Biomedical engineering

Application of engineering principles and design concepts to medicine and biology

For the journal known as Biomedical Engineering, see Meditsinskaya Tekhnika.

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Biomedical engineering" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (July 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

|

Telemedicine system. Federal Center of Neurosurgery in Tyumen, 2013

Hemodialysis, a process of purifying the blood of a person whose kidneys are not working normally.

Biomedical engineering (BME) or medical engineering is the application of engineering principles and design concepts to medicine and biology for healthcare purposes (e.g., diagnostic or therapeutic). BME is also traditionally logical sciences to advance health care treatment, including diagnosis, monitoring, and therapy.[1][2] Also included under the scope of a biomedical engineer is the management of current medical equipment in hospitals while adhering to relevant industry standards. This involves procurement, routine testing, preventive maintenance, and making equipment recommendations, a role also known as a Biomedical Equipment Technician (BMET) or as clinical engineering.

Biomedical engineering has recently emerged as its own study, as compared to many other engineering fields. Such an evolution is common as a new field transition from being an interdisciplinary specialization among already-established fields to being considered a field in itself. Much of the work in biomedical engineering consists of research and development, spanning a broad array of subfields (see below). Prominent biomedical engineering applications include the development of biocompatible prostheses, various diagnostic and therapeutic medical devices ranging from clinical equipment to micro-implants, common imaging equipment such as MRIs and EKG/ECGs, regenerative tissue growth, pharmaceutical drugs and therapeutic biologicals.

## Contents

* 1 Bioinformatics
* 2 Biomechanics
* 3 Biomaterial
* 4 Biomedical optics
* 5 Tissue engineering
* 6 Genetic engineering
* 7 Neural engineering
* 8 Pharmaceutical engineering
* 9 Medical devices
* 9.1 Medical imaging
* 9.2 Implants
* 9.3 Bionics
* 9.4 Biomedical sensors
* 10 Clinical engineering
* 11 Rehabilitation engineering
* 12 Regulatory issues
* 12.1 RoHS II
* 12.2 IEC 60601
* 12.3 AS/NZS 3551:2012
* 13 Training and certification
* 13.1 Education
* 13.2 Licensure/certification
* 14 Career prospects
* 15 Notable figures
* 16 See also
* 17 References
* 18 Further reading
* 19 External links

## Bioinformatics[edit | edit source]

Main article: Bioinformatics

Example of an approximately 40,000 probe spotted oligo microarray with enlarged inset to show detail.

Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field that develops methods and software tools for understanding biological data. As an interdisciplinary field of science, bioinformatics combines computer science, statistics, mathematics, and engineering to analyze and interpret biological data.

Bioinformatics is considered both an umbrella term for the body of biological studies that use computer programming as part of their methodology, as well as a reference to specific analysis "pipelines" that are repeatedly used, particularly in the field of genomics. Common uses of bioinformatics include the identification of candidate genes and nucleotides (SNPs). Often, such identification is made with the aim of better understanding the genetic basis of disease, unique adaptations, desirable properties (esp. in agricultural species), or differences between populations. In a less formal way, bioinformatics also tries to understand the organizational principles within nucleic acid and protein sequences.

## Biomechanics[edit | edit source]

A ribosome is a biological machine that utilizes protein dynamics

Main article: Biomechanics

Biomechanics is the study of the structure and function of the mechanical aspects of biological systems, at any level from whole organisms to organs, cells and cell organelles,[3] using the methods of mechanics.[4]

## Biomaterial[edit | edit source]

Main article: Biomaterial

A biomaterial is any matter, surface, or construct that interacts with living systems. As a science, biomaterials is about fifty years old. The study of biomaterials is called biomaterials science or biomaterials engineering. It has experienced steady and strong growth over its history, with many companies investing large amounts of money into the development of new products. Biomaterials science encompasses elements of medicine, biology, chemistry, tissue engineering and materials science.

## Biomedical optics[edit | edit source]

Biomedical optics refers to the interaction of biological tissue and light, and how this can be exploited for sensing, imaging, and treatment.[5]

## Tissue engineering[edit | edit source]

Main article: Tissue engineering

Tissue engineering, like genetic engineering (see below), is a major segment of biotechnology – which overlaps significantly with BME.

One of the goals of tissue engineering is to create artificial organs (via biological material) for patients that need organ transplants. Biomedical engineers are currently researching methods of creating such organs. Researchers have grown solid jawbones[6] and tracheas[7] from human stem cells towards this end. Several artificial urinary bladders have been grown in laboratories and transplanted successfully into human patients.[8] Bioartificial organs, which use both synthetic and biological component, are also a focus area in research, such as with hepatic assist devices that use liver cells within an artificial bioreactor construct.[9]

Micromass cultures of C3H-10T1/2 cells at varied oxygen tensions stained with Alcian blue.

