Have you ever wondered who makes all those creepy medical equipments that look like they have been imported from outer space? All those modern advances in technology, that have made doctors work with mechanical arms and peer at your insides with laser - who designs them in the first place. For one thing to design those things, even a cursory glance will tell, requires two different disciplines, the skills of an engineer and the understanding of a doctor. And these two abilities converge in the form of a biomedical engineer. This will give you a basic idea of the enormous opportunities that are open for a biomedical engineer. Even the courses are designed in such a way as to train them in the mould of the engineer as well as the doctor. If you are interested in a career as a biomedical engineer, then read below for further information.
Courses In Biomedical Engineering
Eligibility
The candidate should first clear his or her 10+2 or an equivalent examination with physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics. The student can then go for a Bachelor of Engineering (BE) in biomedical engineering and after that the masters degree or M. Teach. Biomedical engineering can also be chosen as a special subject in electrical, mechanical, computer, chemical or electronics engineering. Alternatively, the student can apply for a postgraduate course in Medical Technology which is the equivalent to a postgraduate course in biomedical engineering. The student can also go for a postgraduate course in this field after the MBBS degree also. Those with excellent academic qualifications can later opt for a doctorate degree in biomedical engineering.
Details Of The Course Curriculum
In biomedical engineering a student can find specialized programs to prepare him or her in all aspects of engineering that can be specifically applied to the medical sector. The course gives the student an all round knowledge of engineering technology as how it can be applied to the development of the medical sector. The student will get training and education in sectors that can loosely be categorized as:
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Biomedical engineering and Pre-medicine
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Energy Conversion Engineering
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Engineering Management
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Nano/Micro Engineering
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Sustainable Development
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Precision Engineering
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Product Development
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Control, Instrumentation, and Robotics
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Mechanics
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Biomaterials in the Design of Medical Devices
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Medical Device Regulation
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Tissue Mechanics and Engineering
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Composites with Biomedical and Materials Applications
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Biofluids and Biotransport
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Physiology for Engineers
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Laboratory Animal Surgery
Specialization
Biomedical engineering is a versatile and diverse field where students from every branch of engineering can find their calling. Biomedical engineers have a number of functional areas in which they can specialize.
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Biomechanics – here the principles of mechanics are used to simulate and decipher medical problems. The development of prosthetic organs is the most famous achievement in this branch.
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Biofluids and Biomaterials – specializes in the development of living tissue and various materials which can be used in the human body.
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Bioinstrumentation – the engineer’s sole concern in this specialization is the development of devices for diagnosis and treatment using engineering principles.
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Rehabilitation - specializes in the development of customized solutions to improve the quality of life of individuals with physical impairments.
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Medical imaging – specializes in the development of techniques to identify and characterize health problems.
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Clinical engineering – works towards customizing equipments for the needs of the hospitals or physical procedure.
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Tissue engineering – concentrates solely on the development of artificial tissues to help restore and improve the functions of disease and damaged tissues.
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Systems physiology – this specialization concentrates on understanding at the microscopic and submicroscopic levels the functioning of a living organism for the development of drugs to combat diseases and other complications.
Skills Required
Biomedical engineers act as a bridge between the traditional engineering disciplines with that of the medical fields. As such the students in this course must be proficient in both. They must have a solid foundation in the sciences of physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics. This will help them to grasp the medical problem and understand the technology that goes into developing such devices. The students must also have the skills of designing and the ability to put the ideas into paper. Since, many specialties come together into this field the student should also have the ability to interface with all.
Career Prospects
The employment prospects of biomedical engineers are diverse. There is also immense potential in this field. There is an increasing demand for better medical devices and equipments and so biomedical engineers can find employment in firms specializing in this. They are also in much demand in the research sector in molecular, tissue and cellular engineering. Even the rehabilitation and orthopedic sector is undergoing rapid growth which will require the talents of such qualified engineers. They can also find employment in private and government funded research institutes to work towards the improvement in the quality of life in the medical sector. Such firms which employ biomedical engineers are likely to post them in various positions in designing, developing and manufacturing medical devices, in the regulatory agency, non-clinical services, technical advisor etc. in short biomedical engineers will have the envious distinction of facing the problem of plenty.
Some Of The Best Institutes Offering This Course Globally
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All India Institute of Medical Sciences, India
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Osmania University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, India
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Worcester Polytechnic Institute, UK
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Indian Institute of Technology, India
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Mercer University School of Engineering, USA
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Colorado State University, USA
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Imperial College, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, UK
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University of Florida, USA
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Banaras Hindu University Institute of Technology, India
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Anna University, India
