Biomedical Engineering

What Is Biomedical Engineering

Biomedical engineering is the process by which medical knowledge is applied in the analysis and design fields to create new technologies and make existing technologies more efficient or cost-effective. In most cases, these engineers provide invaluable services that enhance the overall field of healthcare.

What Is Biomedical Engineering

Description

The primary reason why students choose to enter the field of biomedical engineering is to help others. By acquiring knowledge related to the human anatomy, engineering and design, these individuals will be able to perform many different tasks in a wealth of specialties. These individuals may be asked to develop software, create artificial organs or limbs, develop new surgical procedures with the help of colleagues, or perform laboratory work alongside their peers as part of clinical trials. Biomedical engineers must be able to think objectively and outside of the box in order to perform their jobs well.

Specialties

Some of the specialties in the field of biomedical engineering are: medical imaging; orthopedic engineering; cellular, tissue and genetic engineering; bioinstrumentation; biomaterials; biomechanics; clinical engineering; rehabilitation engineering; systems physiology. Each of these specialties operates within a different area of medicine or engineering, and each is just as important as the next in making the world of healthcare better for patients. For instance, rehabilitation engineers work to develop products and treatment options that provide faster recovery after injury or illness, while bioinstrumentation specialists work to develop new ways to diagnose and treat disease.

Activities Performed

Depending upon their exact specialties, biomedical engineers may be asked to perform any number of duties. Among these are:

Study, treatment and rehabilitation of sports-related injuries
Imaging systems technology and software
Injury and wound healing biomechanics
Blood chemistry testing and designing new sensors for more accurate readings
Computer modeling of specific bodily systems, including the circulatory system and renal system.
Designing better laboratories for clinical settings
Designing artificial organs for research and eventual transplant
Designing advanced systems for more effective surgeries such as laparoscopic and laser surgery

This is only a sampling of the tasks that the field of biomedical engineering encompasses. In some settings, engineers may be given very specific tasks; in others, they may be asked to assist with a wide variety of medical research.

Work Settings

There are several settings in which a degree in biomedical engineering can be helpful. These individuals work in industry settings, in hospitals, in clinics, in research facilities associated with hospitals or universities, as teachers, and even for various government agencies. The duties these individuals will be responsible for performing have much to do with their places of employment. For instance, engineers employed in laboratories may be responsible for research and testing. On the other hand, engineers who are employed with government agencies may be required to test products for efficacy and safety. There is even a need for these engineers in the marketing field as they may serve as technical advisors.

An exciting career in biomedical engineering can lead to job opportunities in a number of settings. People who work in this industry often work long hours and dedicate their lives to helping others, but the rewards are well worth the investment.

When I was a kid, I love watching Sci-Fi Films like ROBOCOP and I-Robot. While these movies are fictional, there’s a lot of “near future” possibilities and futuristic technologies that might become possible in the next 10 years or so. Biology together with the Science of Engineering results to the Development of the BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING Field.

It is also an interesting field because many Technological advances that we have today were invented by BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERS…

The MAIN PURPOSE of BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING is to help improve Healthcare Therapy, Diagnotics, and Evaluations.

But the Field of Biomedical Engineering is still in it’s infancy stage. If you wanted to Join this field, you’ll encounter a lot of Research and development in the Medical and Engineering Sciences. I personally enjoy doing Extensive R&D as I’m not a people person and prefer to work alone or with a team on the lab for hours.

What Biomedical Engineering Schools Can Offer

Generally, biomedical engineering schools do train professionals about the manufacturing and development of medical devices, prostheses, therapies, drugs and diagnostic devices.

What Is Biomedical Engineering - Jobs, Salary Top School & Companies

Biomedical engineering is a field that makes use of both the engineering and biological principles with techniques and put them into operation in the medical world so as to augment healthcare treatment and diagnosis. Most of the duties in biomedical engineering entail research and development.

Consequently, this has led to the development of micro-planting, artificial heart and prosthesis.

At the crossing point of health care and engineering you will find biomedical engineering schools. In the various programs offered in this special interdisciplinary field, students are thought to identify series of health care problems and then transmute the need to an engineering puzzle where they will utilize their engineering dexterity to solve these problems.

