Draft:Outline of biomedical engineering

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to biomedical engineering:

Biomedical engineering (BME) or medical engineering is the application of engineering principles and design concepts to medicine and biology for healthcare applications (e.g., diagnostic or therapeutic purposes). BME is also traditionally logical sciences to advance health care treatment, including diagnosis, monitoring, and therapy. Also included under the scope of a biomedical engineer is the management of current medical equipment in hospitals while adhering to relevant industry standards. This involves procurement, routine testing, preventive maintenance, and making equipment recommendations, a role also known as a Biomedical Equipment Technician (BMET) or as a clinical engineer.

What type of thing is biomedical engineering?

Biomedical engineering can be described as all of the following:

A branch of science
- An applied science
  - A branch of engineering
  - A branch of medicine

Branches of biomedical engineering

Biomaterials – development of devices which are used to enhance life processes, i.e. kidney dialysis machines, artificial hearts, etc.
Biomechanics – use of engineering or physics principles to understand the performance of an organism, e.g. Gait analysis.
Biomedical imaging – development and improvement of imaging devices, e.g. X-ray, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and Computed tomography (CT).
Biosensors and instrumentation – development of sensors and data collection systems to monitor and provide feedback on human body processes, such as DNA drug delivery systems.
Tissue engineering – development of mechanisms to regrow tissues, mostly through the provision of environments in which tissues may grow, e.g. in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment.
Clinical engineering – focuses on the application of technology in healthcare settings, ensuring that medical equipment is safe and effective.
Rehabilitation engineering – study and application of technology to improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities.

History of biomedical engineering

Main article: History of biomedical engineering

General biomedical engineering concepts

Medical device – any instrument or apparatus used in healthcare for diagnosis, prevention, monitoring, treatment, or alleviation of disease.
Regenerative medicine – a branch that focuses on repairing or replacing damaged tissues and organs.
Biocompatibility – the property of a material being compatible with living tissue.
Systems biology – an approach that integrates biological data with computational models.

Biomedical publications

Journal of Biomechanics – focuses on the application of mechanics to biological systems.
Journal of Biomedical Engineering – publishes research on all aspects of biomedical engineering.
Biomedical Engineering Online – an open-access journal covering all areas related to biomedical engineering.

Biomedical organizations

Biomedical Engineering Society – a professional organization for biomedical engineers.
International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering – promotes collaboration among professionals in medical and biological engineering.
Society for Biomaterials – focuses on the development and application of biomaterials.

Persons influential in biomedical engineering

Léon Croizat – known for his work in biogeography and its applications in biology.
P. Jackson Darlington, Jr. – contributed significantly to zoological studies relevant to biomechanics.
Alfred Russel Wallace – co-developer of the theory of evolution; his work influenced ecological approaches in biomedicine.
E. O. Wilson – known for his work in biodiversity which impacts biomedical research.

References

External links