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Questions and Answers

Which material is known for being lightweight and very strong due to its extraordinarily thin filaments?

Silicon

Titanium

Thermoplastic

Carbon Fiber (correct)

What is the primary characteristic of assistive bioengineering technology?

It replaces damaged body parts entirely.

It helps organisms without changing their structure. (correct)

It alters the organisms to enhance functionality.

It is only applicable to animals.

Which of the following is an example of adaptive bioengineering technology?

Eyeglasses

Antibiotics

Knee replacement (correct)

Wheelchair

What type of technology is Lasik eye treatment classified as?

Adaptive bioengineering Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of materials like nylon sheets used in prosthetics?

They are flexible and can conform to shapes. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of bioengineering as a discipline?

To apply engineering principles to biological systems and biomedical technologies Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT one of the main branches of bioengineering?

Electrical Engineering Signup and view all the answers

Who is credited with pioneering kidney dialysis?

Willem Johan Kolff Signup and view all the answers

What significant medical device was first successfully implanted in 1952?

Heart valve Signup and view all the answers

The introduction of recombinant DNA in the 1970s marked the beginning of which era in bioengineering?

The era of genetic engineering Signup and view all the answers

Which device was first used in 1953 during successful human heart surgery?

Heart-lung machine Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary material used in the first kidney machine designed by Dr. Willem Johan Kolff?

Wood and metal Signup and view all the answers

Which of these describes human-factors engineering in bioengineering?

Designing systems that accommodate human limitations and capabilities Signup and view all the answers

What is the main goal of bionics?

To replace damaged organs and provide diagnostic applications Signup and view all the answers

What does genetic engineering involve?

Modification and recombination of DNA or nucleic acid molecules Signup and view all the answers

Which field applies mechanics to study biological system motion and structure?

Biomechanics Signup and view all the answers

What is fermentation engineering primarily concerned with?

Production of new products through synthesis Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of biomechanics?

Study of mechanical aspects of biological systems Signup and view all the answers

What do biomaterials need to ensure when interacting with biological systems?

Biocompatibility with body tissues Signup and view all the answers

What is the goal of bioenvironmental engineering?

Control of environment for human health and safety Signup and view all the answers

Which innovation is an example of biomimicry?

Leonardo da Vinci's flying machine inspired by birds Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

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).