What I mean in essence is that biomedical engineering schools produce graduates that can go on in life and save lives. They gradually augment the life quality of as many people as likely possible. If you are so fond of engineering and design but you really want to assist many people in solving their health care problems, you might want to think about attending one of the various first-rate biomedical engineering schools that are readily available at the moment.

Basically, in biomedical engineering schools, students do learn to examine and resolve health related problems in medicine and biology and apply improved technology to the complex problems of health care. Biomedical engineering experts can design devices, instruments and/or software to create new medical processes. At the same time, they can carry out important researches to resolve varieties of medical problems. Whilst attending any of the excellent biomedical engineering schools, you probably can study courses as diverse as the basic life sciences such as the basic engineering, human anatomy, model building and also drafting.

However, biomedical engineering as a discipline is an interdisciplinary field that involves a holistic understanding of all kinds of engineering as a result of the modern approach of resolving problems with biomechanics, biomedical electronics and computer simulations along with the traditional laboratory testing.

Biomedical engineers from different biomedical engineering schools can major in a number of fields which put much emphasis on either mechanical, chemical or electrical engineering. At present, the most famous specializations of biomedical engineering include biomaterial, bionics, biomedical electronics, biomechanics and biomechatronics. Biomedical engineering schools do provide their students the basic fundamentals which they can certainly build upon once they acquire a career in the field of biomedical engineering.

In addition, a biomedical engineer requires at least a Bachelor’s Degree in his field before he can be eligible for any position. Practically, some of the research companies or facilities won’t absorb applicants that don’t have the minimum qualification of Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree from recognized or accredited biomedical engineering schools. Colleges and universities that proffer biomedical engineering programs do have the facilities and resources that could enhance the provision of instruction for the related fields of chemical, mechanical and electrical engineering with computer simulation.

Each and every one of these engineering discipline requires a hugely different set of knowledge base and coursework to be able to effectually work in such field. A stalwart biomedical engineering program categorizes and specialize these courses to suit the need of biomedical engineers without overworking the student with superfluous and/or excess information. Though, the world of today brings about over reliance on computers, but most biomedical engineering positions still require a greater amount of work in the lab.

As a result, biomedical engineering schools give laboratory experience that is necessary for students to be able to perform effectually and efficiently in the real world. Laboratory or practical classes proffer crucial practice with lab techniques, tools, procedures and etiquette which are regularly accepted and meticulously followed by laboratory researchers and technicians. With the experience and knowledge acquired in laboratory and instructional classes, students from biomedical engineering schools can request for residencies or summer research positions which utilizes the skills acquired into real research that would either be published in journals or further improve research in the private biomedical area.

In most cases, some hiring companies usually based their choices on which biomedical engineering schools the applicants attended.

Some of the Most Interesting Feats in the BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING FIELD includes:

Prosthesis Made of Biomedical Components
Clinical Equipments Like Micro – Implants
Magnetic Resonant Imaging or MRI
Therapeutic Biologists
And Regeneration of Tissues

Biomedical Engineers Are Heavily Regulated by Laws. Because of the nature of this career, you will need to have top education and compliance with government rules and regulations.Some of the most important governing bodies that BME will encounter includes the FDA (Food And Drug Administration) and Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Because BME require a great deal of knowledge you will often find them to have a Master’s Degree in Biomedical Engineering or something that can overlap BMEs. And because BME is still just emerging as a separate degree on its own, you will notice that more and more schools and institution will Offer Degrees in Biomedical Engineering.

If you are also looking for employment as a Biomedical Engineer, you will notice that most employers would require a graduate degree and education. In the US, BME Licensure is optional. Most states have a set of protocols and exams to be licensed as a Professional Engineer so you may want to verify the process within your state. For other developed countries like Australia it is much regulated and registeration is recommended and not typically compulsary.

Biomedical Engineering Jobs

Biomedical engineering jobs are located throughout many industries. Hospitals, research laboratories, universities and large industries are some common places to find jobs. The best way to get a job is to volunteer in a hospital or research lab.

