Definition of Biomedical Engineer :-
Definition of Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical engineering is a discipline that advances knowledge in engineering, biology
and medicine, and improves human health through cross-disciplinary activities that
integrate the engineering sciences with the biomedical sciences and clinical practice. It
includes:
1. The acquisition of new knowledge and understanding of living systems through the
innovative and substantive application of experimental and analytical techniques based
on the engineering sciences.
2. The development of new devices, algorithms, processes and systems that advance
biology and medicine and improve medical practice and health care delivery.
The term "biomedical engineering research" is thus defined in a broad sense: It includes
not only the relevant applications of engineering to medicine but also to the basic life
sciences.
Development of Bioengineering
Over the last few years there has been a major paradigm shift in both Europe and the
United States away from traditional schemes of health care towards health care systems
which are much more dependent on technology. This is true in terms of diagnosis (eg
body scanners); treatment (radiation therapy and minimal access surgery); and health
care system integration (via information technology).
In parallel with these changes, there has been a progressive increase in the proportion of
the national Gross Domestic Product spent in the medical sector. For example, in the
United Kingdom it is currently between 6 and 7%, in Germany about 9%, and in the
United States about 14%. This has resulted partly from demographic changes and
additionally from increasing public demand for better health care.
As medical practice becomes more technologically based, a progressive shift is occurring
in industry to meet the demand. Developments in science and engineering are
increasingly being directed away from traditional technologies towards those required for
health care in its widest sense. Although in many countries there is a problem with
escalating costs in the medical sector, technology can contribute to economies because
of falling costs of electronic/physics based components relative to those for personnel,
and because of technologically based screening programmes.
What are the Specialty Areas?
Some of the well established specialty areas within the field of biomedical engineering
are bioinstrumentation, biomechanics, biomaterials, systems physiology, clinical
engineering, and rehabilitation engineering.
Bioinstrumentation is the application of electronics and measurement principles and
techniques to develop devices used in diagnosis and treatment of disease. Computers
are becoming increasingly important in bioinstrumentation, from the microprocessor
used to do a variety of small tasks in a single purpose instrument to the extensive computing power needed to process the large amount of information in a medical
imaging system.
Biomechanics is mechanics applied to biological or medical problems. It includes the
study of motion, of material deformation, of flow within the body and in devices, and
transport of chemical constituents across biological and synthetic media and membranes.
Efforts in biomechanics have developed the artificial heart and replacement heart valves,
the artificial kidney, the artificial hip, as well as built a better understanding of the
function of organs and musculoskeletal systems.
Biomaterials describes both living tissue and materials used for implantation.
Understanding the properties of the living material is vital in the design of implant
materials. The selection of an appropriate material to place in the human body may be
one of the most difficult tasks faced by the biomedical engineer. Certain metal alloys,
ceramics, polymers, and composites have been used as implantable materials.
Biomaterials must be nontoxic, noncarcinogenic, chemically inert, stable, and
mechanically strong enough to withstand the repeated forces of a lifetime.
Systems physiology is the term used to describe that aspect of biomedical engineering in
which engineering strategies, techniques and tools are used to gain a comprehensive and
integrated understanding of the function of living organisms ranging from bacteria to
humans. Modeling is used in the analysis of experimental data and in formulating
mathematical descriptions of physiological events. In research, models are used in
designing new experiments to refine our knowledge. Living systems have highly
regulated feedback control systems which can be examined in this way. Examples are
the biochemistry of metabolism and the control of limb movements.
Clinical engineering is the application of technology for health care in hospitals. The
clinical engineer is a member of the health care team along with physicians, nurses and
other hospital staff. Clinical engineers are responsible for developing and maintaining
computer databases of medical instrumentation and equipment records and for the
purchase and use of sophisticated medical instruments. They may also work with
physicians on projects to adapt instrumentation to the specific needs of the physician
and the hospital. This often involves the interface of instruments with computer systems
and customized software for instrument control and data analysis. Clinical engineers feel
the excitement of applying the latest technology to health care.
Rehabilitation engineering is a new and growing specialty area of biomedical engineering.
Rehabilitation engineers expand capabilities and improve the quality of life for individuals
with physical impairments. Because the products of their labor are so personal, often
developed for particular individuals or small groups, the rehabilitation engineer often
works directly with the disabled individual.
