At one time in the world there were only two distinctive branches of engineering, civil and military.
The word engineer was initially used in the context of warfare, dating back to 1325 when engine’er (literally, one who operates an engine) referred to “a constructor of military engines”. In this context, “engine” referred to a military machine, i. e., a mechanical contraption used in war (for example, a catapult).
As the design of civilian structures such as bridges and buildings developed as a technical discipline, the term civil engineering entered the lexicon as a way to distinguish between those specializing in the construction of such non-military projects and those involved in the older discipline. As the prevalence of civil engineering outstripped engineering in a military context and the number of disciplines expanded, the original military meaning of the word “engineering” is now largely obsolete. In its place, the term “military engineering” has come to be used.
OK, so that’s how we got here. If you follow my posts you know I primarily concentrate on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) professions. Engineering is somewhat uppermost since I am a mechanical engineer.
There are many branches of the engineering profession. Distinct areas of endeavor that attract individuals and capture their professional lives. Several of these are as follows:
- Electrical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering
- Engineering Physics
- Nuclear Engineering
- Petroleum Engineering
- Materials Engineering
Of course, there are others but the one I wish to concentrate on with this post is the growing branch of engineering—Biomedical Engineering. Biomedical engineering, or bioengineering, is the application of engineering principles to the fields of biology and health care. Bioengineers work with doctors, therapists and researchers to develop systems, equipment and devices in order to solve clinical problems. As such, the possibilities of a bioengineer’s charge are as follows:
- Prosthetics, such as dentures and artificial limb replacements.
- Surgical devices and systems, such as robotic and laser surgery.
- Systems to monitor vital signsand blood chemistry.
- Implanted devices, such as insulin pumps, pacemakersand artificial organs.
- Imaging methods, such as ultrasound, X-rays, particle beams and magnetic resonance.
- Diagnostics, such as lab-on-a-chipand expert systems.
- Therapeutic equipment and devices, such as kidney dialysis and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation(TENS).
- Radiation therapyusing particle beams and X-rays.
- Physical therapy devices, such as exercise equipment and wearable tech.
Biomedical engineering has evolved over the years in response to advancements in science and technology. This is NOT a new classification for engineering involvement. Engineers have been at this for a while. Throughout history, humans have made increasingly more effective devices to diagnose and treat diseases and to alleviate, rehabilitate or compensate for disabilities or injuries. One example is the evolution of hearing aids to mitigate hearing loss through sound amplification. The ear trumpet, a large horn-shaped device that was held up to the ear, was the only “viable form” of hearing assistance until the mid-20th century, according to the Hearing Aid Museum. Electrical devices had been developed before then, but were slow to catch on, the museum said on its website.
The works of Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison on sound transmission and amplification in the late 19th and early 20th centuries were applied to make the first tabletop hearing aids. These were followed by the first portable (or “luggable”) devices using vacuum-tube amplifiers powered by large batteries. However, the first wearable hearing aids had to await the development of the transistor by William Shockley and his team at Bell Laboratories. Subsequent development of micro-integrated circuits and advance battery technology has led to miniature hearing aids that fit entirely within the ear canal.
Let’s take a very quick look at several devices designed by biomedical engineering personnel.
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING:
POSITION EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY OR (PET) SCAN:
NOTE: PET scans represent a different technology relative to MRIs. The scan uses a special dye that has radioactive tracers. These tracers are injected into a vein in your arm. Your organs and tissues then absorb the tracer.
BLOOD CHEMISTRY MONOTORING EQUIPMENT:
ELECTROCARDIOGRAM MONITORING DEVICE (EKG):
INSULIN PUMP:
COLONOSCOPY:
THE PROFESSION:
Biomedical engineers design and develop medical systems, equipment and devices. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), this requires in-depth knowledge of the operational principles of the equipment (electronic, mechanical, biological, etc.) as well as knowledge about the application for which it is to be used. For instance, in order to design an artificial heart, an engineer must have extensive knowledge of electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and fluid dynamics as well as an in-depth understanding of cardiology and physiology. Designing a lab-on-a-chip requires knowledge of electronics, nanotechnology, materials science and biochemistry. In order to design prosthetic replacement limbs, expertise in mechanical engineering and material properties as well as biomechanics and physiology is essential.
The critical skills needed by a biomedical engineer include a well-rounded understanding of several areas of engineering as well as the specific area of application. This could include studying physiology, organic chemistry, biomechanics or computer science. Continuing education and training are also necessary to keep up with technological advances and potential new applications.
SCHOOLS OFFERING BIO-ENGINEERING:
If we take a look at the top schools offering Biomedical engineering, we see the following:
- MIT
- Stanford
- University of California-San Diego
- Rice University
- University of California-Berkley
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Michigan—Ann Arbor
- Georgia Tech
- Johns Hopkins
- Duke University
As you can see, these are among the most prestigious schools in the United States. They have had established engineering programs for decades. Bio-engineering does not represent a new discipline for them. There are several others and I would definitely recommend you go online to take a look if you are interested in seeing a complete list of colleges and universities offering a four (4) or five (5) year degree.
SALARY LEVELS:
The median annual wage for biomedical engineers was $86,950 in May 2014. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest ten (10) percent earned less than $52,680, and the highest ten (10) percent earned more than $139,350. As you might expect, salary levels vary depending upon several factors:
- Years of experience
- Location within the United States
- Size of company
- Research facility and corporate structure
- Bonus or profit sharing arrangement of company
EXPECTATIONS FOR EMPLOYMENT:
In their list of top jobs for 2015, CNNMoney classified Biomedical Engineering as the 37th best job in the US, and of the jobs in the top 37, Biomedical Engineering 10-year job growth was the third highest (27%) behind Information Assurance Analyst (37%) and Product Analyst (32%). CNN previously reported Biomedical Engineer as the top job in the US in 2012 with a predicted 10-year growth rate of nearly 62% ‘Biomedical Engineer’ was listed as a high-paying low-stress job according to Time magazine. There is absolutely no doubt that medical technology will advance as time go on so biomedical engineers will continue to be in demand.
