Posted On : 02-APR-2010
What is BIO ENGINEERING
Bioengineering integrates physical, chemical, or
mathematical sciences and engineering principles for
the study of biology, medicine, behavior, or health.
It advances fundamental concepts, creates knowledge
for the molecular to the organ systems levels, and
develops innovative biologics, materials, processes,
implants, devices, and informatics approaches for
the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease,
for patient rehabilitation, and for improving
health.
Biomedical Engineers Vs Tradional engineers
Biomedical engineers are the engineers which
work with problems related with a living system and
to attain this they gain knowledge of biology and
medicine with engineering . A traditional
engineering discipline only gains knowledge , such
as electrical, mechanical or chemical engineering.
Most undergraduate biomedical engineering programs
require
students to take a core curriculum of traditional
engineering courses.
However, biomedical engineers are expected to
integrate their engineering skills with their
understanding of the complexity of biological
systems in order to improve medical practice. Thus,
biomedical engineers must be trained in the life
sciences as well.
Academic Qualification And Jobs Prospects For Bio
Medical Engineers
A biomedical engineering degree typically
requires a minimum of
four years of university education. Post 4 yera
the biomedical engineer may get an apprentice level
engineering position in a medical device or
pharmaceutical company, a clinical engineering
position in a hospital, or even a sales position for
a biomaterials or biotechnology company.
Biomedical engineers may also procure graduate level
training in biomedical engineering or a related
engineering field. A Master’s or Doctoral degree
offers the biomedical engineer greater opportunities
in research and development, whether such work
resides in an industrial, academic or government
setting.
Some biomedical engineers choose to enhance their
education by pursuing a graduate degree in business,
eventually to help
run a business or manage health care technology for
a hospital.
Terminologies of Biomedical Engineering
Bioinformatics involves developing and using
computer tools to collect and analyze data
related to medicine and biology.Data Mining is
gaining lots importance in Bio Informatics
Bio MEMS Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS)
is integration of mechanical system,
Instrumentation, transuders, and electronics
designed on a silicon chip. Bio MEMS are the
development and application of MEMS in medicine and
biology. Micro robots which can perform
surgery inside a body can be a future evolution of
BOI MEMS.
Bio Materials are substances that are
manufactured for use in devices or
implants which can interact with living tissue of a
living body.
Bio Mechanics is mechanics applied to
biology. This includes the study of motion,
material deformation, and fluid flow.
Bio Signal Processing involves extracting
useful information from biological signals for
diagnostics and therapeutics purposes. With this
feature one can analyze cardiac signals for
diagnosis, detecting features of brain signals to
control computer.
Bio Technology is a set of powerful tools
that employ living organisms to make or modify
products, improve plants or animals, or develop
microorganisms for specific uses. Modern
biotechnology involves the industrial use of
recombinant DNA, cell fusion, which can all be used
to help correct genetic defects in humans.
Clinical Engineering Clinical engineers
support and advance patient care by applying
engineering and managerial skills to healthcare
technology. Clinical engineers can be based in
hospitals, where responsibilities can be maintenance
and operation of medical equipments and
instrumentation used by doctors in hospitals.
Genomics is a new discipline that involves
the mapping, sequencing, and analyzing of genomes.
Understanding genes behaviors for better diagnosis
and treatments
Imaging and Image Processing X-rays,
ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),
and computerized tomography (CT) are among the
imaging methods that are used to let us see inside
the human body. Involves development and design of
system for analyzing the data generated (images)
from the equipments.
Information Technology in biomedicine
covers a diverse range of applications and
technologies, including the use of virtual reality
in medical applications , the application of
wireless and mobile technologies in health care
settings, artificial intelligence to aid
diagnostics, and addressing security issues
associated with making health care information
available on the world wide web for remoted access.
Instrumentation Transducers, and Measurement
involves the hardware and software design of devices
and systems used to measure biological signals.
Micro and Nanotechnology involves
development and use of devices on the scale of a
micrometer , while nanotechnology involves devices
on the order of a nanometer (about 1/50 000 of the
diameter of a human hair, or ten times the diameter
of a hydrogen atom).
Neural Systems and Engineering This emerging
interdisciplinary field involves study of the
brain and nervous system and encompasses areas such
as the replacement or restoration of lost sensory
and motor abilities, development of neuro robots and
neuro-electronics
Physiological Systems Modeling In this
field, models of physiological processes
are developed to gain a better understanding of the
function of living organisms.
Proteomics A proteome is the set of all
proteins produced by a species, in the same way the
genome is the entire set of genes. Proteomics is the
study of proteomes ,advances in proteomics have
included the discovery of a new cellular process
that explains how infections occur in humans leading
to new treatments for infectious diseases. Work in
proteomics can also involve the development of
hardware devices that provide accurate and rapid
measurements of protein levels.
Radiology refers to the use of radioactive
substances such as x-ray, magnetic fields as in
magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasound to create
images of the body, its organs and structures which
are used for diagnosis and treatment of disease,
Rehabilitation Engineering is the application
of science and technology to improve the quality of
life for people with disabilities. Common benefits
from this can be development of alternative
communication systems for people who cannot
communicate in traditional ways, making computers
more accessible for people with disabilities,
developing new materials and designs for
wheelchairs, and making prosthetic legs for runners
in the Paralympics.
Robotics in Surgery includes the use of
robotic and image processing systems to
interactively assist a medical team both in planning
and executing a surgery. This can minimize the side
effects of surgery by providing smaller incisions,
less trauma, and more precision, while also
decreasing costs.
Telemedicine, sometimes it is also terms as telehealth
or e-health, involves the transfer of electronic
medical data from one location to another for the
evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of patients in
remote locations.