Outlook

Biomedical engineers need to have at least a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university before entering the job field. A biomedical engineer with a Master’s degree or higher is recommended for those who wish to have a laboratory research job. The job outlook for biomedical engineers is growing faster than average, or about 62% faster. From 2010 to 2020, 15,700 new jobs are expected to be added to the biomedical engineering field. It is estimated that biomedical engineers will be in demand for the next 10 years or as long as the health industry demands quality equipment.

Employment Locations

Biomedical engineers can become college professors or lecturers as long as they have a Master’s degree or a PhD. About 23% of all biomedical engineers work for a medical equipment company while only 19% work in a laboratory setting conducting research. Biomedical engineers can also work for government organizations where they test the safety and effectiveness of new medical equipment. Most biomedical engineers work for hospitals where they research and test equipment and solve problems.

Career Advancement

Biomedical engineers have the possibility to advance in their career if they have an advanced degree or years of experience. Biomedical engineers who only have a Bachelor’s degree will have tough competition for jobs since a Master’s degree is now required for most jobs in the biomedical engineering field. A Master’s or PhD is more desirable than a Bachelor’s degree and it will often pay more.Biomedical engineers who are professionally certified are also more likely to get promotions.

Specialty Areas

The field of biomedical engineering is not as straight and narrow as some might think. Biomedical engineers have the opportunity to specialize in several different areas. Some specialty areas include bioinstrumentation, biomaterials, biomechanics, media imaging and genetic engineering. Each of these areas is dependent on the other so it is easier to switch between specialties. For example, an artificial leg design relies on the expertise of biomaterial and biomechanical engineers.

Where to Find Jobs

Finding a job as a biomedical engineer can be as simple as looking online. Many employers are turning to the Internet to post jobs and scout for new employees. These job boards make it easy for job seekers to be matched with the perfect employer. Biomedical engineers will have an easier time than others finding jobs because their career field is expanding. Jobs may also be found by calling hospitals, laboratories and private companies about their vacancies.

Biomedical engineering jobs are expected to grow in number in the next 10 years. This job growth can be attributed to a higher demand for better medical equipment and the need for better patient care. Biomedical engineers have the potential to advance in their job.

What are Biomedical Engineering Programs ?

Biomedical engineering field is extremely focused and students can start any of the Biomedical Engineering Programs through the specialized colleges and universities. They are offered a number of topics to learn as a pre-requisite before starting an online biomedical engineering program. These studies include the areas that are required to create functional technologies for the health care field. These may include hot-air balloon products, ear thermometers, operation staples, and magnetic reverberation imaging equipment.

Students may start on a Biomedical Engineering Program that includes biology in regards to health engineering.

Bio-mechanics, bio-materials, bio-medical systems, linear equations and bio-fluids are some of the programs that make up on the whole career study. Education focuses on how to merge science and technology to produce required biological processes for delivering improved health care. More than hundred colleges and universities are offering Biomedical Engineering Programs allowing students to exploit their strengths. Area of expertise can incorporate health imaging, psychotherapy engineering, bio-material engineering, and bio-mechanics engineering.

There are several online Biomedical Engineering Programs offered by Biomedical Engineering Schools. Students can get bachelor and master degrees through authorized online Biomedical Engineering colleges and universities. Biomedical Engineering Programs combine the fields of engineering and medication for the improvement of health care.

Biomedical Engineering Programs cover investigation and problem solution for the advancement of health technology and medical troubles. The Degree programs prepare graduates for professions in imaging, image processing, image archiving, electronic systems, design and development of biomedical products. Graduates of Biomedical Engineering Programs will be offered jobs in hospitals, government agencies, universities, medical research institutions, research facilities and in Early Childhood education systems.

Some of the Biomedical Engineering Programs are available totally through online studies. However, higher level programs of study may necessitate previous education and, sometimes, knowledge in the biomedical field before admission to Biomedical Engineering Programs. In addition to that there are some laboratory courses which may demand on-campus studies.

Biomedical Engineering Programs

Courses like biomedical manufacturing and micro-technology are taken in the first 2 years of a Biomedical Engineering Program. This includes industry areas such as genetic engineering, signal processing and bio-imaging. The research courses cover the areas on how to gather and investigate biophysical measurements. Colleges educate students the process which comprises measuring and testing. Collection of data using diverse equipment like A/D boards is also included in the studies.

