There are many exciting and rewarding types of engineering careers, one being biomedical engineering. With this, principles and concept are related to biology and medicine application. Because of this, biomedical engineering connects two distinct sectors to include engineering and medicine. The primary goal with engineering of this type is to find viable solutions using specialized skills and knowledge as a means of improving aspects of healthcare to include therapy, diagnosis, and patient monitoring.
Biomedical engineering has become an invaluable tool for both the engineering and medical sectors although it has only recently become recognized as having its own discipline. In the world of engineering, an evolution specific to transitions for new fields is actually quite common. In this case, biomedical engineering transitions from an established field with interdisciplinary specialization to being a field of engineering all of its own.
Biomedical Engineering Sub-Disciplines
Another interesting aspect of biomedical engineering is the long list of sub-disciplines, although some of these have their own classification. These sub-disciplines include:
- Biomedical Electronics
- Biomechatronics
- Bioinstrumentation
- Biomaterials
- Biomechanics
- Bionics
- Cellular, Genetic, and Tissue Engineering
- Clinical Engineering
- Medical Imaging
- Orthopedic Bioengineering
- Rehabilitation Engineering
- Systems Physiology
- Bionanotechnology
- Neural Engineering
In addition, there are several fields of engineering that have long been established also also be considered as disciplines within biomedical engineering such as those provided below:
- Chemical Engineering – In this case, the association is usually with biomaterials, biochemical, biotransport, molecular and tissue engineering, and cellular
- Electrical Engineering – The more common associations with biomedical engineering for this established field include neural and bioelectrical engineering, biomedical imaging, medical devices, and bioinstrumentation. In addition to these associations, Optical and Optics Engineering would be connected specific to imaging, biomedical optics, and medical devices considered relevant.
- Mechanical Engineering – For this field, associations most often seen include medical devices, soft tissue mechanics, biomechanics, biotransport, and biological systems modeling.
Key Research and Developments
Although many things are researched and developed using biomedical engineering, some of the more critical include medical devices used for diagnosis and therapy to include micro-implants, imaging equipment, pharmaceutical medication, biologicals used for therapeutic purposes, and regenerative tissue growth, but also biocompatible prostheses.
Below, we provided brief information on just a few of the many key associations mentioned, as a means of showing more of the connection they have and importance they play with biomedical engineering.
Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology
Sometimes, biotechnology is called bioengineering, which typically has to do with products designed to use living organisms, biological systems, or similar things related. Then for pharmaceuticals, this would have two indirect connections with biotechnology to include major types listed under both of the categories and those consisting of non-medical device applications.
There are several additional fields that fall under these biomedical engineering associations such as the following.
- Tissue Engineering – This is biotechnology’s main association that has several goals such as creating artificial organs to be used for patient organ transplants. Two examples include artificial jawbones have been laboratory grown using a trachea from human stem cells and artificial urinary bladders also laboratory grown and with two successful implants.
- Genetic Engineering – This involves direct manipulation of organism’s genes via genetic modification and/or manipulation, recombinant DNA technology, and gene splicing. Transformation for altering characteristics and structure of genes along with molecular cloning techniques are two processes performed. One example is the development of synthetic human insulin by using modified bacteria.
- Neural Engineering – Also referred to as neuroengineering, this discipline is used to understand, replace, repair, or enhance neural systems with the use of different engineering techniques. Because design problems are complex and involve both non-living constructs and living neural tissue, a neural engineer would possess skills and knowledge obtained through specialized education and training.
Clinical Engineering
This biomedical engineering association involves medical equipment and technologies implementation for hospitals and other types of medical facility environments. While there are multiple facets of clinical engineering, a few of those deemed priority include Biomedical Equipment Technicians being properly trained and then supervised, governmental regulators being worked with specific to audits and inspections, technological services and products being selected and logistics management being implemented, and state-of-the-art equipment being monitored for progression.
Summary
There are many more associations to biomedical engineering, as well as sub-fields. Each plays a unique role in both engineering and medical advancements, which ultimately means that doctors would be better equipped to treat disease and illnesses and patients would be offered opportunities for recovery that might otherwise not been an option.
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