Charlie Herron, age 15, of Casper, Wyo., for her question:
WHAT IS BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING?
Biomedical engineering is a field that uses engineering principles to help explain the structure and function of living organisms. In addition, biomedical engineering provides the tools to perform many medical tasks.
Diagnosis, treatment and prevention of human disorders are the main arenas in which biomedical engineers work. They also do a great deal of biological and physical research work.
Biomedical engineering is divided into five major areas: measurement of physiological condition; analysis of living systems; control of body functions; applications of energy; and design and development of structures.
Biomedical engineers both design and build measurement equipment. These include complex patient monitoring systems as well as devices that determine blood pressure and electrical activity in the brain, heart, muscles and nerves. Monitoring systems also report on pulse and breathing rate, body temperature and the exchange of gases in the lungs during anesthesia.
Analysis uses basic scientific principles, mathematics and experiments to help understand how various parts of the body work and affect each other. Analysis is usually performed by scientists and engineers in a research lab, but it is often done at the patient's bedside with the help of a computer.
Control is action taken to influence behavior in a desired way. The cardiac pacemaker is one example of a medical control device. Biomedical engineers also design devices that assist or replace diseased hearts, kidneys and other organs.
Every function of living organisms, including breathing, eating, hearing, moving and seeing, involves the use, change or production of energy. Biomedical engineers work with electrical, heat, light, mechanical, nuclear and other forms of energy.
Biomedical engineers design and develop artificial organs to help mankind.
Artificial structures are made from animal, mineral and vegetable substances and such man made materials as plastics, glass and metal alloys. To build various structures, the biomedical engineers must understand the physical and chemical properties of these materials and how they interact with each other and with the body.
Biomedical engineers must also work with many kinds of living matter such as blood, bone, cartilage, muscle, nerve fibers and skin.
The performance of artificial organs and aids depends on overcoming difficulties caused by the body's reaction to foreign substances. These problems include blood damage, corrosion, infection and poisonous reactions. The body may completely reject an artificial organ or aid with serious consequences for the patient.
In addition to artificial organs, biomedical engineers also design artificial limbs.
Biomedical engineers also work with architects, doctors, nurses and other specialists to design hospitals and community health centers.