Third and fourth years of study programs focus on complex subjects and absorption courses are also taken. Biomechanics engineering, tissue engineering, genetic engineering, and drugs deliverance engineering are included in the second phase of a classic degree program. The characteristics of organisms are studied to appreciate how biological processes hold them back.

Biomedical Engineering Program – Associates Degree

Programs classically focus on teaching students about the equipment used inside the field. The objective of this training is to train students to become technology experts that provide repair and maintenance services.

Biomedical Engineering Program – Bachelor’s Degree

Training at this stage is usually the norm for entering the profession as an engineer. The study focuses on educating the students about the entire industry while directing focus on biomechanics and medicinal device modernization. Through the in detailed study of molecular biology the students learn how to generate and update medical apparatus for patients. This can include things like artificial limbs and medical medicine dispensing machines. A distinctive course may include study on molecular bio-imaging. This technical course will cover all up to date imaging procedures including the techniques and applications which are used in biomedical research.

Biomedical Engineering Program – Master’s Degree

Students work to expand their knowledge on advanced skills by combining science with bio-medical know-how. The objective of this study is to teach students to find out ways to improve the behavior of health-related problems. Students complete their jobs in lab and study tissue manufacturing and communication between body cells. A tissue engineering study examines matrix communication. Study formulates and discovers how cells work together with each other inside the body.

Biomedical Engineering Program – Doctorate

This is the highest level of Biomedical Engineering Program which is designed for students that desire to take their knowledge to maximum heights and apply it to research. The work done in a research program is extremely focused on the student’s ability to take hold of advanced understanding. In order to practice these Biomedical Engineering Programs, one needs to be very perfect to understand the issues that are involved with the health related industry. This is mostly because you require to be sure of what the patient is suffering from before scheming any help or apparatus. These programs require a lot of reading and thoughtfulness of clinical study.

Biomedical Engineering Salary – What You Can Expect

Ordinarily, the most essential factor to think through before embarking on any career move is the salary structure and range of your potential new job. Biomedical engineering salary range and structure is far above average for the engineering industry.This is mainly because there is such a great demand for the out of ordinary skills and education the job entails. As we all know, biomedical engineering is basically the combination of engineering, medical and biological sciences to form this special interdisciplinary field.

Medical jobs on their very own do pay well; so you can now imagine what will happen when you combine them with other great career like engineering, you would have one of the medical super careers.

Those professionals that do stand out in this industry take the advantage of their advanced skills and knowledge of medicine and engineering to resolve health and medical related issues. Nowadays, own to the ageing population, medical jobs and medical technologies are in high demand. Biomedical engineers are those professionals that design the latest medical innovations from microscopic surgical tools to mammoth body imaging systems such as the EGG and MRI machines.

The Average Salary of a Biomedical Engineering I in the US is Forty Nine Thousand, Six Hundred Twenty Four. ($49,624). The highest percentile of Biomedical Engineers earn as much as $126,990 annually. The States with the Highest Mean wages for Biomedical Engineers starts with:

California (Mean Wage: $95,450)
Massachusetts (Mean Wage: $94,720)
Pennsylvania (Mean Wage: $82,590)
Illinois (Mean Wage: $81,230)
Minnesota (Mean Wage: $94,870)

Biomedical engineering salary amounts run the maximum range based on a few factors. The most low range which is just about the bottom ten percent is in the region of forty three thousand, five hundred and sixty dollars or more.

These very biomedical engineering salary ranges are just for the recent college or university graduates who have not acquired much of experience and without any higher degrees. However, after gaining the required supplementary experience, these biomedical engineers would certainly ascend some steps in the pay range.

The range of biomedical engineering salary for the mid level biomedical engineers is around fifty three thousand, four hundred and sixty dollars. Ordinarily, this is just the starting range of salary for those biomedical engineers that earn a bachelor degree in engineering as well as in sciences. In the year 2007, the average annual earning was in the region of eighty thousand dollars or a bit less.

