What is Bio Medical Engineering

8/8/2019 What is Bio Medical Engineering

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Dr. Abdalhameed Alkhateeb 1

What is Biomedical

Engineering

Dr. Abdalhameed Alkhateeb

September 2003




Biomedical Engineers apply engineering techniques andanalyses to problem-solving in medicine and the

biomedical sciences Biomedical Engineers bridge the gap between clinical

medicine and applied medical technology.

Biomedical Engineers must be capable of defining amedical problem in engineering science terms and of

finding a solution that satisfies both engineering andmedical requirements

This includes developing systems to: ± maintain and enhance life,

± designing replacement parts for people,

± creating systems to allow the handicapped to function, work andcommunicate

± Etc.




Biomedical engineering is interdisciplinary, that

is, biomedical engineers work with other medical

health care professionals as members of a team.

Exciting advances in medicine, such as the

artificial heart, pacemakers, medical imaging

techniques, lasers, prosthetic implants, life

support systems, and devices that help the

paralyzed walk, are the result of a team effort by

biomedical engineers and other professionals.




Biomedical Engineers have expertise in:

± engineering science, ± biological science

± medical science.

Biomedical engineering is usually based on oneof the traditional engineering disciplines, such aselectrical or mechanical engineering.

New fields of biomedical engineering includeareas such as: ± medical electronics,

± clinical engineering,

± biomaterials,

± rehabilitation engineering.




Applications of biomedical engineering is

almost endless and is developing everyday, it includes

± cardiac monitors to clinical computing,

± artificial hearts to contact lenses,

± wheel chairs to artificial tendons, ± modeling dialysis therapy to modeling the

cardiovascular system.

Biomedical engineers are also integral inthe management of technology inhospitals and health care delivery.




Main Fields of Biomedical

Engineering




Medical Instrumentation: Medical instrumentation is the application

of electronics and measurementtechniques to develop devices used in

diagnosis and treatment of disease.

Computers are an important and

increasingly essential part of medical

instrumentation, from the microprocessor

in a single-purpose instrument to the

microcomputer needed to process the

large amount of information in a medical

imaging system. Examples of medical instrumentation

include: heart monitors, microelectrodes,

defibrillators and glucose monitoring

machines




Biomaterials

Biomaterials is the use of materials, both living

tissue and artificial materials, for implantation.

Understanding the properties of the living

materials is vital in the design of implantmaterials. 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 implant materials.




Biomaterials (cont)

Biomaterials must be

± nontoxic,

± non-carcinogenic,

± chemically inert (not reacting violently with the body's

chemical composition),

± Stable

± mechanically strong enough to withstand the

repeated forces of a lifetime of use.

Newer biomaterials even incorporate living cells

in order to provide a true biological and

mechanical match for the living tissue.




Biomaterials (cont)

Examples of biomaterials include

± Dental adhesives,

± Bone cement, ± Replacement bones/joints,

± Heart prosthetics,

± Heart replacement valves

± Artificial lungs

± Artificial kidneys.




System Physiology and Modeling

The use of scientific and

engineering principles to predict

the behavior of a system of

interests. Systems of interest may include

the human body, particular

organs or organ systems and

medical devices.




System Physiology and Modeling

(cont) Modeling is used in the analysis of

experimental data and in formulatingmathematical descriptions of physiological

events. In research, modeling is used as a

predictive tool in designing new

experiments to refine our knowledge. Examples are the biochemistry of metabolism and the control of limbmovements




Signal processing Collection and analysis of data from patients or

experiments in an effort to understand and identifyindividual components of the data set or signal.

The manipulation and dissection of the data or signalprovides the physician and experimenter with vitalinformation on the condition of the patient or the status of the experiment.

Biomedical Engineers apply signal-processing methodsto the design of medical devices that monitor anddiagnose certain conditions in the human body.

Examples include heart arrhythmia detection softwareand brain activity




Medical Imaging

Medical Imaging combines knowledge of aunique physical phenomenon (sound,radiation, magnetism etc.) with high-speedelectronic data processing, analysis and

display to generate an image. Often, these images can be obtained with

minimal or completely non-invasiveprocedures, making them less painful andmore readily repeatable than invasivetechniques.

Examples include Magnetic ResonanceImaging (MRI), ultrasound and computedtomography (CT).




Biomechanics

Biomechanics applies both fluid mechanics andtransport phenomena to biological and medicalissues. It includes the study of motion, material

deformation, flow within the body, as well asdevices, and transport phenomena in the body,such as transport of chemical constituentsacross biological and synthetic media andmembranes.

Efforts in biomechanics have developed theartificial heart, replacement heart valves and thehip replacement.




Biomechanics

(cont)




Rehabilitation Engineering

Rehabilitation engineering uses concepts

in biomechanics and other areas to

develop devices to enhance the

capabilities and improve the quality of lifefor individuals with physical and cogitative

impairments.

They are involved in: ± Prosthetics,

± Development of the home and/or workplace,

± Transportation modifications.




Career Opportunities

Biomedical engineers are exposed tomany fields of study in engineering,medicine and biology. Due to this broad

experience biomedical engineers findemployment in:

± hospitals,

± government bodies,

± industry or

± academic areas.




What do Biomedical Engineers do?

Design of medical instrumentation

Design prostheses;

Contribute in the development,manufacture and testing of medical

products

Manage of technology in the hospitalsystem.

Sales Engineers




Is Biomedical Engineering

Right for You?

Just because you don't know about

biomedical engineering does not mean it is

not right for you. Determine if your current

interests match those of biomedical

engineers that are happy with their choice.




Is Biomedical Eng. For you? (cont)

Engineering involves the use of

mathematics and physics, therefore an

interest and/or talent in these areas is a

strong clue that engineering would be agood choice.

Additionally, if you are interested or

talented in chemistry, biology, medicine

and physiology, biomedical engineeringwill match your interests.





Another fulfilling part of biomedical

engineering is the human side. Are

you looking for a profession where

you can serve society and work withpeople?

In biomedical engineering you will

use your technical background to

design products to improve medicalcare and to provide society with a

greater understanding of human

health needs.





Other careers in industry for biomedical

engineers include positions involving

service and technical selling of medical

equipment and products to hospitals.

Many biomedical engineers also start their

own businesses developing new services

or consulting with industry or researchcenters.





Other biomedical engineers work for thegovernment developing and ensuring proper regulation of medical equipment to guarantee the

well-being of the public. Many biomedical engineers also pursue advanced

degrees in biomedical engineering enabling them toobtain positions in advanced research laboratories,universities and other positions requiring advancedknowledge in an area.

Biomedical engineering also can be a springboardto careers in law (such as patent law), dentistry andmedicine.




References

The university of New South Wales

(http://www.gsbme.unsw.edu.au/whatisit.htm)

Milwaukee School of Engineering

(http://www.msoe.edu/eecs/be/whatisbe.shtml) Monash University Centre for Biomedical Engineering

(http://www.ecse.monash.edu.au/centres/mucbe/AboutBi

oEng/bioeng1.html)

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