• sjc232@cam.ac.uk
  • +44 1223 332828

Sean Cheng

Photo

Sean J. Cheng
PhD Student

  • MPhil Engineering, University of Cambridge, UK 2007
  • BSci (hons) Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, USA 2006

Sean joined the EDC in 2008 to study the design process of medical devices with Dr. Digby Symons. He is interested in applying big picture design concepts as well as developing individual products in the medical devices field. One focus area is using engineering approaches such as computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to model passive dry powder inhaler (DPI) drug break-up and delivery mechanisms, in order to expedite design cycles and increase efficiency.

After receiving a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from Johns Hopkins, Sean worked for the U.S. FDA's CDRH Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories to investigate hemolysis (blood damage) in blood flow devices with Dr. Richard Malinauskas. Sean earned a Master of Philosophy in Engineering degree from Cambridge in 2007 for his work on the artificial heart pump project with Dr. Richard McMahon. For his Master's thesis, he designed a human circulatory system analogue for in vitro testing of heart pumps.

In 2009, Sean was awarded a FDA Medical Device Fellowship Program grant to investigate the early detection of medical device adverse events during device postmarket surveillance at the USFDA CDRH Office of Surveillance and Biometrics.

Sean has supervised for the following undergraduate module:
-3G2 Mathematical Physiology

Sean has demonstrated for the following undergraduate modules:
-4A2 Computational Fluid Dynamics
-3G2 Mathematical Physiology - Speech Production Lab
-1A Drawing and CAD

Sean's research is supported by the EDC, the Whitaker International Fellows and Scholars Program, and the Clare Hall Mellon Bursary. He is a member of Clare Hall college, where he served as the Graduate Student Body (MCR) President in 2008.

Please visit Sean's personal website here.

Research Groups

Research Interests

  • Dry Powder Inhaler Design
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics
  • Multi-objective Optimization
  • Medical Device Product Design Process
  • Medical Device Regulatory Processes
  • Heart and Blood Pump Devices
 

Selected Publications

  • REFEREED PAPERS
  • Hsu PL, Cheng SJ, Saumarez RC, Dawes WN, and McMahon RA. An Extended Computational Model of the Circulatory System for Designing Ventricular Assist Devices. ASAIO Journal. Vol. 54, Nov. 2008.
  • CONFERENCE POSTERS & ABSTRACTS
  • Cheng SJ, Hsu PL, Dawes WN, Saumarez R, and McMahon RA. Design of a Hybrid Mock Circulatory System for Testing Blood Assist Devices in the Aorta. Presented at the ASAIO Conference 2008, San Francisco, California.
  • Cheng SJ, Hsu PL, Dawes WN, Saumarez R, and McMahon RA. Design of a Mock Circulatory Loop for Testing an Axial Blood Pump in the Descending Aorta. Presented at the 15th Congress of the ISRBP 2007, Sydney, Australia.
  • Hsu PL, Cheng SJ, Dawes WN, Saumarez R, and McMahon RA. An Extended Computational Model of the Circulatory System for Designing Mechanical Cardiovascular Support Systems. Presented at the JSAO/IFAO Conference 2007, Osaka, Japan.
  • REPORTS & THESES
  • Cheng SJ, Liu CH, and Symons DD. Medical Device Postmarket Surveillance in the United States: Signal Detection in Class I Recalls. United States Food and Drug Administration, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Office of Surveillance and Biometrics, Division of Postmarket Surveillance. 2009. (internal document; US FDA permission required)
  • Cheng SJ. Understanding Dry Powder Inhalers: Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation of a Cascade Impactor. First Year Report. Engineering Design Centre, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge. 2009. (available upon request)
  • Cheng SJ. A Human Circulatory Analogue for Testing Intra-Aortic Mechanical Assist Devices. Master of Philosophy Thesis. University of Cambridge, Department of Engineering. 2008. (available upon request)

Full Publications List

Contact Information

The University of Cambridge,
Department of Engineering,
Trumpington Street,
Cambridge,
CB2 1PZ
UNITED KINGDOM

Phone: +44 1223 332828

Fax: +44 1223 332662


Email: sjc232@cam.ac.uk