As always, I welcome your comments.
Cielotech Online 
BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING-A LIFESAVING PROFESSION
March 27, 2017
At one time in the world there were only two distinctive branches of engineering, civil and military.
The word engineer was initially used in the context of warfare, dating back to 1325 when engine’er (literally, one who operates an engine) referred to “a constructor of military engines”. In this context, “engine” referred to a military machine, i. e., a mechanical contraption used in war (for example, a catapult).
As the design of civilian structures such as bridges and buildings developed as a technical discipline, the term civil engineering entered the lexicon as a way to distinguish between those specializing in the construction of such non-military projects and those involved in the older discipline. As the prevalence of civil engineering outstripped engineering in a military context and the number of disciplines expanded, the original military meaning of the word “engineering” is now largely obsolete. In its place, the term “military engineering” has come to be used.
OK, so that’s how we got here. If you follow my posts you know I primarily concentrate on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) professions. Engineering is somewhat uppermost since I am a mechanical engineer.
There are many branches of the engineering profession. Distinct areas of endeavor that attract individuals and capture their professional lives. Several of these are as follows:
Of course, there are others but the one I wish to concentrate on with this post is the growing branch of engineering—Biomedical Engineering. Biomedical engineering, or bioengineering, is the application of engineering principles to the fields of biology and health care. Bioengineers work with doctors, therapists and researchers to develop systems, equipment and devices in order to solve clinical problems. As such, the possibilities of a bioengineer’s charge are as follows:
Biomedical engineering has evolved over the years in response to advancements in science and technology. This is NOT a new classification for engineering involvement. Engineers have been at this for a while. Throughout history, humans have made increasingly more effective devices to diagnose and treat diseases and to alleviate, rehabilitate or compensate for disabilities or injuries. One example is the evolution of hearing aids to mitigate hearing loss through sound amplification. The ear trumpet, a large horn-shaped device that was held up to the ear, was the only “viable form” of hearing assistance until the mid-20th century, according to the Hearing Aid Museum. Electrical devices had been developed before then, but were slow to catch on, the museum said on its website.
The works of Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison on sound transmission and amplification in the late 19th and early 20th centuries were applied to make the first tabletop hearing aids. These were followed by the first portable (or “luggable”) devices using vacuum-tube amplifiers powered by large batteries. However, the first wearable hearing aids had to await the development of the transistor by William Shockley and his team at Bell Laboratories. Subsequent development of micro-integrated circuits and advance battery technology has led to miniature hearing aids that fit entirely within the ear canal.
Let’s take a very quick look at several devices designed by biomedical engineering personnel.
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING:
POSITION EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY OR (PET) SCAN:
NOTE: PET scans represent a different technology relative to MRIs. The scan uses a special dye that has radioactive tracers. These tracers are injected into a vein in your arm. Your organs and tissues then absorb the tracer.
BLOOD CHEMISTRY MONOTORING EQUIPMENT:
ELECTROCARDIOGRAM MONITORING DEVICE (EKG):
INSULIN PUMP:
COLONOSCOPY:
THE PROFESSION:
Biomedical engineers design and develop medical systems, equipment and devices. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), this requires in-depth knowledge of the operational principles of the equipment (electronic, mechanical, biological, etc.) as well as knowledge about the application for which it is to be used. For instance, in order to design an artificial heart, an engineer must have extensive knowledge of electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and fluid dynamics as well as an in-depth understanding of cardiology and physiology. Designing a lab-on-a-chip requires knowledge of electronics, nanotechnology, materials science and biochemistry. In order to design prosthetic replacement limbs, expertise in mechanical engineering and material properties as well as biomechanics and physiology is essential.
The critical skills needed by a biomedical engineer include a well-rounded understanding of several areas of engineering as well as the specific area of application. This could include studying physiology, organic chemistry, biomechanics or computer science. Continuing education and training are also necessary to keep up with technological advances and potential new applications.
SCHOOLS OFFERING BIO-ENGINEERING:
If we take a look at the top schools offering Biomedical engineering, we see the following:
As you can see, these are among the most prestigious schools in the United States. They have had established engineering programs for decades. Bio-engineering does not represent a new discipline for them. There are several others and I would definitely recommend you go online to take a look if you are interested in seeing a complete list of colleges and universities offering a four (4) or five (5) year degree.
SALARY LEVELS:
The median annual wage for biomedical engineers was $86,950 in May 2014. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest ten (10) percent earned less than $52,680, and the highest ten (10) percent earned more than $139,350. As you might expect, salary levels vary depending upon several factors:
EXPECTATIONS FOR EMPLOYMENT:
In their list of top jobs for 2015, CNNMoney classified Biomedical Engineering as the 37th best job in the US, and of the jobs in the top 37, Biomedical Engineering 10-year job growth was the third highest (27%) behind Information Assurance Analyst (37%) and Product Analyst (32%). CNN previously reported Biomedical Engineer as the top job in the US in 2012 with a predicted 10-year growth rate of nearly 62% ‘Biomedical Engineer’ was listed as a high-paying low-stress job according to Time magazine. There is absolutely no doubt that medical technology will advance as time go on so biomedical engineers will continue to be in demand.
As always, I welcome your comments.
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