Biomedical engineering Definition and 72 Threads

Biomedical engineering (BME) or medical engineering is the application of engineering principles and design concepts to medicine and biology for healthcare purposes (e.g., diagnostic or therapeutic). BME is also traditionally known as "bioengineering", but this term has come to also refer to biological engineering. This field seeks to close the gap between engineering and medicine, combining the design and problem-solving skills of engineering with medical biological 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 making equipment recommendations, procurement, routine testing, and preventive maintenance, a role also known as a Biomedical Equipment Technician (BMET) or as clinical engineering.
Biomedical engineering has recently emerged as its own study, as compared to many other engineering fields. Such an evolution is common as a new field transitions from being an interdisciplinary specialization among already-established fields to being considered a field in itself. Much of the work in biomedical engineering consists of research and development, spanning a broad array of subfields (see below). Prominent biomedical engineering applications include the development of biocompatible prostheses, various diagnostic and therapeutic medical devices ranging from clinical equipment to micro-implants, common imaging equipment such as MRIs and EKG/ECGs, regenerative tissue growth, pharmaceutical drugs and therapeutic biologicals.

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  1. JordanBolds

    Physics From biomedical engineering to bio-physics to medical physicist

    Hi everyone! I am also very new to this PhysicsForm site, hopefully I am not interrupting any conversation with this question. I have been thinking about switching from biomedical engineering to bio-physics as an undergrad degree with aspirations of eventually becoming a medical physicist. I do...
  2. bmihalik

    Detecting Hazards: From Radioactive Materials to Biological Threats

    Hello! I'm an electrical engineer from Hungary, who also does a lot of physics and biology in job. At the beginning of my career I worked with X-ray systems control and image processing, then with isotope diagnostic devices, then with non-invasive electrobiological measurements and spirometry...
  3. Gekko12

    I Application of failure criteria to viscoelastic materials

    I was wondering if someone can explain how failure criteria work when dealing with viscoelastic materials. I'm quite new to this, so I only know how they work with brittle and ductile materials. (not in too much detail either). And now that I'm at it anyway, if possible an explanation on...
  4. G

    Engineering Acceleration Engineering First Semester

    The function x (t) = 4 (m · s) t − 1 + 10 m describes the position of a mass point. In which direction does the speed point at time t = 1 s? Is the amount of speed constant or not? does the velocity function change its sign for t> 0 at some point? And in which direction does the acceleration...
  5. M

    Biomedical Engineering: Scanning k-space in NMR with readout gradient

    Hi, Firstly, I apologize if this is the wrong forum to post this. I am learning about this concept in a biomedical engineering context, but perhaps this may be better suited to the Biology or Physics pages. If so, please let me know and I can move the post. In short, I am confused how we can...
  6. snatchingthepi

    Programs Exploring Benefits of Biomedical Engineering PhD vs. Medical Physics PhD

    Hey all I'm finishing up my master's degree in medical physics this year, specifically working in PET-MR data analysis. I have a definite professional interest in medical imaging, and am planning on pursuing this. I have an interesting choice where I've been offered a position as a PhD student...
  7. snatchingthepi

    Programs PhD in Medical Physics vs Biomedical Engineering

    I have two paths I can take in my graduate studies. I'm currently an MSc student studying hybrid PET-MR systems in a medical physics program. My advisor is adjunct to the department of biomedical engineering, as well as the medical physics department. We were discussing doctoral work and it came...
  8. M

    Calculating Shear Force between a Moving Film and a Cylinder

    If I have a catheter covered in a thin sheathe (think a cylinder, covered by a thin plastic film), how should I go about calculating the shear force it takes to unsheathe the catheter from the sheath (no torque here, just the catheter moving in and out)? I've thought about strain gauges (but...
  9. T

    Engineering Pathway from medical physics to biomedical engineering?