## Genetic engineering[edit | edit source]

Main article: Genetic engineering

Genetic engineering, recombinant DNA technology, genetic modification/manipulation (GM) and gene splicing are terms that apply to the direct manipulation of an organism's genes. Unlike traditional breeding, an indirect method of genetic manipulation, genetic engineering utilizes modern tools such as molecular cloning and transformation to directly alter the structure and characteristics of target genes. Genetic engineering techniques have found success in numerous applications. Some examples include the improvement of crop technology (not a medical application, but see biological systems engineering), the manufacture of synthetic human insulin through the use of modified bacteria, the manufacture of erythropoietin in hamster ovary cells, and the production of new types of experimental mice such as the oncomouse (cancer mouse) for research.[citation needed]

## Neural engineering[edit | edit source]

Neural engineering (also known as neuroengineering) is a discipline that uses engineering techniques to understand, repair, replace, or enhance neural systems. Neural engineers are uniquely qualified to solve design problems at the interface of living neural tissue and non-living constructs.

## Pharmaceutical engineering[edit | edit source]

Pharmaceutical engineering is an interdisciplinary science that includes drug engineering, novel drug delivery and targeting, pharmaceutical technology, unit operations of Chemical Engineering, and Pharmaceutical Analysis. It may be deemed as a part of pharmacy due to its focus on the use of technology on chemical agents in providing better medicinal treatment.

## Medical devices[edit | edit source]

Main articles: Medical device, medical equipment, and Medical technology

Schematic of silicone membrane oxygenator

This is an extremely broad category—essentially covering all health care products that do not achieve their intended results through predominantly chemical (e.g., pharmaceuticals) or biological (e.g., vaccines) means, and do not involve metabolism.

A medical device is intended for use in:

* the diagnosis of disease or other conditions
* in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease.

Some examples include pacemakers, infusion pumps, the heart-lung machine, dialysis machines, artificial organs, implants, artificial limbs, corrective lenses, cochlear implants, ocular prosthetics, facial prosthetics, somato prosthetics, and dental implants.

Biomedical instrumentation amplifier schematic used in monitoring low voltage biological signals, an example of a biomedical engineering application of electronic engineering to electrophysiology.

Stereolithography is a practical example of medical modeling being used to create physical objects. Beyond modeling organs and the human body, emerging engineering techniques are also currently used in the research and development of new devices for innovative therapies,[10] treatments,[11] patient monitoring,[12] of complex diseases.

Medical devices are regulated and classified (in the US) as follows (see also Regulation):

* Class I devices present minimal potential for harm to the user and are often simpler in design than Class II or Class III devices. Devices in this category include tongue depressors, bedpans, elastic bandages, examination gloves, and hand-held surgical instruments, and other similar types of common equipment.
* Class II devices are subject to special controls in addition to the general controls of Class I devices. Special controls may include special labeling requirements, mandatory performance standards, and postmarket surveillance. Devices in this class are typically non-invasive and include X-ray machines, PACS, powered wheelchairs, infusion pumps, and surgical drapes.
* Class III devices generally require premarket approval (PMA) or premarket notification (510k), a scientific review to ensure the device's safety and effectiveness, in addition to the general controls of Class I. Examples include replacement heart valves, hip and knee joint implants, silicone gel-filled breast implants, implanted cerebellar stimulators, implantable pacemaker pulse generators and endosseous (intra-bone) implants.

### Medical imaging[edit | edit source]

Main article: Medical imaging

Medical/biomedical imaging is a major segment of medical devices. This area deals with enabling clinicians to directly or indirectly "view" things not visible in plain sight (such as due to their size, and/or location). This can involve utilizing ultrasound, magnetism, UV, radiology, and other means.

An MRI scan of a human head, an example of a biomedical engineering application of electrical engineering to diagnostic imaging. Click here to view an animated sequence of slices.

Imaging technologies are often essential to medical diagnosis, and are typically the most complex equipment found in a hospital including: fluoroscopy, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine, positron emission tomography (PET), PET-CT scans, projection radiography such as X-rays and CT scans, tomography, ultrasound, optical microscopy, and electron microscopy.

### Implants[edit | edit source]

An implant is a kind of medical device made to replace and act as a missing biological structure (as compared with a transplant, which indicates transplanted biomedical tissue). The surface of implants that contact the body might be made of a biomedical material such as titanium, silicone or apatite depending on what is the most functional. In some cases, implants contain electronics, e.g. artificial pacemakers and cochlear implants. Some implants are bioactive, such as subcutaneous drug delivery devices in the form of implantable pills or drug-eluting stents.

Artificial limbs: The right arm is an example of a prosthesis, and the left arm is an example of myoelectric control.

File:Prosthetic eye.png

A prosthetic eye, an example of a biomedical engineering application of mechanical engineering and biocompatible materials to ophthalmology.

### Bionics[edit | edit source]

Further information: Bionics § In medicine

Artificial body part replacements are one of the many applications of bionics. Concerned with the intricate and thorough study of the properties and function of human body systems, bionics may be applied to solve some engineering problems. Careful study of the different functions and processes of the eyes, ears, and other organs paved the way for improved cameras, television, radio transmitters and receivers, and many other tools.

### Biomedical sensors[edit | edit source]

In recent years biomedical sensors based in microwave technology have gained more attention. Different sensors can be manufactured for specific uses in both diagnosing and monitoring disease conditions, for example microwave sensors can be used as a complementary technique to X-ray to monitor lower extremity trauma.[13] The sensor monitor the dielectric properties and can thus notice change in tissue (bone, muscle, fat etc.) under the skin so when measuring at different times during the healing process the response from the sensor will change as the trauma heals.

