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Course: Design & Manufacture Engineering 

Supervisors: Associate Professor Kyriakos Kourousis and Associate Professor Anna Chatzi  

Name of Research Project/Activity: 3D Printed Stethoscope Holder to aid Blood Pressure Measurement 

Q) Can you tell me a bit about yourself, and why you decided to study the course you are taking at UL? 

I have a keen interest in creating and designing things as well as looking at how they are currently manufactured and how they can be improved upon. Also, coming from a family full of engineers, I was exposed at an early age to the curiosity of how things work and problem solving. For these reasons, it helped me chose general entry engineering in UL, before I specialised in Design and Manufacture engineering.  

Q) What motivated you to apply for the Summer Bursary Programme? 

I was previously working on the 3D printed stethoscope holder device to aid in measuring blood pressure on a patients forearm as part of my Final Year Project in 4^th year, which I was very interested in. This motivated me to apply for the summer bursary program, as it allowed me to explore this idea further and provide me with valuable opportunities and further my knowledge in this particular area.  

Q) What are you doing as part of your research here at UL? 

The objectives are to identify the need in the medical sector for quick reliable 3D printed parts and to determine the best fitted design that can be used to hold the chest piece of the stethoscope in place. This will enable the healthcare practitioner who takes the manual blood pressure measurements to have a free hand while using the stethoscope.  

Q) What skills have you developed over the summer? 

I have furthered my knowledge on 3D printing, including adjusting print settings, troubleshooting common issues and selecting suitable materials based on specific project requirements. I also improved my modelling skills using CAD software, creating accurate functional models that can be 3D printed.  

Q) What has this experience taught you and what would you recommend it to others? 

I would highly recommend it to others. It has taught me a wide range of skills from how engineering research is applied to biomedical settings and 3D printed parts, along with developing my own personal skills as an engineer.  

Q) What are your future career plans, would you consider a career in research? 

I am pursuing a masters by research, where I will be focusing on enhancing the design and ergonomics of the stethoscope holder. Past this, I have no plans set in stone, however I am enjoying my summer bursary project at the moment and would be open to considering a full time career in research.   

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