These specialty areas frequently depend on each other. Often the biomedical engineer
who works in an applied field will use knowledge gathered by biomedical engineers
working in more basic areas. For example, the design of an artificial hip is greatly aided
by a biomechanical study of the hip. The forces which are applied to the hip can be
considered in the design and material selection for the prosthesis. Similarly, the design
of systems to electrically stimulate paralyzed muscle to move in a controlled way uses
knowledge of the behavior of the human musculoskeletal system. The selection of
appropriate materials used in these devices falls within the realm of the biomaterials
engineer. These are examples of the interactions among the specialty areas of
biomedical engineering. Where do they Work?
Biomedical engineers are employed in industry, in hospitals, in research facilities of
educational and medical institutions, in teaching, and in government regulatory agencies.
They often serve a coordinating or interfacing function, using their background in both
the engineering and medical fields. In industry, they may create designs where an indepth understanding of living systems and of technology is essential. They may be
involved in performance testing of new or proposed products. Government positions
often involve product testing and safety, as well as establishing safety standards for
devices. In the hospital, the biomedical engineer may provide advice on the selection and
use of medical equipment, as well as supervising its performance testing and
maintenance. They may also build customized devices for special health care or research
needs. In research institutions, biomedical engineers supervise laboratories and
equipment, and participate in or direct research activities in collaboration with other
researchers with such backgrounds as medicine, physiology, and nursing.
Some biomedical engineers are technical advisors for marketing departments of
companies and some are in management positions. Some biomedical engineers also
have advanced training in other fields. For example, many biomedical engineers also
have an M.D. degree, thereby combining an understanding of advanced technology with
direct patient care or clinical research.
Career Preparation
The biomedical engineer should plan first and foremost to be a good engineer. Beyond
this, he or she should have a working understanding of life science systems and
terminology. Good communications skills are also important, because the biomedical
engineer provides a link among professionals with medical, technical, and other
backgrounds.
From our experience, a top-quality biomedical engineer must have an excellent
knowledge of physiology so that he/she can make sound judgments in solving biomedical
problems. When working in a specific area of biomedicine, it is also necessary to know
how disease alters functions, this is the field of pathophysiology. With such knowledge,
the biomedical engineer does not have to rely on others for information about living
organisms.
Definition of Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical engineering is a discipline that advances knowledge in engineering, biology
and medicine, and improves human health through cross-disciplinary activities that
integrate the engineering sciences with the biomedical sciences and clinical practice. It
includes:
1. The acquisition of new knowledge and understanding of living systems through the
innovative and substantive application of experimental and analytical techniques based
on the engineering sciences.
2. The development of new devices, algorithms, processes and systems that advance
biology and medicine and improve medical practice and health care delivery.
The term "biomedical engineering research" is thus defined in a broad sense: It includes
not only the relevant applications of engineering to medicine but also to the basic life
sciences.
Development of Bioengineering
Over the last few years there has been a major paradigm shift in both Europe and the
United States away from traditional schemes of health care towards health care systems
which are much more dependent on technology. This is true in terms of diagnosis (eg
body scanners); treatment (radiation therapy and minimal access surgery); and health
care system integration (via information technology).
In parallel with these changes, there has been a progressive increase in the proportion of
the national Gross Domestic Product spent in the medical sector. For example, in the
United Kingdom it is currently between 6 and 7%, in Germany about 9%, and in the
United States about 14%. This has resulted partly from demographic changes and
additionally from increasing public demand for better health care.
As medical practice becomes more technologically based, a progressive shift is occurring
in industry to meet the demand. Developments in science and engineering are
increasingly being directed away from traditional technologies towards those required for
health care in its widest sense. Although in many countries there is a problem with
escalating costs in the medical sector, technology can contribute to economies because
of falling costs of electronic/physics based components relative to those for personnel,
and because of technologically based screening programmes.
What are the Specialty Areas?
Some of the well established specialty areas within the field of biomedical engineering
are bioinstrumentation, biomechanics, biomaterials, systems physiology, clinical
engineering, and rehabilitation engineering.
Bioinstrumentation is the application of electronics and measurement principles and
techniques to develop devices used in diagnosis and treatment of disease. Computers
are becoming increasingly important in bioinstrumentation, from the microprocessor
used to do a variety of small tasks in a single purpose instrument to the extensive computing power needed to process the large amount of information in a medical
imaging system.