    Throughout this forum, I've seen numerous posts discussing the transition to medical physics. However, I'm curious to learn about what advice can be shared on having an interest to work in biomedical engineering with a background/ experience as a medical physics. Would this entail completing a...
  10. José Ricardo

    Engineering Biomedical Engineering: Biohacking

    If I followed this area, I would deal with biohacking? Every biomedical engineer knows how to move with biohacking? And Biohacking is the sub-area that is increasing mostly in the healthcare system? Biomedical engineering → https://collegegrad.com/careers/biomedical-engineers
  11. I

    Engineering Is it possible to go back to biomedical engineering after teaching?

    I graduated undergrad as a biomedical engineer but received an amazing opportunity to earn my masters in education for a reduced price and earn a full-time teacher’s salary. I’m about halfway done with the 2 year program and am feeling unsatisfied due to not using my engineering degree. I was...
  12. X

    Engineering Signal Processing jobs with a Biomedical Engineering degree

    I'm starting a new job search where I'm interested in getting an entry level engineering position so I'm trying to figure out the industries where I would realistically be able to obtain a job as an engineer. I obtained my A.S in Engineering Science, my B.S in Physics, and my M.S in Biomedical...
  13. D

    Other Biomedical Engineering considering Applied Physics

    Hello everyone! This is my first time posting on here so idk if I'm under the right forum lol. I am an undergad in BME and WAS on the pre-med track. I always "wanted" to be a doctor just because I didn't really know much about other careers but also A LOT OF FAMILY PRESSURE. I finally decided to...
  14. B

    Engineering Medical Physics vs Biomedical Engineering

    Hi All, I am new here. I have been doing research, nuclear physics stuff, mainly, for a couple of years . Over time, I have grown to be very tired of pure research, and I believe it is just not for me, not that there is something wrong with research but I am not motivated to keep going, also...
  15. A Furious Potato

    Biosystems Eng.: pasteurization system for peanut butter

    Homework Statement In recent years, there have been several significant outbreaks and recalls associated with Salmonella in peanut butter. One company has designed a thermal pasteurization system to reduce pathogen risk in peanut butter, in which the peanut butter is pumped through a heating...
  16. M

    Engineering Biomedical Engineering vs. Bioinformatics

    Which of these fields would allow one to make a bigger impact on treatment of mental illnesses? What about neurological disorders? And if you could also explain why that would be great, Thanks!
  17. A Furious Potato

    Biomedical Engineering: power (W) needed to warm blood

    Homework Statement Fast-flow blood warmers (pictured below) can be used to heat blood products (carefully and uniformly) when rapid, high-volume transfusions are necessary, in order to prevent hypothermia in the patient. The blood product density and specific heat can be assumed to be 1.12...
  18. M

    Engineering Hardware vs. Software in biomedical engineering?

    For someone with a bachelors in computer engineering, looking to go to grad school for biomedical engineering, which would be more useful, their knowledge of software, or their knowledge of hardware?
  19. M

    Schools Does it matter what school I get my Master's at?

    My school has a 5 1/2 year masters program. You do a 4 year bachelors and you can a masters in 3 semesters instead of four. However, my school does not have many professors which specialize in what interests me, and there is another school nearby which has a lot of professors who specialize in...
  20. M

    Engineering Do I need a Ph.d to start a Biomedical engineering business?

    I am very ambitious and want to start a business one day that will invent new technologies that will change the healthcare industry. Will I need a Ph.D for this? or will a Masters be enough? I'm pretty sure inventing these new technologies will require someone doing research, which is why I'm...
  21. B

    Programs ME student interested in bioinstrumentation

    Hi Guys, Here is a brief overview of my background I am an older engineering student (28) currently in a masters program for mechanical engineering. My undergraduate studies were in chemistry and I had worked in previously as an analytical chemist operating, developing, and maintaining all...
  22. E

    Programs What branch of engineering to major in for biomedical?

