Monday 17 October 2016

Biomedical Engineering

Biomedical

Biomedical Engineering alias BME is an emerging and exciting discipline of engineering that has got tremendous potential for research, development and employment. Biomedical engineering may be defined as the study and application of engineering principles and techniques to the medical field. It is a combination of technical knowledge in biology and medicine to improve life quality. This interdisciplinary field that bridges life science and engineering has an important role in prevention, therapy and rehabilitation, as it combines the principles of two dynamic professions, medicine and engineering. It is an apt career for those who have a keen interest in medicine and healthcare.

BME is concerned with the development and manufacture of prostheses, medical devices, diagnostic devices, drugs and other therapies. This unique field encompasses bio-instrumentation, bio-materials, bio-mechanics, medical imaging, genetic engineering, orthopedic surgery, cellular and tissue engineering. the combination of Mechanical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Sciences with Computers for communication and control led to the emergence of interdisciplinary courses such as Mechatronics, Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM), Geographical Information System (GIS), Bio Technology, Bio Mechanics, Bio Medical Instrumentation and Bio Medical Engineering.

Biomedical Engineering is getting more popular because of the increase in the growing complexity of medical technology around the world. And as a result, there is a huge demand of trained professionals to bridge the gap between clinical medicine and applied medical technology. These professionals are termed as bio-engineers or biomedical engineers. A Biomedical engineer has to be an expert in engineering sciences, biological sciences and medical sciences. They must be capable of defining a medical problem in engineering terms and find a solution that satisfies both engineering and clinical requirements. They usually design and develop devices and systems ranging from cardiac monitors to clinical computers, artificial hearts to contact lenses, wheel chairs to artificial tendons. They are also integral in the management of technology in hospitals and health care delivery.

Eligibility & Course Areas

To become a Biomedical Engineer, one should hold a Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering (B.E./ B.Tech in BME). The basic eligibility criteria for a B.E is higher secondary or its equivalent examination in the science stream. The course is of 4 years duration and the candidates have to appear for the entrance examination conducted by the respective institution.

After +2, one can directly do B.E. in Biomedical Engineering, Or B.E in other branches of engineering such as Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electronics Engineering or Chemical Engineering and then become a Bio medical professional by completing a postgraduate course in Biomedical engineering. Otherwise, one can do B.E in any branch of Engineering and go for a postgraduate course in Medical Technology, which is considered equivalent to a postgraduate course in Biomedical Engineering. One could also take up this career after completing an MBBS degree and then opt for a postgraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering/ Medical Engineering/ Medical Technology.

A flair for research coupled with excellent academic records enables a candidate to obtain a doctorate degree from India or abroad.

Course Content

The main objective of Biomedical Engineering is to bring an improvement in the overall quality of healthcare. A course in Bio Medical engineering includes study of biology, chemistry, physics, calculus, biotech, principles of design, materials science, biomechanics and life sciences. The course enables a candidate to gain technical expertise in biology and medicine simultaneously and contribute effectively in the development and improvement of healthcare solutions. Biomedical engineers apply the concepts of biology, physics as well as chemistry to develop products and devices for diagnosis and treatment

Personal skill:

A Biomedical professional should be a good engineer and have aptitude for life science systems as well as terminology. They must have a sound knowledge in the basic engineering field. Good communication skills both written and verbal and a keen interest in biology as well as mathematics is a must. Ability to work as part of a team, creativity, an analytical bend of mind are some of the other personal skills counted for this career. They must have exceptional skills in observation, concentration, investigation, critical thinking and record keeping. Since the medical technology is changing so fast, it is very important to keep abreast of this changing technology. So the candidate should be dexterous and alert. Administrative skills, computer knowledge and high-level software development skills will be an added advantage. 

Job Prospects & Career Options

Biomedical engineers are proficient scientists who use the principles of engineering and life sciences and conduct research on the biological aspects of human and animal life. They may be called upon in a wide range of capacities to design instruments, devices and software, to bring together knowledge from many technical sources to develop new procedures, or to conduct research needed to solve clinical problems. Specialists in this field are concerned with developing imaging systems such as magnetic resonance, ultrasound and x-ray machines, techniques and devices to automate or control body functions etc.

Biomedical Engineering has many well established areas of specialisations and some among them are :
  • Bioinstrumentation - It specialises in the application of electronics and measurement techniques to develop devices for diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
  • Biomechanics -   Biomechanics is the application of mechanical principles on living organism and also the analysis of mechanics of organisms.  
  • Biomaterials - This area of science is about the natural or manmade material used for the medical application.  
  • Molecular, cellular and Tissue Engineering - It deals with the development of artificial materials and tissue that used for artificial blood vessels and organs, replacement of skin and bone.
  • Clinical Engineering - It deals with the develop and maintain computer database of medical instruments and equipment record in hospitals.
  • Orthopedic Bioengineering - This science helps to understand the function of the bones, muscles and the joints. It also helps to design and develop artificial joint replacement.  
  • Navigation Systems - It is a specialized branch, that use software tools and specialized imaging equipment to create a digital picture of the insides of a human patient's body.
  • Rehabilitation Engineering - It is used to design, develop, adapt, test, evaluate, apply and distribute technological solutions to problems faced by individuals with disabilities like communications, hearing, vision. The Rehabilitation engineers improve the capabilities and develop the quality of life for such individuals. 
  • Systems physiology - It is the study of living systems including molecular processes, isolated tissues, organ systems and the whole organism. This study also includes the analysis of how various organs interacts and function.
Bio-medical engineers and technologists can find job openings in a wide range of global industries which may include modern health care, hospitals, medical equipment manufacturing units, industrial firms, educational and medical institutions, pharmaceuticals, government regulatory agencies and so on. In hospitals, they have to work closely with other healthcare professionals like physicians, nurses, therapists and technicians. They develop customised devices and provide advice for selecting, handling and maintaining medical equipments. In industries, Biomedical Engineers use their understanding of living systems and technology to design and test new products. Government positions often involve product testing as well as establishing safety standards for devices. Biomedical engineers are required in institutions engaged in medical research. They are also appointed as technical advisors for marketing department of medical equipment companies. The fast growing rehabilitation and orthopedic engineering fields apart from computer-assisted surgery and heavy research in molecular, cellular and tissue engineering also need the service of Biomedical engineers.

Enormous opportunities are awaiting Biomedical professionals specially in the field of research and development (R& D), in carrying out advanced research at universities, research institutes and government agencies in India and other countries. They supervise laboratories and equipment, and participate in, or direct research activities in collaboration with other researchers. Bio medical professionals may be employed by companies like BPL, Larsen & Toubro, Wipro Medical and Siemens into their R&D section or into sales and marketing, depending on their skills and preferences.

Biomedical engineers especially clinical and rehabilitation engineers are in massive demand out side India. Abroad, there are courses of 2 or 4 year duration in Engineering Technology that would help a candidate get into this career. But as Engineering graduates are required to be licensed in the US, these kinds of courses will not help one to register as a Professional Engineer (PE). Apart from an engineering degree accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), a successful completion of a State examination, four years of work experience are other requirements needed to be a Professional Engineer.

Institutes

There is a bright scope for bio-medical engineering, and several Indian as well as institutes abroad offer courses in Biomedical Engineering. But it is important to note that choosing an institute with good facilities and infrastructure will go a long way to get ahead in this profession.

List of Institutes offering courses in Biomedical Engineering can be had from the following links.
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