Bioengineering Scope and History of the Profession 11

Bioengineering – Scope and History of the Profession 11 EGS

What do you think bioengineering encompasses?

The Scope of Bio • Bio-engineering applies the basic principles of engineering to the development of innovative methods for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and injuries as well as playing a crucial role in the advancement of medical devices and technologies. It is an interdisciplinary subject, which combines wide -ranging scientific knowledge with technological processes and engineering skills to provide systems for many applications.

Continued… • Bio-engineers can be involved in a diverse array of fields including bio-materials and biomechanics, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computing and image processing, nuclear medicine, ultrasonics, nanotechnology and can include the application of mechanics to musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems. Bioengineers can be involved in developing systems for the rejuvenation and maintenance of sustainable environments.

Continued… • Bio-engineering can involve designing and developing new instruments for monitoring the performance of human organs, such as the heart, developing information structures, such as computer generated models of joints, like the hip or knee, as well as creating new materials for bioengineered articles, such as artificial hearts and cochlear implants. Bio-engineering involves any area of human exercise where an article or system is developed that will replace or enhance a body organ or function.

Nature and Range of Work • There are many areas of bioengineering, including: – Bio-mechanics – deals with the mechanical functioning of parts of the body, such as joints and limbs – Bio-materials – deals with the study of materials that are compatible with living tissue – Bio-instrumentation – relates to the design and development of instruments that can be used to monitor and measure bio-engineered devices

• Bio-computing – relates to the development and application of computer programs that will simulate biophysics • Rehabilitation engineering – relates to the design and development of rehabilitation equipment, such as wheelchairs and crutches • Systems physiology – involves the observation and measurement of physiological events, for example the electronic impulses between muscles and hands.

How many examples of bioengineered devices can you think of?

Did you answer… • • • Contact lenses; Glasses; Dentures; Prosthetic limbs; Cochlear implants; Crutches.

Current innovations • There are many biomedical engineering products being developed in Australia (as of 2012), including: – Assessing knee joint strength in osteoarthritis; – Developing a bionic eye device; – Building targeted drug-delivery systems for cancer and other medical treatments; – Developing tools to predict and control epileptic seizures; – Development of synthetic materials that can regenerate lost or diseased bone and cartilage.

Relations with the Community • Bioengineering is highly regarded across the community, as it is beneficial to our quality of life. • Can you think of the positive and negative impacts that bioengineering has on the community?

Positives and Negatives • Positive impacts: – Access to technology and procedures in remote communities; – Improved quality of life and longevity. • Negative impacts: – “Playing God”; – Use of animals for research; – Failures that sometimes occur; – Access to procedures and devices - $$$

Activities 1. Engineers adhere to the Engineers Australia Code of Ethics. Explore what the Code entails, and copy into your notebook. 2. Read pages 111 -117 in the Copeland text, and answer the following questions: i. Describe the nature and range of work of BE; ii. Identify 3 health and safety issues relevant to BE; iii. List 4 significant historical developments in BE; iv. Describe 3 social and 3 ethical issues in BE.