Introduction to Biomedical Engineering

Biomedical Engineering

• Biomedical engineering is an interdisciplinary field that applies engineering principles to solve complex problems in biology and medicine.
• It combines expertise from multiple disciplines to contribute to advancements in medical technology, personalized medicine, and the understanding of human biology.
• Biomedical engineers apply electrical, chemical, optical, mechanical, and other engineering principles to understand, modify, or control biological systems.

Focus Areas in Biomedical Engineering

Biomechanics

• The scientific study of the mechanics of living structures or structures produced by organisms.
• It involves the study of mechanical properties of tissues (macro and micro), micromechanics, solid mechanics, viscoelasticity, fluid mechanics, entropic force, diffusive force, and osmotic force.

Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering

• The field of study that develops man-made materials for medical treatments (biomaterials) and produces living functional tissue (tissue engineering).
• It involves the study of interactions between materials and cells or tissues (and their effects), major body responses (wound healing, immune response, foreign body response), and characterizing biomaterials (metals, ceramics, polymers).

Biomedical Devices

• The field of study that produces instruments, machines, implants, in vitro reagents, software, materials, and other related articles for the safe and effective prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of illness and disease for human beings.
• It involves the study of instrumentation and measurement, diagnostic devices, and therapeutic devices.

Bioimaging and Signal Processing

• The field of study centered on methods and instruments used to acquire, process, and visualize structural or functional images of living objects or systems at desired spatial and temporal scales.
• It involves the study of medical imaging methods, signal processing, image analysis, and neural engineering.

Neuroengineering

• The field of study that involves the use of engineering technology to study the function of various neural systems.
• It involves the study of neuroimaging techniques, neural anatomy, action potentials, nervous system modulation, and implantable technology and materials.

Historical Perspective

• In 1943, Willem Kolff created the first artificial kidney dialysis machine.
• In the 1950s, Jonas Salk created the first polio vaccine, and Charles A. Hufnagel created the first artificial heart valve.
• In the late 1950s, the first external cardiac pacemaker was developed.
• The first biomedical engineering departments emerged in the late 1960s.
• In the 1970s, a focus was placed on recombinant DNA technology.

Applications in Healthcare

• Biomedical engineering is crucial in developing advanced medical devices and technologies, designing innovative diagnostic tools, advancing treatment methods and therapies, and contributing to groundbreaking research in areas like regenerative medicine and personalized healthcare.