## Clinical engineering[edit | edit source]

Main article: Clinical engineering

Clinical engineering is the branch of biomedical engineering dealing with the actual implementation of medical equipment and technologies in hospitals or other clinical settings. Major roles of clinical engineers include training and supervising biomedical equipment technicians (BMETs), selecting technological products/services and logistically managing their implementation, working with governmental regulators on inspections/audits, and serving as technological consultants for other hospital staff (e.g. physicians, administrators, I.T., etc.). Clinical engineers also advise and collaborate with medical device producers regarding prospective design improvements based on clinical experiences, as well as monitor the progression of the state of the art so as to redirect procurement patterns accordingly.

Their inherent focus on practical implementation of technology has tended to keep them oriented more towards incremental-level redesigns and reconfigurations, as opposed to revolutionary research & development or ideas that would be many years from clinical adoption; however, there is a growing effort to expand this time-horizon over which clinical engineers can influence the trajectory of biomedical innovation. In their various roles, they form a "bridge" between the primary designers and the end-users, by combining the perspectives of being both close to the point-of-use, while also trained in product and process engineering. Clinical engineering departments will sometimes hire not just biomedical engineers, but also industrial/systems engineers to help address operations research/optimization, human factors, cost analysis, etc. Also, see safety engineering for a discussion of the procedures used to design safe systems. The clinical engineering department is constructed with a manager, supervisor, engineer, and technician. One engineer per eighty beds in the hospital is the ratio. Clinical engineers are also authorized to audit pharmaceutical and associated stores to monitor FDA recalls of invasive items.

## Rehabilitation engineering[edit | edit source]

Main article: Rehabilitation engineering

Ultrasound representation of urinary bladder (black butterfly-like shape) a hyperplastic prostate. An example of practical science and medical science working together.

Rehabilitation engineering is the systematic application of engineering sciences to design, develop, adapt, test, evaluate, apply, and distribute technological solutions to problems confronted by individuals with disabilities. Functional areas addressed through rehabilitation engineering may include mobility, communications, hearing, vision, and cognition, and activities associated with employment, independent living, education, and integration into the community.[1]

While some rehabilitation engineers have master's degrees in rehabilitation engineering, usually a subspecialty of Biomedical engineering, most rehabilitation engineers have an undergraduate or graduate degrees in biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering, or electrical engineering. A Portuguese university provides an undergraduate degree and a master's degree in Rehabilitation Engineering and Accessibility.[6][8] Qualification to become a Rehab' Engineer in the UK is possible via a University BSc Honours Degree course such as Health Design & Technology Institute, Coventry University.[9]

The rehabilitation process for people with disabilities often entails the design of assistive devices such as Walking aids intended to promote the inclusion of their users into the mainstream of society, commerce, and recreation.

Schematic representation of a normal ECG trace showing sinus rhythm; an example of widely used clinical medical equipment (operates by applying electronic engineering to electrophysiology and medical diagnosis).

## Regulatory issues[edit | edit source]

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Biomedical engineering" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (August 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

|

Regulatory issues have been constantly increased in the last decades to respond to the many incidents caused by devices to patients. For example, from 2008 to 2011, in US, there were 119 FDA recalls of medical devices classified as class I. According to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Class I recall is associated to "a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death"[14]

Regardless of the country-specific legislation, the main regulatory objectives coincide worldwide.[15] For example, in the medical device regulations, a product must be: 1) safe and 2) effective and 3) for all the manufactured devices (why is this part deleted?)

A product is safe if patients, users, and third parties do not run unacceptable risks of physical hazards (death, injuries, ...) in its intended use. Protective measures have to be introduced on the devices to reduce residual risks at an acceptable level if compared with the benefit derived from the use of it.

A product is effective if it performs as specified by the manufacturer in the intended use. Effectiveness is achieved through clinical evaluation, compliance to performance standards or demonstrations of substantial equivalence with an already marketed device.

The previous features have to be ensured for all the manufactured items of the medical device. This requires that a quality system shall be in place for all the relevant entities and processes that may impact safety and effectiveness over the whole medical device lifecycle.

The medical device engineering area is among the most heavily regulated fields of engineering, and practicing biomedical engineers must routinely consult and cooperate with regulatory law attorneys and other experts. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the principal healthcare regulatory authority in the United States, having jurisdiction over medical devices, drugs, biologics, and combination products. The paramount objectives driving policy decisions by the FDA are safety and effectiveness of healthcare products that have to be assured through a quality system in place as specified under 21 CFR 829 regulation. In addition, because biomedical engineers often develop devices and technologies for "consumer" use, such as physical therapy devices (which are also "medical" devices), these may also be governed in some respects by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The greatest hurdles tend to be 510K "clearance" (typically for Class 2 devices) or pre-market "approval" (typically for drugs and class 3 devices).

