Biomedical Engineering: A definition
Biomedical Engineering: A definition
Bioengineering deals with the modification of plant or animal cells or parts of cells to improve the plants or animals for benefit of mankind. Bioengineering is very closely related to bio-technology and genetic engineering. The applications of bioengineering are limitless. Some examples involving the application of bioengineering include:
- Development of better plants and animals for food production
- Invention of new diagnostic tests
- Production of synthetic vaccines
- Creating new methods to combat toxicants and pollutants
- Study of protein-surface interactions
- Research in immobilized enzyme technology
- Therapeutic proteins and monoclonal antibodies
In the future, bioengineering will have a tremendous impact on human life.
Biomedical engineering, on the other hand, involves the application of engineering principles to understand, modify or control biologic systems. Biomedical engineers design and manufacture equipment that can monitor human physiologic functions and assist in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in patients.
Activities of Biomedical Engineers
The field of biomedical engineering has moved from being primarily concerned with the development of medical instruments in the 1950s and 1960s to include a more wide-ranging set of activities. Some of these activities include:
- Application of engineering analysis to problems of biological origin
- Detection, measurement, and monitoring of biosignals
- Therapeutic and rehabilitation procedures and devices
- Devices for replacement or augmentation of bodily functions
- Computer analysis of patient related data
- Medical imaging
- Creation of new biologic products
- Development of biomaterials
Typical pursuits of biomedical engineers, therefore, include:
- Research in new materials suitable for making artificial organs
- Development of new diagnostic instruments for blood analysis
- Computer modeling of the functioning of the human heart
- Writing software for analysis of medical research data
- Analysis of medical device hazards for safety and efficacy
- Development of new diagnostic imaging systems
- Design of telemetry systems for patient monitoring
- Design of closed loop control systems for drug administration
- Modeling of the physiological systems of the human body
- Design of instrumentation for sports medicine
- Development of new dental materials
- Study of pulmonary fluid dynamics
- Study of the biomechanics of the human body
Related pages:
- What is Biomedical Engineering?
- Roles played by biomedical engineers
- Biomedical engineering: Professional Societies
