Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 12.2
Main current fi elds of application of microsystems in Biomedical Engineering
“bioengineering,” or “biophysics” may provide different results but we consider the
mentioned 51 documents as a relevant sample for further study.
Figure
12.2
shows the result from dividing the mentioned documents in some
more specifi c fi elds of application, so as to provide an overview of typical applica-
tions of microsystems in the biomedical sector. Most articles have been linked to
topical reviews centered on describing general technologies, procedures, or applica-
tions of microsystems and MEMS and their potential impact on Medicine and
Health, together with discussions on forthcoming applications.
There are four additional specifi c and remarkable fi elds of application of micro-
systems in Biomedical Engineering, including the development of micro-implantable
devices for diagnosis, the development of micro-implantable active devices for
therapy, the promotion of tissue engineering activities, with micro-devices interact-
ing at a cellular scale, and the development of highly effi cient in vitro diagnostic
tools or “lab-on-a-chips,” also including several direct interactions with cells. Some
documents also describe passive implantable devices (lenses, bone fi xations, among
others) as well as tools for minimally invasive surgery.
The next sections detail some of the most used technologies for the micro-medical
device sector and provide some case studies linked to the aforementioned fi elds.
12.3
Subtractive Micromachining for Biodevices
Subtractive micromachining technologies are based on processes similar to those
used in conventional manufacturing (milling, drilling, lathing, etc.) although with
much more precise tools and capable of reaching detail levels in the range of a few
microns. Other even more precise technologies also eliminate material from a
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