esp@cenet at http://ep.espacenet.com/ (good for printing)
• Freepatentsonline at http://www.freepatentsonline.com/ (good for printing, must create account first)
• See also Engineering Library Database Guide at http://www.libraries.uc.edu/libraries/engr/selfhelp/index.html and select "Patent and Trademark Databases" link.
• Scopus at http://www.libraries.uc.edu/libraries/engr/selfhelp/scopus.html (see patent tab in search results)
• Engineering Reference Guide on Patents at http://www.libraries.uc.edu/libraries/engr/guide/patent.html for in-depth info on patents

D. What parameters affected the design of the equipment?

• UC library catalog for books on medical devices or health devices
• e-Books:  e.g. CRCnetBASE has a book called The Medical Device R&D Handbook.
• Scopus database at http://www.libraries.uc.edu/libraries/engr/selfhelp/scopus.html . Search device name and design as keywords.
• Pubmed at http://www.libraries.uc.edu/libraries/engr/selfhelp/pubmed.html for medical database provided by National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health.

E. Describe the process or steps in the development of the product from concept to final production.

• Compendex (an engineering literature database) at http://www.libraries.uc.edu/libraries/engr/selfhelp/cmpdx.html
• Scopus (see above)
• Search engines such as Google (advanced search or Google Scholar at http://scholar.google.com/) or Scirus at http://www.scirus.com/srsapp/ (for scientific community only, the engine behind Scopus)
  • For assistance in evaluating web content, consult "Evaluating Web Content" from SUNY Albany.
• Combine your device keywords with words like process or manufacturing or production

dfb

9/29/08