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Bioengineering or
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. Bioengineering/Biomedical
Engineering combines engineering expertise with medical needs for the
enhancement of health care. It is a branch of engineering in which
knowledge and skills are developed and applied to define and solve problems
in biology and medicine. Those working within the bioengineering field are
of service to people, work with living systems, and apply advanced
technology to the complex problems of medical care.
Biomedical engineers develop devices and procedures that
solve medical and health-related problems by combining their knowledge of
biology and medicine with engineering principles and practices. Many do
research, along with medical scientists, to develop and evaluate systems
and products such as artificial organs, prostheses (artificial devices that
replace missing body parts), instrumentation, medical information systems,
and health management and care delivery systems. Biomedical engineers also
may design devices used in various medical procedures, imaging systems such
as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and devices for automating insulin injections
or controlling body functions. Most engineers in this specialty need a
sound background in another engineering specialty, such as mechanical or
electronics engineering, in addition to specialized biomedical training.
Some specialties within biomedical engineering are biomaterials,
biomechanics, medical imaging, rehabilitation engineering, and orthopedic
engineering.
Major advances in Bioengineering include the development of
artificial joints, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the heart pacemaker,
arthroscopy, angioplasty, bioengineered skin, kidney dialysis, and the
heart-lung machine.
The following are examples of specialty areas within the field of biomedical engineering:
- Bioinstrumentation uses electronics, computer science, and measurement principles to develop instruments used in the diagnosis and treatment of medical problems.
- Biomaterials is the study of naturally occurring or laboratory-designed materials that are used in medical devices or as implantation materials.
- Biomechanics involves the study of mechanics, such as thermodynamics, to solve biological or medical problems.
- Clinical engineering applies medical technology to optimize healthcare delivery.
- Rehabilitation engineering is the study of engineering and computer science to develop devices that assist individuals recovering from or adapting to physical and cognitive impairments.
- Systems physiology uses engineering tools to understand how systems within living organisms, from bacteria to humans, function and respond to changes in their environment.
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Bioengineering Resources
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Online
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Overview:
Overview of Bioengineering
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Preparation:
Admission Requirements, Alternate Degree Paths, Graduate Programs,
Accredited Programs
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Day in the Life:
Teams and Coworkers, Tasks, the Workplace
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Specialty
Areas:
Specialty Areas Within Bioengineering
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Earnings:
Employer Options, Salary Ranges, Types of Employers
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Employment:
Statistics, Industries, Employers
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Career Path Forecast:
Predictions, Employers
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Major Advances in Bioengineering:
Artificial
Joints, MRI, Heart Pacemaker, Angioplasty
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Professional Organizations:
Resources, Networking, Support
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Internet
Resources:
 American Institute of Medical and Biological
Engineering
American Society of
Agricultural and Biological Engineers
ASME International, Bioengineering
Division
Biomedical Engineering Society
bmesource.org
Danish Society for Biomedical
Engineering
European Society for Engineering in Medicine
Howard Hughes Medical
Institute
IEEE Engineering in Medicine
and Biology Society
Institute of Biological Engineering
Institute of Biomedical Science
International
Federation for Medical & Biological Engineering
International Society for Bioengineering and the Skin
Society for Biological Engineering (AIChE Technological
Community)
The Canadian Medical & Biological
Engineering Society
The Merck Genome Research
Institute
Whitaker Foundation
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Note: Some resources in this section are provided by the US
Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor
Statistics and the Whitaker
Foundation.
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