    So, right now I'm a junior in high school and looking to go to college for engineering. I still haven't decided on a specific branch of engineering, but one that I'm interested in is biomedical engineering. The colleges that I've been looking at don't have a major in biomedical, but some have a...
  23. M

    Engineering Materials Engineering vs Biomaterials Engineering

    Hello everyone, I am currently enrolled in a Materials Engineering course, but I recently found out that I might be allowed to switch to Biomaterials Engineering, which sounds a bit more appealing to me, since, at the moment, I am interested in a career in the pharmaceutical sector. However...
  24. M

    Schools Grad school for Bioengineering with bachelors in CompE?

    Can you get into a graduate program for biomedical engineering with a computer engineering degree? would you be at a big disadvantage to someone with an electrical engineering degree?
  25. M

    Engineering Career options for Biomedical engineers?

    Can someone tell me what the career options are for a biomedical engineer with a bachelors vs a masters vs a phd? Thank You
  26. G

    Engineering Biomedical engineering prospects?

    Hey everyone. A friend of mine has recently finished high school and is unsure of whether she wants to pursue medicine or biomed engineering. She tells me that she's equally interested in both. However, she's currently inclined towards medicine, mainly because she has been told by certain people...
  27. N

    Engineering Will biomedicine lead to master of biomedical engineering?

    i'm currently enrolled in a degree in biomedicine, i want to know whether i can do a master in bio medical engineering , the employability of the field and what sort of content is there in such a degree ?
  28. Japowell98

    I want to go into biomedical engineering....

    Howdy y'all! I'm currently a junior in high school and everyone got their psat scores yesterday. I looked my score up with my physics teacher during AP physics and saw that I got a 1400 and an index score of 210 (which according to online projections would make me a national merit scholar in...
  29. M

    Engineering BEng Materials Engineering to MSc Biomedical Engineering?

    Hello everyone, I have been reading this forums for a while, and today I made an account! Anyway, I am currently a first year Materials Engineering student. Whilst I know it is still very early to start thinking about postgrad, I realized that my interest lies within...
  30. VBadiu

    Engineering Biomedical Engineering vs. Nuclear Applications?

    First of all, this is my first post here, so hello everyone! Great to be a part of this online community! Secondly, to get to the point of the thread, I have recently applied and have been accepted to two master's programs in Germany, specifically Biomedical Engineering and Nuclear Applications...
  31. J

    Engineering Biomedical Engineering PhD, data science, and Employment

    I have a B.S. in physics, I am currently in a non-thesis Master of Engineering in Mechanical/Biomedical engineering and set to graduate in the spring. I have been working in a lab to pick up some extra cash and skills over the past 7 months. Mainly what I have been doing is applying data science...
  32. H

    Engineering Difference between medical physics and clinical engineering?

    I'm only a gcse student but I like to think ahead. I know I want to go into a career in physics but in the health sector. I have read into both the subjects and what the courses at different universities entail but I can't quite suss the difference. If anyone could explain I'd greatly appreciate it!
  33. M

    Civil to Biomedical engineering?

    Hi, I am a junior studying civil engineering. I am wondering if I could get into a biomedical engineering graduate program with a civil engineering bachelor's. I've read online that EE is the best bachelors degree to get into a BME grad program, but I would rather stay with civil because I am...
  34. A

    Engineering Biomedical engineering or biomedical EE

    I post this in career guidance, because I'm interested in the career effects of going one way or the other in terms of employability, as opposed to just the academic side. Please move it if it should be in Academic Guidance. I am in the U.S. I'm an undergrad in electrical engineering. I have a...
  35. N

    Biochemistry Undergrad to Bioengineering PHD

    Hey! So I graduated with a BS in Biochemistry and I was originally considering medical school but after studying the horrible mcat for 3 years, I decided I had enough of that. Furthermore, I really lost interest in any aspect of patient work. However what has always interested me since I was a...
  36. J

    Does Course Selection Matter? (Masters Level)