In the European context, safety effectiveness and quality is ensured through the "Conformity Assessment" which is defined as "the method by which a manufacturer demonstrates that its device complies with the requirements of the European Medical Device Directive". The directive specifies different procedures according to the class of the device ranging from the simple Declaration of Conformity (Annex VII) for Class I devices to EC verification (Annex IV), Production quality assurance (Annex V), Product quality assurance (Annex VI) and Full quality assurance (Annex II). The Medical Device Directive specifies detailed procedures for Certification. In general terms, these procedures include tests and verifications that are to be contained in specific deliveries such as the risk management file, the technical file, and the quality system deliveries. The risk management file is the first deliverable that conditions the following design and manufacturing steps. The risk management stage shall drive the product so that product risks are reduced at an acceptable level with respect to the benefits expected for the patients for the use of the device. The technical file contains all the documentation data and records supporting medical device certification. FDA technical file has similar content although organized in a different structure. The Quality System deliverables usually include procedures that ensure quality throughout all product life cycles. The same standard (ISO EN 13485) is usually applied for quality management systems in the US and worldwide.

Implants, such as artificial hip joints, are generally extensively regulated due to the invasive nature of such devices.

In the European Union, there are certifying entities named "Notified Bodies", accredited by the European Member States. The Notified Bodies must ensure the effectiveness of the certification process for all medical devices apart from the class I devices where a declaration of conformity produced by the manufacturer is sufficient for marketing. Once a product has passed all the steps required by the Medical Device Directive, the device is entitled to bear a CE marking, indicating that the device is believed to be safe and effective when used as intended, and, therefore, it can be marketed within the European Union area.

The different regulatory arrangements sometimes result in particular technologies being developed first for either the U.S. or in Europe depending on the more favorable form of regulation. While nations often strive for substantive harmony to facilitate cross-national distribution, philosophical differences about the optimal extent of regulation can be a hindrance; more restrictive regulations seem appealing on an intuitive level, but critics decry the tradeoff cost in terms of slowing access to life-saving developments.

### RoHS II[edit | edit source]

Directive 2011/65/EU, better known as RoHS 2 is a recast of legislation originally introduced in 2002. The original EU legislation "Restrictions of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronics Devices" (RoHS Directive 2002/95/EC) was replaced and superseded by 2011/65/EU published in July 2011 and commonly known as RoHS 2. RoHS seeks to limit the dangerous substances in circulation in electronics products, in particular toxins and heavy metals, which are subsequently released into the environment when such devices are recycled.

The scope of RoHS 2 is widened to include products previously excluded, such as medical devices and industrial equipment. In addition, manufacturers are now obliged to provide conformity risk assessments and test reports – or explain why they are lacking. For the first time, not only manufacturers but also importers and distributors share a responsibility to ensure Electrical and Electronic Equipment within the scope of RoHS complies with the hazardous substances limits and have a CE mark on their products.

### IEC 60601[edit | edit source]

The new International Standard IEC 60601 for home healthcare electro-medical devices defining the requirements for devices used in the home healthcare environment. IEC 60601-1-11 (2010) must now be incorporated into the design and verification of a wide range of home use and point of care medical devices along with other applicable standards in the IEC 60601 3rd edition series.

The mandatory date for implementation of the EN European version of the standard is June 1, 2013. The US FDA requires the use of the standard on June 30, 2013, while Health Canada recently extended the required date from June 2012 to April 2013. The North American agencies will only require these standards for new device submissions, while the EU will take the more severe approach of requiring all applicable devices being placed on the market to consider the home healthcare standard.

### AS/NZS 3551:2012[edit | edit source]

AS/ANS 3551:2012 is the Australian and New Zealand standards for the management of medical devices. The standard specifies the procedures required to maintain a wide range of medical assets in a clinical setting (e.g. Hospital).[16] The standards are based on the IEC 606101 standards.

The standard covers a wide range of medical equipment management elements including, procurement, acceptance testing, maintenance (electrical safety and preventive maintenance testing) and decommissioning.

## Training and certification[edit | edit source]

### Education[edit | edit source]

Biomedical engineers require considerable knowledge of both engineering and biology, and typically have a Bachelor's (B.Sc., B.S., B.Eng. or B.S.E.) or Master's (M.S., M.Sc., M.S.E., or M.Eng.) or a doctoral (Ph.D.) degree in BME (Biomedical Engineering) or another branch of engineering with considerable potential for BME overlap. As interest in BME increases, many engineering colleges now have a Biomedical Engineering Department or Program, with offerings ranging from the undergraduate (B.Sc., B.S., B.Eng. or B.S.E.) to doctoral levels. Biomedical engineering has only recently been emerging as its own discipline rather than a cross-disciplinary hybrid specialization of other disciplines; and BME programs at all levels are becoming more widespread, including the Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering which includes enough biological science content that many students use it as a "pre-med" major in preparation for medical school. The number of biomedical engineers is expected to rise as both a cause and effect of improvements in medical technology.[17]

In the U.S., an increasing number of undergraduate programs are also becoming recognized by ABET as accredited bioengineering/biomedical engineering programs. Over 65 programs are currently accredited by ABET.[18][19]

In Canada and Australia, accredited graduate programs in biomedical engineering are common.[citation needed] For example, McMaster University offers an M.A.Sc, an MD/PhD, and a PhD in Biomedical engineering.[20] The first Canadian undergraduate BME program was offered at Ryerson University as a four-year B.Eng. program.[21][22] The Polytechnique in Montreal is also offering a bachelors's degree in biomedical engineering[23] as is Flinders University.[24]

As with many degrees, the reputation and ranking of a program may factor into the desirability of a degree holder for either employment or graduate admission. The reputation of many undergraduate degrees is also linked to the institution's graduate or research programs, which have some tangible factors for rating, such as research funding and volume, publications and citations. With BME specifically, the ranking of a university's hospital and medical school can also be a significant factor in the perceived prestige of its BME department/program.

