Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER 1
Introduction
1.1 Overview
Bioengineering applies engineering principles and design concepts to medicine and
biology with the intention of improving the overall healthcare of society—particu-
larly the lives of those with medical impairments. It is rooted in the life sciences,
chemistry, mathematics, and physics. Bringing together knowledge of problem solv-
ing from many engineering disciplines, bioengineers design medical instruments,
devices, computational tools; and perform population studies or carry out research
to acquire the knowledge needed to solve new problems. Bioengineers play a critical
role in developing new products, advancing research, and solving clinical problems.
In cardiology alone, devices such as diagnostic monitors to measure the electrical
activity of the heart (electrocardiographs), as well as systems to analyze gases in the
blood, have revolutionized healthcare. Further, pacemakers and defibrillators help
the heart to correct its beating pattern, while lasers and other instruments are used
for surgery.
In general, biomedical scientists observe natural phenomenon with the in-
tention of enhancing the basic understanding of laws by formulating hypotheses
and testing them. However, bioengineers use the established principles and laws
to develop new technologies useful to society. For example, bioscientists explore
the phenomena of how cardiac cells function whereas bioengineers use these un-
derstandings to develop devices that can monitor the activity of cardiac cells and
provide information on their healthiness. While these devices are useful in clinical
care, they also offer new tools to get more insight into biological processes and new
methods of data collection and analysis.
Bioengineering brings together expertise from other engineering disciplines,
such as chemical, electrical, and mechanical engineering, to solve biology and
healthcare problems. Compared with other engineering disciplines, biomedical
engineering is a relatively new field within educational institutions. Many of the
leaders have entered the field of bioengineering with degrees in other engineering
disciplines. Whether bioengineers are involved in designing, testing, or managing
applications, it is collaborative, requiring them to work on teams with physicians,
nurses, technicians and others involved in the practice of medicine. Bioengineers
need to know the needs of the basic performance measures in any field. Perform-
ance affects different roles in different ways. As a device developer, one has to know
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