At Getinge, we are committed to helping save lives. Every day, our products support healthcare professionals worldwide in delivering safe and effective patient care. To strengthen our R&D Consumables team, we are looking for a Master's student who is passionate about medical technology, product development, and engineering innovation.

Master Thesis Topic

Optimization of the thermal response time of a PiCCO Catheter for Advanced Hemodynamic Monitoring

The PiCCO catheter is a key component of the PiCCO hemodynamic monitoring technology and enables the determination of cardiac output through transpulmonary thermodilution. A temperature sensor (thermistor) integrated into the catheter measures very small blood temperature changes. The speed and consistency of this measurement, commonly expressed as the thermal response time (τ), are critical for measurement accuracy and clinical performance.

Your Challenge

In this thesis you will investigate how the thermal response behaviour of the existing PiCCO catheter design can be improved and how variability between catheters can be reduced. The current design includes an integrated sensor located inside the catheter, creating a complex heat transfer system between blood, catheter materials, and sensor components.

Scope

• Conduct a literature review on heat transfer mechanisms, sensor technology, and medical sensor design.

• Analyse the current catheter design and identify key parameters influencing thermal response time.

• Develop and assess innovative design concepts to reduce τ and improve measurement consistency.

• Investigate the impact of geometry, materials, sensor positioning, and manufacturing tolerances.

• Perform simulations (e.g., FEM/CFD) and/or experimental testing to evaluate design alternatives.

• Use Design of Experiments (DoE) and statistical methods to identify critical parameters.

• Establish decision criteria considering performance, manufacturability, risk, regulatory impact, and cost.

• Recommend an optimized design concept and implementation roadmap.

Expected Outcome

The thesis should deliver a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing thermal response performance and provide a data-driven recommendation for future product improvements. The results may directly contribute to the next generation of PiCCO catheter technology.

Your Profile

• Master's student in:

• • Biomedical Engineering

• • Medical Technology

• • Mechanical Engineering

• • Materials Science

• • Polymer Engineering

• • Physics or a related field

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

• Interest in medical device development

• Experience with laboratory testing, simulation tools, or statistical analysis is beneficial

• Independent and structured working style

• Good communication skills in English

What We Offer

• Exciting and meaningful work within a global medical technology company

• Direct contribution to products that support critical care patients worldwide

• Hands-on experience in product development within a regulated medical device environment

• Close collaboration with experienced R&D engineers and subject matter experts

• Opportunity to combine experimental work, simulations, and product innovation

• Flexible start date and thesis duration according to university requirements

Location

Aschheim-Dornach (Munich Area), Germany