Untitled Quiz

Introduction to Bioengineering

• Bioengineering is a discipline that applies engineering principles to biological systems and biomedical technologies.
• Bioengineers solve problems in life sciences using an engineering approach.
• This involves applying engineering to living things like humans, animals, and plants.

Objectives

• The objectives of the introduction to bioengineering are to define bioengineering, discuss its branches, and define important terminologies.

History of Bioengineering

• Bioengineering started to develop after World War II.
• Significant advances occurred in the latter half of the 20th century.
• A 3000-year-old mummy in Thebes had a wooden toe prosthetic, discovered in 2000.

During the Late 1940's

• Dr. Willem Johan Kolff pioneered kidney dialysis.
• In 1938, he designed artificial kidneys.
• By 1945, a woman with acute kidney failure lived for seven more years following treatment (with an early kidney dialysis machine.)
• The very first kidney machine utilized parts like laundry tubs, wooden drums, metal, semipermeable sausage casing, and electric motors.

During the 1950's

• In 1952, Charles A. Hufnagel performed the first artificial heart valve implant.
• In 1953, John H. Gibbon, Jr. performed the first successful human heart surgery using a heart-lung machine.
• The first external cardiac pacemaker was used in 1958.

The DNA and rDNA

• The discovery of the double-helix DNA structure in 1953, and the introduction of recombinant DNA techniques in the 1970s marked the modern era of bioengineering.

Branches of Bioengineering

• Biomedical engineering focuses on replacing damaged organs, applying diagnostic instrumentation, and using computers in medicine (tissue engineering, genetic engineering, neural engineering, pharmaceutical engineering, clinical engineering, bioinformatics, and biomechanics).
• Biological systems engineering involves issues related to operations (agriculture, production problems, external influence of environment, and food sciences).
• Biochemical engineering focuses on fermentation engineering and the production of new products through the manipulation of microscopic biological systems.
• Human-factors engineering applies engineering, physiology, and psychology to optimize the human-machine relationship.
• Environmental health engineering is concerned with controlling the bioenvironment for human health, comfort, and safety, and includes life support systems for outer space exploration and ocean environments.
• Bionics focuses on the construction of artificial systems that have some characteristics of living systems, such as robotics.

Other Bioengineering Concepts

• Biomimicry/Biomimetics involves imitating biological and natural processes, like the design of the Leonardo da Vinci Flying Machine inspired by birds. It also includes examples like Velcro, inspired by burrs, and shark-skin-inspired swimsuits.
• Material science considers the properties of matter for engineering applications. Biomaterials are materials designed for interaction with biological systems, body tissues, and cells, and are critical for applications like prosthetics.

Prosthetics

• Prosthetics are artificial substitutes for amputated body parts, and are often constructed from materials like silicon, nylon sheets, thermoplastic, titanium, and carbon fiber. Lightweight and strong materials are particularly important for improved function.

Assistive and Adaptive Bioengineering Technology

• Assistive bioengineering technologies help living organisms. They do not change the organisms themselves. Examples include eyeglasses, antibiotics, and wheelchairs.
• Adaptive bioengineering technologies help living organisms and change them. Examples include LASIK eye treatment, knee replacements, and GMOs (genetically modified organisms).