Biomedical Engineering

 

"Scientists discover the world that exists; engineers create the world that never was." - Theodore Von Karman

Biomedical Engineering is a branch of engineering that involves the application of principles of engineering and concepts of design to medicine and biology for healthcare purposes. It uses engineering for many purposes such as advanced healthcare, diagnosis, monitoring and therapy. Engineers who are practitioners of this discipline are known as Biomedical Engineers . Their work revolves around coming up with equipment and methods that can be useful for mankind such as biocompatible prostheses, medical devices, micro implants, MRIs, EEGs and pharmaceutical drugs.

Choosing Biomedical Engineering as a career is a very profitable decision. It is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. Biomedical Engineers work in a variety of related fields like health services, medical equipment manufacturers and research departments. Biomedical Engineering has made many contributions to the field of healthcare such as robotic surgical equipments.

Compared to other engineering disciplines, Biomedical Engineering is relatively new. It is a field that is based on a principle that most of the concepts that go into programming and building a machine can be applied to human bodies and medical tools as well. It focuses on understanding how human bodies work, why they fail and how to rectify these failures.

What do Biomedical Engineers do?

Biomedical Engineers attempt to close the gap between engineering and medicine. They use engineering principles and methods to solve medical problems. They apply engineering knowledge to design, develop and evaluate health care systems and products.

One of the primary jobs of a Biomedical Engineer is to come up with new designs of medical equipment and methods that can be beneficial to patients. Biomedical Engineers need to constantly think about ways through which they can use engineering principles to improve healthcare techniques, methods and equipment. For example, if a Biomedical Engineer realizes the need for a particular type of equipment needed during a surgery, it becomes his/her job to come up with a feasible design for that equipment.

Biomedical Engineers are also required to manufacture and physically create devices and procedure from their designs. This involves supervising the manufacturing of devices. They are also required to make sure that the correct equipment is manufactured and can be used. In case of procedures, it is the job of a Biomedical Engineer to make sure that the procedure he has advised is being followed in the right way.

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‘Maintenance’ is also a very important task that a Biomedical Engineer has to perform. Biomedical Engineers have to constantly make sure that the equipment that they have created/suggested is working properly. And in case any defect or problem is found, it is their job to repair the equipment and make sure the device works perfectly.

Biomedical Engineers are also responsible for testing equipment and establishing safety standards. Whenever they create/suggest equipment, they have to test it properly and thoroughly before it can start being used by doctors or surgeons. They have to make sure that there is nothing wrong with the device and it works perfectly under all conditions. They also have to establish standards of safety that will act as guidelines for people who use the device.

Another one of the main jobs of a Biomedical Engineer is to advise Doctors and Hospital authorities on the type of equipment they should use and should not use. Biomedical Engineers keep the welfare of patients as well as the efficiency of the product in mind while suggesting authorities as to what is the best equipment that can be used for a particular purpose.

As Biomedical Engineering is a relatively new field, a majority of the work being done is in the field of research. Biomedical Engineers often study procedure, equipment and then come up with theories that they can prove through experiments. These theories are aimed at improving current health standards.

Biomedical Engineers are also required to come up with software that can be used in the field of healthcare and medicine. This is extremely relevant in the case of devices that are used to monitor bodily functions, such as EEGs and MRIs.

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How to become a Biomedical Engineer?

Biomedical Engineers are involved in coming up with procedure and devices that solve a variety of medical problems. They have to often design patient specific equipment which requires a lot of skill and intelligence. It is a well paid job but requires a lot of hard work.

To become a Biomedical Engineer, concentrate on subjects like Physics, Math, Chemistry, Biology and Computers at school. After 10th, choose the Science stream with Physics, Chemistry, Math and Biology as your extra subject.

Once you complete your schooling, you will need to pursue a Graduation course in Biomedical Engineering. You might have to appear for engineering entrance exams for various colleges. Scoring well in entrance exams like JEE (Main) and JEE (Advanced)  and the state boards is critical to get admission in a good college.

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Once you complete your graduation, you can choose to start working or study further. Pursuing a Master’s can be beneficial if you are sure about a specific specialization within the broad field of Biomedical Engineering. Once you complete your Master’s, you can do a PhD if your interest lies in the field of research and development.

In order to become a Biomedical Engineer, you should work as an intern as much as possible during your education period. Internships will not only help you gain valuable industry experience, but will also help you make important contacts.

You should subscribe to biomedical journals and attend seminars related to this field if you want to become a Biomedical Engineer. These journals will help you keep track of the rest of the developments that are taking place in the field of Biomedical Engineering.

In order to become a Biomedical Engineer, you should always be ready to learn. Read as many books as possible on related topics as a part of your research. Gathering information will broaden your mind and improve your fundamentals in Engineering.

Institutions:

There are many reputed institutions that offer great courses in the field of Biomedical Engineering in India. The School of Bio Sciences and Technology, VIT University, Vellore, Chennai offers a great B.Tech program in Biomedical Engineering. S.S.N College of Engineering, Chennai is also popular for its undergraduate course in Biomedical Engineering. It will provide you with a B.E in Biomedical Engineering upon graduation.

What are the skills required to become a Biomedical Engineer?

Biomedical Engineers need to have a very strong knowledge base in not only Physics and Math, but also Chemistry, Biology and Computers. They need to be responsible and have the ability to work under pressure as even the smallest mistakes can end up having huge consequences. Biomedical Engineers need to have great communication skills as they are often required to work in teams. They need to have the ability to think analytically and solve problems. They also need to have the ability to use their creativity and innovation to come up with new and better solutions to problems. They need to be sensitive towards the needs of patients and should be willing to learn new concepts and methods. Most of all, Biomedical Engineers should have a genuine desire to help humanity through their knowledge and analytical bent of mind.

Is this the right career for me?

Biomedical Engineers spend their lives researching and coming up with new devices and methods to help others, often for no appreciation. They have to work for long hours and might have to deal with the monotony of the job. It is a well paid job that involves continuous learning and research work.

So if you’re looking for a career that is secure and well paid, and if your interest lies in the field of biomedical engineering, then this might be the right job for you.

Fields Related to Biomedical Engineering:

Genetic Engineering is scientific procedure that comprises of manipulating and modifying a person’s genetic composition using principles of engineering and biotechnology.

Biochemical Engineering is a branch of engineering that involves the process of enhancing lives by using recent biological discoveries. These can be in the field of medicine, energy sources etc.

Food Engineering is a branch of engineering that consists of principles from agriculture, microbiology, chemistry and engineering. It focuses on using high – tech processes to come up with good quality food that is high on its nutrient quotient. This includes the procuring of raw food materials, to processing them, packaging them and then sending them to the consumer market.

Agriculture Engineering is a branch of engineering that applies engineering principles to agriculture production. It focuses on the optimum production of food, fiber and fuels through the use of engineering principles. This includes design of machinery that is used on farms, energy conservation etc.


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