    Preface: I have a B.S. in Applied Physics and minors in Biomedical Engineering and Mathematics. At this point my intention is to go into industry rather then academia. The project I am working on now, and might be able to turn into a M.S. thesis, is in bioinformatics, more specifically using...
  37. S

    Engineering Nursing student- wants to work in biomedical engineering

    I have grown up planning on going into engineering. I loveeee science and math! However, once I became a mom I decided that an engineering career might be harder to start with a child. So, I decided to go to school for nursing since medical sciences really interest me and the schedule is really...
  38. B

    Engineering Biomedical Engineering: Career Options for an Ambitious 29-Year-Old

    Hello everyone, I am very indecisive when it comes to my major as my situation is out of ordinary. I am 29 years old and I have already graduated from a college in my country (but that is not an option). However, I moved to USA 4 years ago and finally I am able to do something with my life...
  39. J

    Engineering How do I get in the game: Biomedical Engineering

    Hi all, Where to begin? I got my B.S. in applied Physics with biological and chemical engineering focus as well as a minor in Biomedical Engineering. I was on the job market for a year and after having no success applied to a graduate program in Biomedical Engineering. So currently I am in my...
  40. J

    Medical Is Medical Engineering the same as BioMedical Engineering?

    I'm looking at exchange school and am In Biomed, and some list "Medical Engineering", can I be 100% this is the same as Biomedical Engineering?
  41. Paradoxs

    Biomedical Engineering - Amplifier

    Homework Statement I- What is application of this circuit? What does it do? II- Simulate this circuit in a simulator software and by determine correct values for resistors, show heat losses (H) is nearly constant. III- Calculate H analytically (manually) (voltage division) and compare with...
  42. J

    Biomedical engineering to biomechatronics?

    the university I'm going to has a bachelors program in Mechantronics and Biomedical engineering, but ultimately I want to take the Masters program in Biomechatronics, I personally find Biomedical engineering more interesting since it covers more fields. But I'm not sure what's the best path for...
  43. A

    Programs Biomedical Engineering to Mathematics Major

    Hi My main question is about applying to Mathematics grad school. I had done my Bachelor Degree in Biomedical Engineering and completed back in 2010. I am looking to go back to school but I don't BME (let alone engineering) is for me. I want to go into Mathematics, it was what I had wanted...
  44. J

    Engineering The right degree for R&D in Biomedical Engineering

    I graduated last spring with a degree in Applied Physics and minors in biomedical engineering and mathematics. I recently was accepted to the Masters of Engineering in biomedical engineering at Colorado State University but am looking eventually to move into the M.S. program or possibly even a...
  45. B

    Engineering Biomedical engineering job outlook

    A while ago, I posted a thread about my plans to pursue a dual degree in physics and chemical engineering. Now, I haven't changed my mind about the dual degree and the general educational route I want to take. But I recently changed my mind about being a petroleum engineer, and decided I'd...
  46. L

    [Biomedical engineering] Question about ECG signal electrodes

    Hiyo, Could someone please explain to me how exactly, or why, does the ground electrode in ECG minimize the interference? And, also, why is it said that the patient could be at risk because of the ground electrode? I really don't get it, so if there's anyone here who could clarify this...
  47. B

    Biomedical Engineering | New Major Questions

    Is there are someone who majoring Biomedical engineering here??¦)
  48. V

    Programs Biomedical Engineering major, Math minor

    I am a freshman Biomedical Engineering student, and I have recently discovered my passion for math. The earlier Calculus was fine and all, but not quite my cup of tea. Then multivariable Calc came along and I liked that even better, and now I'm in Linear Analysis and I love it. Especially the...
  49. G

    Programs Dual Degree - Computer Science & Biomedical Engineering?

    Hey everyone, I am currently pursuing a BS in Computer Science and am about half way through. I am really enjoying the program and want to finish it. I have also taken an interest in Biomedical Engineering and was considering starting on a BS in this area after I finished my degree in...
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