Graduate education is a particularly important aspect in BME. While many engineering fields (such as mechanical or electrical engineering) do not need graduate-level training to obtain an entry-level job in their field, the majority of BME positions do prefer or even require them.[25] Since most BME-related professions involve scientific research, such as in pharmaceutical and medical device development, graduate education is almost a requirement (as undergraduate degrees typically do not involve sufficient research training and experience). This can be either a Masters or Doctoral level degree; while in certain specialties a Ph.D. is notably more common than in others, it is hardly ever the majority (except in academia). In fact, the perceived need for some kind of graduate credential is so strong that some undergraduate BME programs will actively discourage students from majoring in BME without an expressed intention to also obtain a master's degree or apply to medical school afterwards.

Graduate programs in BME, like in other scientific fields, are highly varied, and particular programs may emphasize certain aspects within the field. They may also feature extensive collaborative efforts with programs in other fields (such as the university's Medical School or other engineering divisions), owing again to the interdisciplinary nature of BME. M.S. and Ph.D. programs will typically require applicants to have an undergraduate degree in BME, or another engineering discipline (plus certain life science coursework), or life science (plus certain engineering coursework).

Education in BME also varies greatly around the world. By virtue of its extensive biotechnology sector, its numerous major universities, and relatively few internal barriers, the U.S. has progressed a great deal in its development of BME education and training opportunities. Europe, which also has a large biotechnology sector and an impressive education system, has encountered trouble in creating uniform standards as the European community attempts to supplant some of the national jurisdictional barriers that still exist. Recently, initiatives such as BIOMEDEA have sprung up to develop BME-related education and professional standards.[26] Other countries, such as Australia, are recognizing and moving to correct deficiencies in their BME education.[27] Also, as high technology endeavors are usually marks of developed nations, some areas of the world are prone to slower development in education, including in BME.

### Licensure/certification[edit | edit source]

See also: Professional engineer

As with other learned professions, each state has certain (fairly similar) requirements for becoming licensed as a registered Professional Engineer (PE), but, in US, in industry such a license is not required to be an employee as an engineer in the majority of situations (due to an exception known as the industrial exemption, which effectively applies to the vast majority of American engineers). The US model has generally been only to require the practicing engineers offering engineering services that impact the public welfare, safety, safeguarding of life, health, or property to be licensed, while engineers working in private industry without a direct offering of engineering services to the public or other businesses, education, and government need not be licensed. This is notably not the case in many other countries, where a license is as legally necessary to practice engineering as it is for law or medicine.

Biomedical engineering is regulated in some countries, such as Australia, but registration is typically only recommended and not required.[28]

In the UK, mechanical engineers working in the areas of Medical Engineering, Bioengineering or Biomedical engineering can gain Chartered Engineer status through the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. The Institution also runs the Engineering in Medicine and Health Division.[29] The Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM) has a panel for the accreditation of MSc courses in Biomedical Engineering and Chartered Engineering status can also be sought through IPEM.

The Fundamentals of Engineering exam – the first (and more general) of two licensure examinations for most U.S. jurisdictions—does now cover biology (although technically not BME). For the second exam, called the Principles and Practices, Part 2, or the Professional Engineering exam, candidates may select a particular engineering discipline's content to be tested on; there is currently not an option for BME with this, meaning that any biomedical engineers seeking a license must prepare to take this examination in another category (which does not affect the actual license, since most jurisdictions do not recognize discipline specialties anyway). However, the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) is, as of 2009, exploring the possibility of seeking to implement a BME-specific version of this exam to facilitate biomedical engineers pursuing licensure.

Beyond governmental registration, certain private-sector professional/industrial organizations also offer certifications with varying degrees of prominence. One such example is the Certified Clinical Engineer (CCE) certification for Clinical engineers.

## Career prospects[edit | edit source]

In 2012 there were about 19,400 biomedical engineers employed in the US, and the field was predicted to grow by 5% (faster than average) from 2012 to 2022.[30] Biomedical engineering has the highest percentage of female engineers compared to other common engineering professions.

