Biomedical Engineering


Biomedical engineers study, design, develop and evaluate biological and medical systems and products such as artifical organs, prostheses, medical instruments and information systems.

Minimum Education
4 years post-secondary education/training

Duties
Biomedical engineers work closely with life scientists, chemists and medical professionals (physicians, nurses, therapists and technicians) on the engineering aspects of biological systems.
Duties and responsibilities vary from one position to another but, in general, biomedical engineers:
design and develop medical devices such as artificial hearts and kidneys, pacemakers, artificial hips, surgical lasers, automated patient monitors and blood chemistry sensors
design and develop engineered therapies (for example, neural-integrative prostheses)
adapt computer hardware or software for medical science or health care applications (for example, develop expert systems that assist in diagnosing diseases, medical imaging systems, models of different aspects of human physiology or medical data management)
conduct research to test and modify known theories and develop new theories
ensure the safety of equipment used for diagnosis, treatment and monitoring
investigate medical equipment failures and provide advice about the purchase and installation of new equipment
develop and evaluate quantitative models of biological processes and systems

apply engineering methods to answer basic questions about how the body works
contribute to patient assessments
prepare and present reports for health professionals and the public
supervise and train technologists and technicians.
Biomedical engineers may work primarily in one or a combination of the following fields:
bioinformatics - developing and using computer tools to collect and analyze data
bioinformatics - developing and using computer tools to collect and analyze data
bioinstrumentation - applying electronic and measurement techniques
biomaterials - developing durable materials that are compatible with a biological environment
biomechanics - applying knowledge of mechanics to biological or medical problems
bio-nano-engineering - developing novel structures of nanometer dimensions for application to biology, drug delivery, molecular diagnostics, microsystems and nanosystems
biophotonics - applying and manipulating light, usually laser light, for sensing or imaging properties of biological tissue
cellular and tissue engineering - studying the anatomy, biochemistry and mechanics of cellular and sub-cellular structures, developing technology to repair, replace or regenerate living tissues and developing methods for controlling cell and tissue growth in the laboratory
clinical engineering - applying the latest technology to health care and health care systems in hospitals
genomics and genetic engineering - mapping, sequencing and analyzing genomes (DNA), and applying molecular biology methods to manipulate the genetic material of cells, viruses and organisms
medical or biological imaging - combining knowledge of a physical phenomenon (for example, sound, radiation or magnetism) with electronic processing, analysis and display
molecular bioengineering - designing molecules for biomedical purposes and applying computational methods for simulating biomolecular interactions
systems physiology - studying how systems function in living organisms
therapeutic engineering - developing and discovering drugs and advanced materials and techniques for delivering drugs to local tissues with minimized side effects.