Biomechanics is mechanics applied to biological or medical problems. It includes the
study of motion, of material deformation, of flow within the body and in devices, and
transport of chemical constituents across biological and synthetic media and membranes.
Efforts in biomechanics have developed the artificial heart and replacement heart valves,
the artificial kidney, the artificial hip, as well as built a better understanding of the
function of organs and musculoskeletal systems.
Biomaterials describes both living tissue and materials used for implantation.
Understanding the properties of the living material is vital in the design of implant
materials. The selection of an appropriate material to place in the human body may be
one of the most difficult tasks faced by the biomedical engineer. Certain metal alloys,
ceramics, polymers, and composites have been used as implantable materials.
Biomaterials must be nontoxic, noncarcinogenic, chemically inert, stable, and
mechanically strong enough to withstand the repeated forces of a lifetime.
Systems physiology is the term used to describe that aspect of biomedical engineering in
which engineering strategies, techniques and tools are used to gain a comprehensive and
integrated understanding of the function of living organisms ranging from bacteria to
humans. Modeling is used in the analysis of experimental data and in formulating
mathematical descriptions of physiological events. In research, models are used in
designing new experiments to refine our knowledge. Living systems have highly
regulated feedback control systems which can be examined in this way. Examples are
the biochemistry of metabolism and the control of limb movements.
Clinical engineering is the application of technology for health care in hospitals. The
clinical engineer is a member of the health care team along with physicians, nurses and
other hospital staff. Clinical engineers are responsible for developing and maintaining
computer databases of medical instrumentation and equipment records and for the
purchase and use of sophisticated medical instruments. They may also work with
physicians on projects to adapt instrumentation to the specific needs of the physician
and the hospital. This often involves the interface of instruments with computer systems
and customized software for instrument control and data analysis. Clinical engineers feel
the excitement of applying the latest technology to health care.
Rehabilitation engineering is a new and growing specialty area of biomedical engineering.
Rehabilitation engineers expand capabilities and improve the quality of life for individuals
with physical impairments. Because the products of their labor are so personal, often
developed for particular individuals or small groups, the rehabilitation engineer often
works directly with the disabled individual.
These specialty areas frequently depend on each other. Often the biomedical engineer
who works in an applied field will use knowledge gathered by biomedical engineers
working in more basic areas. For example, the design of an artificial hip is greatly aided
by a biomechanical study of the hip. The forces which are applied to the hip can be
considered in the design and material selection for the prosthesis. Similarly, the design
of systems to electrically stimulate paralyzed muscle to move in a controlled way uses
knowledge of the behavior of the human musculoskeletal system. The selection of
appropriate materials used in these devices falls within the realm of the biomaterials
engineer. These are examples of the interactions among the specialty areas of
biomedical engineering. Where do they Work?
Biomedical engineers are employed in industry, in hospitals, in research facilities of
educational and medical institutions, in teaching, and in government regulatory agencies.
They often serve a coordinating or interfacing function, using their background in both
the engineering and medical fields. In industry, they may create designs where an indepth understanding of living systems and of technology is essential. They may be
involved in performance testing of new or proposed products. Government positions
often involve product testing and safety, as well as establishing safety standards for
devices. In the hospital, the biomedical engineer may provide advice on the selection and
use of medical equipment, as well as supervising its performance testing and
maintenance. They may also build customized devices for special health care or research
needs. In research institutions, biomedical engineers supervise laboratories and
equipment, and participate in or direct research activities in collaboration with other
researchers with such backgrounds as medicine, physiology, and nursing.
Some biomedical engineers are technical advisors for marketing departments of
companies and some are in management positions. Some biomedical engineers also
have advanced training in other fields. For example, many biomedical engineers also
have an M.D. degree, thereby combining an understanding of advanced technology with
direct patient care or clinical research.
Career Preparation
The biomedical engineer should plan first and foremost to be a good engineer. Beyond
this, he or she should have a working understanding of life science systems and
terminology. Good communications skills are also important, because the biomedical
engineer provides a link among professionals with medical, technical, and other
backgrounds.
From our experience, a top-quality biomedical engineer must have an excellent
knowledge of physiology so that he/she can make sound judgments in solving biomedical
problems. When working in a specific area of biomedicine, it is also necessary to know
how disease alters functions, this is the field of pathophysiology. With such knowledge,
the biomedical engineer does not have to rely on others for information about living
organisms.
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