## Notable figures[edit | edit source]

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

|

* Earl Bakken (deceased) – Invented the first transistorised pacemaker, co-founder of Medtronic.
* Forrest Bird (deceased) – aviator and pioneer in the invention of mechanical ventilators
* Y.C. Fung (deceased) – professor emeritus at the University of California, San Diego, considered by many to be the founder of modern biomechanics[31]
* Leslie Geddes (deceased) – professor emeritus at Purdue University, electrical engineer, inventor, and educator of over 2000 biomedical engineers, received a National Medal of Technology in 2006 from President George Bush[32] for his more than 50 years of contributions that have spawned innovations ranging from burn treatments to miniature defibrillators, ligament repair to tiny blood pressure monitors for premature infants, as well as a new method for performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
* Willem Johan Kolff (deceased) – pioneer of hemodialysis as well as in the field of artificial organs
* Robert Langer – Institute Professor at MIT, runs the largest BME laboratory in the world, pioneer in drug delivery and tissue engineering[33]
* John Macleod (deceased) – one of the co-discoverers of insulin at Case Western Reserve University.
* Alfred E. Mann – Physicist, entrepreneur and philanthropist. A pioneer in the field of Biomedical Engineering.[34]
* J. Thomas Mortimer – Emeritus professor of biomedical engineering at Case Western Reserve University. Pioneer in Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES)[35]
* Robert M. Nerem – professor emeritus at Georgia Institute of Technology. Pioneer in regenerative tissue, biomechanics, and author of over 300 published works. His works have been cited more than 20,000 times cumulatively.
* P. Hunter Peckham – Donnell Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Orthopaedics at Case Western Reserve University. Pioneer in Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES)[36]
* Nicholas A. Peppas – Chaired Professor in Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, pioneer in drug delivery, biomaterials, hydrogels and nanobiotechnology.
* Robert Plonsey – professor emeritus at Duke University, pioneer of electrophysiology[37]
* Otto Schmitt (deceased) – biophysicist with significant contributions to BME, working with biomimetics
* Ascher Shapiro (deceased) – Institute Professor at MIT, contributed to the development of the BME field, medical devices (e.g. intra-aortic balloons)
* Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic – University Professor at Columbia University, pioneer in tissue engineering and bioreactor design
* John G. Webster – professor emeritus at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, a pioneer in the field of instrumentation amplifiers for the recording of electrophysiological signals
* Fred Weibell, coauthor of Biomedical Instrumentation and Measurements
* U.A. Whitaker (deceased) – provider of the Whitaker Foundation, which supported research and education in BME by providing over $700 million to various universities, helping to create 30 BME programs and helping finance the construction of 13 buildings[38]

## See also[edit | edit source]

* Biomedicine - Branch of medical science that applies biological and physiological principles to clinical practice - Branch of medical science that applies biological and physiological principles to clinical practice
* Cardiophysics
* Computational anatomy - Interdisciplinary field of biology - Interdisciplinary field of biology
* Medical physics - Application of physics concepts, theories and methods to medicine or healthcare - Application of physics concepts, theories and methods to medicine or healthcare
* Physiome
* Biomedical Engineering and Instrumentation Program (BEIP)

