1

An Overview of Biomedical Engineering(What I wish I knew when I was your age)

Jesse Yen

2

What is biomedical engineering? “BME 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”

Whitaker Foundation

3

What is biomedical engineering? biomedical Engineering is still

engineering. Biomedical is just the adjective. Engineering is the noun. It is not that different from other

disciplines. The application is different. Greater impact?

4

What do biomedical engineers do?

Bioinstrumentation is the application of electronics and measurement techniques to develop devices used in diagnosis and treatment of disease.

Computers are an essential part of bioinstrumentation (microprocessor, microcomputer).

5

Bioinstrumentation

6

What do biomedical engineers do?

Biomaterials include both living tissue and artificial materials used for implantation.

Certain metal alloys, ceramics, polymers, and composites have been used as implantable materials. Nontoxic, non-carcinogenic, chemically inert, stable, and mechanically strong enough to withstand the repeated forces of a lifetime (alloys, ceramics, polymers).

Newer biomaterials even incorporate living cells in order to provide a true biological and mechanical match for the living tissue.

7

Biomaterials

8

What do biomedical engineers do? Cellular, Tissue, and Genetic

Engineering involve more recent attempts to attack biomedical problems at the microscopic level.

Applies biochemistry, cell mechanics to understand disease processes when the first form.

Miniaturized drug delivery devices at precise locations.

9

Cellular, Tissue, Genetic Engineering

10

What do biomedical engineers do? Medical Imaging combines knowledge of

a unique physical phenomenon (sound, radiation, magnetism, etc.) with high speed electronic data processing, analysis and display to generate an image.

Often, these images can be obtained with minimal or completely noninvasive procedures, making them less painful and more readily repeatable than invasive techniques.

11

Medical Imaging

12

What do biomedical engineers do? Orthopedic bioengineering is the specialty where

methods of engineering and computational mechanics have been applied for the understanding of the function of bones, joints and muscles, and for the design of artificial joint replacements.

Analyze forces applied on the body. Design biomaterials for replacement of bone,

tendons, cartilage. Gait and motion analysis for sports. Injury prevention Rehabilitation.

13

Orthopedics/Biomechanics

14

What do biomedical engineers do? Systems physiology is the term used to

describe that aspect of biomedical engineering in which engineering strategies, techniques and tools are used to gain an understanding of the function of living organisms ranging from bacteria to humans.

Computer modeling (data analysis, mathematical descriptions).

Predictor models (drug therapy). Living systems have highly regulated feedback

control systems (metabolism, limb movements).

15

Systems Physiologyand Computer Modeling

16

Research at USC – Neural Engineering

17

Research at USC – Imaging/Devices

18

BME: Interdisciplinary The areas of research

mentioned above are inter-related.

Pacemaker needs good instrumentation (pacing capability, sensing, instrumentation).

Pacemaker is implanted and therefore must be biocompatible (biomaterials).

19

How do I know if BME is for me?

If you are interested in math and science and have a particular interest in biology and/or medicine, then BME may be for you.

20

What if I don’t major in BME?

If you are still interested in BME but are more interested in another discipline, go ahead and major in the other discipline.

BME needs good EEs, MEs, ChemEs, etc.

21

Typical BME Curriculum (Yrs. 1-2) Calculus (2) Chemistry (2) Intro to BME Writing Humanities

Calculus Physics Computer

Programming Physics (2) Biology

Curriculum is quite similar to other engineering majors.

22

Typical BME Curriculum (Yrs. 3-4) Organic chemistry Circuits Medical

Electronics Statistics Biomechanics Electives

Biology Biomaterials Physiological

systems Instrumentation Electives

BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING IS STILL ENGINEERING AT ITS CORE.

23

Careers for BMEs Sales, product test (Bachelor’s) Research and Development

( Master’s and Ph.D.) The United States Department of

Labor reports that “the number of biomedical engineering jobs will increase by 71 percent through 2018.”

24

Careers for BME

More variety than other disciplines. http://bme.usc.edu/alumni/alumni-i

nformation.htm Lawyer Doctor Businessman/woman Politician

25

Sources

www.bmes.org National Institute of Biomedical

Imaging and Bioengineering (NIH- NIBIB)

26

Summary BME is a fascinating field with a wide

range of activity. Brief overview is presented.

BMEs are involved with improving people’s lives with better health care technology.

BME uses fundamental engineering concepts to solve biomedical problems.