School staff
Personal profile
Dr Bibb graduated from Brunel University in 1995 with a BSc (Hons) in Industrial Design. He then moved to the National Centre for Product Design and Development Research (PDR), based at the University of Wales Institute Cardiff to undertake doctoral research in Rapid Prototyping. This study involved the development of a computerised Rapid Prototyping selection system for designers in small companies.
After gaining his PhD from the University of Wales in 1999 he remained at PDR to conduct research into the application of advanced computer-aided design and product development technologies in medicine. He established the Medical Applications Group at PDR to conduct collaborative applied research, engage in knowledge transfer and commercially exploit findings. He rose to the position of Director of Research for PDR before moving to Loughborough University in 2008.
During this period he also co-founded the Centre for Applied Reconstructive Technologies in Surgery (www.cartis.org) and helped to establish the International Conference on Advanced Digital Technologies in Head and Neck Reconstruction and served as a Director of MediWales (the medical technology forum for Wales). He also contributed to the establishment of Wales Institute of Research in Art and Design (www.wirad.ac.uk).
Dr Bibb's primary area of research explores the effective application of advanced design and product development technologies in medicine, healthcare, surgery and rehabilitation. This concentrates on applied collaborative research conducted with clinical and industrial partners across the UK and overseas. Other research interests include user centred design (particularly for medical and rehabilitation products), effective application of Rapid Prototyping and developing design rules for Additive Manufacturing.
Teaching
- DSP863 Major Project Research and Feasibility (Module Leader)
- DSC026 Final Year Design Practice (Module Leader)
- DSC029 Final Year Design Ergonomics Practice: Prototyping and Evaluation (Module Leader from '11-'12)
- DSC009 Industrial Design Studies 3
- DSC021 Dissertation
- DSA005 Computing for Designers
Research
Research group: Design Practice.
Group activities include identification of joint paper opportunities, joint research proposals and joint research student supervision.
Dr Bibb's current research focus is the application of advanced product design and development technologies in medicine and rehabilitation. This research focuses on the use of medical scanning, reverse engineering, Computer Aided Design (CAD), Rapid Prototyping and Additive Manufacturing in modelling patient anatomy, design / manufacture of prostheses, surgical planning and the design/manufacture of surgical guides and the design and development of medical devices, surgical instruments and rehabilitation products.
This applied research is conducted in collaboration with radiographers, prosthetists, surgeons, and researchers from across the UK and overseas. This research has led to a number of pioneering developments and has been published in many international peer reviewed journals and produced one of the first comprehensive books on medical modelling in 2006. Research has also been presented at numerous high profile international conferences.
New knowledge gained through this research is transferred into clinical practice through collaborations with practising clinical departments and has also been transferred into other disciplines including Fine Art, Archaeology and Forensic Pathology, leading to a number of successful long-term collaborations. For example providing models of Ancient Egyptian mummy remains to the Mummy: the Inside Story exhibition at the British Museum.
Whilst working as Head of Medical Applications at the National Centre for Product Design and Development Research Dr Bibb established a medical modelling service that has supplied services to over 60 hospitals, research groups, museums and medical companies worldwide. The service continues to be profitable and generates an income stream for PDR, which enables further investment in research. Service customers also drive and direct new research developments and ensure research is targeted and relevant to the needs of the healthcare sector. The service has supplied over 1000 models since 1998.
Much of this research is conducted through long-term collaborative relationships and led to the founding of the Centre for Applied Reconstructive Technologies in Surgery, CARTIS (www.cartis.org). Involvement in these collaborations also contributed to the establishment of the International Conference on Advanced Digital Technologies in Head and Neck Reconstruction and the Advanced Digital Technologies in Head and Neck Reconstruction Foundation.
Featured publications
- Bibb R, Eggbeer D, Evans P, "Rapid prototyping technologies in soft tissue facial prosthetics: current state of the art", Rapid Prototyping Journal 2010; 16(2): 130-137, http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/13552541011025852.
- Bibb R, Winder J, "A Review of the Issues Surrounding Three-Dimensional Computed Tomography for Medical Modelling using Rapid Prototyping Techniques", Radiography 2010; 16: 78-83 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2009.10.005.
- Bibb R, Eggbeer D, Evans P, Bocca A, Sugar AW, "Rapid Manufacture of Custom Fitting Surgical Guides", Rapid Prototyping Journal 2009; 15(5): 346-354, http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/13552540910993879.
- Bibb R, "Medical modelling: the application of advanced design and development technologies in medicine", Woodhead Publishing Ltd., Abington Hall, Abington, Cambridge, CB1 6AH, October 2006, ISBN: 1-84569-138-5.