## References[edit | edit source]

1. ^ a b John Denis Enderle; Joseph D. Bronzino (2012). Introduction to Biomedical Engineering. Academic Press. pp. 16–. ISBN 978-0-12-374979-6.
2. ^ Fakhrullin, Rawil; Lvov, Yuri, eds. (2014). Cell Surface Engineering. Smart Materials Series. Cambridge: Royal Society of Chemistry. doi:10.1039/9781782628477. ISBN 978-1-78262-847-7.
3. ^ Alexander R. McNeill (2005). "Mechanics of animal movement". Current Biology. 15 (16): R616–R619. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2005.08.016. PMID 16111929. S2CID 14032136.
4. ^ Hatze, Herbert (1974). "The meaning of the term biomechanics". Journal of Biomechanics. 7 (12): 189–190. doi:10.1016/0021-9290(74)90060-8. PMID 4837555.
5. ^ Introduction to Biomedical Optics
6. ^ a b "Jaw bone created from stem cells". BBC News. October 10, 2009. Retrieved 11 October 2009.
7. ^ Walles T. Tracheobronchial bio-engineering: biotechnology fulfilling unmet medical needs. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2011; 63(4-5): 367–74.
8. ^ a b "Doctors grow organs from patients' own cells". CNN. April 3, 2006.
9. ^ a b Trial begins for first artificial liver device using human cells, University of Chicago, February 25, 1999
10. ^ ""Nano": The new nemesis of cancer Hede S, Huilgol N - J Can Res Ther". cancerjournal.net.
11. ^ Couvreur, Patrick; Vauthier, Christine (2006). "Nanotechnology: Intelligent Design to Treat Complex Disease". Pharmaceutical Research. 23 (7): 1417–1450(34). doi:10.1007/s11095-006-0284-8. PMID 16779701. S2CID 1520698.
12. ^ Curtis, Adam SG; Dalby, Matthew; Gadegaard, Nikolaj (2006). "Cell signaling arising from nanotopography: implications for nanomedical devices". Nanomedicine. 1 (1): 67–72. doi:10.2217/17435889.1.1.67. ISSN 1743-5889. PMID 17716210.
13. ^ Shah, Syaiful; Velander, Jacob; Mathur, Parul; Perez, Mauricio; Asan, Noor; Kurup, Dhanesh; Blokhuis, Taco; Augustine, Robin (2018-02-21). "Split-Ring Resonator Sensor Penetration Depth Assessment Using In Vivo Microwave Reflectivity and Ultrasound Measurements for Lower Extremity Trauma Rehabilitation". Sensors. 18 (2): 636. Bibcode:2018Senso..18..636S. doi:10.3390/s18020636. ISSN 1424-8220. PMC 5855979. PMID 29466312.
14. ^ U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Medical & Radiation Emitting Device Recalls http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfres/res.cfm
15. ^ "Medical Device Regulations: Global overview and guiding principles" (PDF). World Health Organization (WHO). 2003.
16. ^ AS/NZS 3551:2012 Management programs for medical equipment. Standards Australia. 2016-10-18. ISBN 978-1-74342-277-9. Retrieved 2016-10-18.
17. ^ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics \- Profile for Engineers Archived February 19, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
18. ^ "Accredited Biomedical Engineering Programs". Bmes.org. Archived from the original on 2011-09-28. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
19. ^ ABET List of Accredited Engineering Programs Archived August 23, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
20. ^ "Degree Options". McMaster School of Biomedical Engineering. www.eng.mcmaster.ca. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
21. ^ "Biomedical Engineering - Electrical and Computer Eng. Ryerson". Ee.ryerson.ca. 2011-08-04. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
22. ^ "Ryerson Biomedical Engineering Students Invent Brain-Controlled Prosthetic Arm". STUDY Magazine. 2011-04-01. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
23. ^ "Baccalauréat en Génie biomédical". Polytechnique Montréal. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
24. ^ "Bachelor of Engineering (Biomedical) (Honours)". Flinders University. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
25. ^ "Job Outlook for Engineers". U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Archived from the original on December 19, 2011.
26. ^ "BIOMEDEA". September 2005. Archived from the original on May 6, 2008.
27. ^ Lithgow, B. J. (October 25, 2001). "Biomedical Engineering Curriculum: A Comparison Between the USA, Europe and Australia". Archived from the original on May 1, 2008.
28. ^ National Engineering Registration Board - Areas Of Practice - NPER Areas Archived January 5, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
29. ^ "Medical Engineering: Homepage". Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Archived from the original on May 2, 2007.
30. ^ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014–15 Edition: Biomedical Engineers
31. ^ Kassab, Ghassan S. (2004). "YC "Bert" Fung: The Father of Modern Biomechanics" (PDF). Mechanics & Chemistry of Biosystems. Tech Science Press. 1 (1): 5–22. doi:10.3970/mcb.2004.001.005. PMID 16783943. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 2, 2007.
32. ^ "Leslie Geddes - 2006 National Medal of Technology". YouTube. 2007-07-31. Archived from the original on 2021-11-07. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
33. ^ O'Neill, Kathryn M. (July 20, 2006). "Colleagues honor Langer for 30 years of innovation". MIT News Office.
34. ^ Gallegos, Emma (2010-10-25). "Alfred E. Mann Foundation for Scientific Research (AMF)". Aemf.org. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
35. ^ "J. Thomas Mortimer". CSE Faculty/Staff Profiles. engineering.case.edu.
36. ^ "P. Hunter Peckham, PhD | Distinguished University Professor | Case Western Reserve University". Distinguished University Professor | Case Western Reserve University. 25 April 2018. Retrieved 2018-06-14.
37. ^ "Robert Plonsey, Pfizer-Pratt Professor Emeritus". Faculty - Duke BME. Fds.duke.edu.
38. ^ "The Whitaker Foundation". Whitaker.org. Retrieved 2011-09-24.

## Further reading[edit | edit source]

* Bronzino, Joseph D. (April 2006). The Biomedical Engineering Handbook (Third ed.). [CRC Press]. ISBN 978-0-8493-2124-5. Archived from the original on 2015-02-24. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
* Villafane, Carlos (June 2009). Biomed: From the Student's Perspective (First ed.). [Techniciansfriend.com]. ISBN 978-1-61539-663-4.

## External links[edit | edit source]

At Wikiversity, you can learn more and teach others about Biomedical engineering at the Department of Biomedical engineering

* Media related to Biomedical engineering at Wikimedia Commons
* Biomedical Engineering at Curlie

* v
* t
* e

Biotechnology

History|

* History of biotechnology
* Timeline of biotechnology
* Competitions and prizes in biotechnology

Branches|

* Colors of biotechnology
* Industrial biotechnology

Biological concepts|

* Allele
* Cell
* DNA/RNA
* Fermentation
* Gene
* Plasmid
* Protein
* Selective breeding

General concepts|

* Biotechnology industrial park
* Biotechnology products
* Biotechnology law
* Green Revolution
* Human Genome Project
* Pharmaceutical company

Basic techniques
and tools|

| Biology field|

* Bioreactor
* Cell culture
* Flow cytometry
* Hybridoma technology
* HPLC
* NMR
* Spectroscopy

|

Chemical field|

* Centrifugation
* CSTR
* DSTR
* Crystallization
* Chromatography
* Kidney dialysis
* Electrophoresis
* Extraction
* Fed Batch
* Filtration
* PFR
* Sedimentation

Applications|

* Animal cell culture
* Bioinformatics
* Biosynthesis
* Bionic architecture
* Cell immunity
* Cloning
* Reproductive cloning
* Therapeutic cloning
* Embryology
* Environmental biotechnology
* Genetic engineering
* Genetically modified organism
* Molecular genetics
* Gene therapy
* Microbial biodegradation
* Omics
* Pharmacogenomics
* Stem cells
* Telomere
* Tissue culture

Interdisciplinary
fields|

* Bioeconomy
* Bioelectronics
* Bioengineering
* Biology
* Biopharmacology
* Biomedical engineering
* Biomedicine
* Biomimetics
* Biochemicals
* Biorobotics
* Chemical engineering
* Microbiology
* Mining
* Molecular biology
* Nanobiotechnology
* Virology

Lists|

* Index of biotechnology articles
* List of biotechnology articles
* List of largest biomedical companies by market capitalization

* Category
* Commons

* v
* t
* e

Engineering

* History
* Outline
* List of engineering branches

Specialties
and
Interdisciplinarity|

| Civil|

* Architectural
* Construction
* Earthquake
* Environmental
* Geotechnical
* Hydraulic
* Mining
* Structural
* Transportation

|

Mechanical|

* Acoustical
* Aerospace
* Automotive
* Marine
* Railway
* Thermal

Electrical|

* Computer
* outline
* Control
* Electromechanics
* Electronics
* Microwaves
* Optical
* Photonics
* Power
* Radio Frequency
* Telecommunications

Chemical|

* Biochemical
* Biological
* Electrochemical
* Molecular
* Petroleum
* Process
* Reaction

Other|

* Agricultural
* Audio
* Biomedical
* Engineering mathematics
* Engineering physics
* Fire
* Food
* Industrial
* Information
* Materials science
* Ceramics
* Metals
* Polymers
* Mechatronics
* Military
* Nanotechnology
* Nuclear
* Privacy
* Robotics
* Sanitary
* Security
* Software
* Systems
* Genetic
* Energy and environmental
* Tissue
* Bioresource

Engineering education|

* Bachelor of Engineering
* Master of Engineering
* Doctor of Engineering
* Engineer's degree
* Engineering studies

Related topics|

* Engineer

Glossaries|

* Engineering
* A–L
* M–Z
* Aerospace engineering
* Civil engineering
* Electrical and electronics engineering
* Mechanical engineering
* Structural engineering

* Category
* Commons
* Project
* Portal

* v
* t
* e

Medicine

Specialties
and
subspecialties|

| Surgery|

* Cardiac surgery
* Cardiothoracic surgery
* Eye surgery
* General surgery
* Colorectal surgery
* Digestive system surgery
* Neurosurgery
* Oral and maxillofacial surgery
* Orthopedic surgery
* Hand surgery
* Otolaryngology
* ENT
* Pediatric surgery
* Plastic surgery
* Reproductive surgery
* Surgical oncology
* Transplant surgery
* Trauma surgery
* Urology
* Andrology
* Vascular surgery

|

Internal
medicine|

* Allergy / Immunology
* Angiology
* Cardiology
* Endocrinology
* Gastroenterology
* Hepatology
* Geriatrics
* Hematology
* Hospital medicine
* Infectious diseases
* Nephrology
* Oncology
* Pulmonology
* Rheumatology

Obstetrics and
gynaecology|

* Gynaecology
* Gynecologic oncology
* Maternal–fetal medicine
* Obstetrics
* Reproductive endocrinology and infertility
* Urogynecology

Diagnostic|

* Radiology
* Interventional radiology
* Nuclear medicine
* Pathology
* Anatomical
* Clinical pathology
* Clinical chemistry
* Cytopathology
* Medical microbiology
* Transfusion medicine

Other|

* Addiction medicine
* Adolescent medicine
* Anesthesiology
* Dermatology
* Disaster medicine
* Diving medicine
* Emergency medicine
* Mass gathering medicine
* Family medicine / General practice
* Hospital medicine
* Intensive care medicine
* Medical genetics
* Narcology
* Neurology
* Clinical neurophysiology
* Occupational medicine
* Ophthalmology
* Oral medicine
* Pain management
* Palliative care
* Pediatrics
* Neonatology
* Phlebology
* Physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R)
* Preventive medicine
* Prison healthcare
* Psychiatry
* Addiction psychiatry
* Radiation oncology
* Reproductive medicine
* Sexual medicine
* Venereology
* Sleep medicine
* Sports medicine
* Transplantation medicine
* Tropical medicine
* Travel medicine

Medical
education|

* Medical school
* Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery
* Bachelor of Medical Sciences
* Master of Medicine
* Master of Surgery
* Doctor of Medicine
* Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
* MD–PhD
* Medical Scientist Training Program

Related topics|

* Alternative medicine
* Allied health
* Dentistry
* Podiatry
* Pharmacy
* Physiotherapy
* Molecular oncology
* Nanomedicine
* Personalized medicine
* Public health
* Rural health
* Therapy
* Traditional medicine
* Veterinary medicine
* Physician
* Chief physician
* History of medicine

* Category
* Commons
* Wikiproject
* Portal
* Outline

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template