Although there is quite a little bit of ebb and flow as this mid level earning is wide but the range of engineering salary for more than average of those engineers in the industry is between fifty eight thousand dollars and ninety four thousand dollars annually. Here, the disparity is definitely a function of the experience level and the kind of facility or company the engineer worked in. As you might have known, biomedical engineers can work in health services, research and medical instruments and supplies facilities.

Manufacturing companies and industries constitute the biggest single sector with about forty percent of the biomedical engineering jobs that are readily available in this area. As a result, the range of biomedical engineering salary in this sector is increasingly on the high.

A small percent of biomedical engineers as well work as autonomous consultants for privately owned businesses or government agencies. The sectors with the greatest biomedical engineering salary structures are the manufacturing and the scientific research and development. As such, these two sectors usually experience much high competition and do require applicants to possess master degree as the least qualification.

In addition, according to the bureau of labor statistics, the range of biomedical engineering salary for the top level biomedical engineers is about one hundred and twenty thousand dollars. This salary is held in reserve for the topmost ten percent.

Basically, these engineers must have extensive experience and advanced degrees.

Biomedical engineering jobs are anticipated to be in higher demand by the year 2015. The beyond expectation growth of biomedical engineering jobs as compared to some other non-engineering jobs and careers is stimulated by the ageing population and its instant need for more sophisticated medical care. The emphasis on health would continue to press on the demand for cheaper more effectual medical technology. In conclusion, biomedical engineering salary is said to maintain its stance as one of the highest salaries for any facility, sector, company and industry for a considerable number of years to come.

The biomedical engineering salary can be incredible; you can acquire your very own degree from any of the several biomedical engineering schools and colleges across the world.

Factors That Affect Biomedical Engineering Salaries

Biomedical engineering salaries depend on a variety of factors such as experience, education level and the type of company. Many biomedical engineers who are working industry jobs will likely earn more than those who work in a hospital or laboratory.

Average Pay Scale

In 2010, the median pay for a biomedical engineer was $81,540 per year. This roughly translates to about $39.20 per hour. In 2011, the salary for biomedical engineers rose to $88,360 per year or $42.48 per hour, while the number of jobs increased to 16,590. The lowest pay for an entry-level biomedical engineer is approximately $49,766 annually, but with 2 years of experience, this rises to $51,380. The potential for job growth in the field of biomedical engineering is very high.

Experience

For those who have a higher degree, a Master’s or PhD, their salary will be as high as $134,150. Biomedical engineers who work for supplies manufacturing companies or a medical equipment facility will earn a decent salary at around $86,240. It is a good idea to get accredited as a professional biological engineer in order to advance in the field. Biomedical engineers who have at least two to five years of experience will get paid a higher amount than those who are entry-level.

Education Level

Biomedical engineers with only a Bachelor’s degree can expect to earn around $53,470 per year. Engineering graduates are also able to enter the biomedical field, but they will be paid the same as an entry-level employee. Students who hold a Master’s degree will earn $67,360 per year while those who hold a PhD will earn $77,520 per year. Another option for biomedical engineers is to go to medical school to complete their PhD. Both a PhD and a professional certification will raise the salary for a biomedical engineer.

Company Type

A biomedical engineer’s salary will also depend on which company that they work for. Biomedical engineers who work in the scientific research area earn $88,330 per year. Those in a pharmaceutical company can expect to earn around $82,820 per year. The lowest paid biomedical engineers work for general care hospitals and universities where they make around $59,010 and $68,070, respectively. Private industry salaries will vary by company. However, most of these companies are very small and only employ a few people.

Location

The highest paid biomedical engineers work in labs and research facilities and make around $98,080 per year. Alaska is the state that pays biomedical engineers the most at $152,180 per year. California and Minnesota are home to the next highest paid biomedical engineers with salaries of $99,650 and $97,330, respectively. The state with the lowest salary is Indiana at $66,900 per year. Companies on the West coast provide the highest entry-level salaries, while biomedical engineering companies on the East coast provide a better salary for more experienced candidates.

Biomedical Engineering Jobs – How To Land The Best Jobs

Biomedical engineering jobs are those sensitive engineering jobs that combine the knowledge of medicine and biology with engineering practices and principles for solutions to health and medical related problems.

The field of biomedical engineering seeks to close down the space between medicine and engineering. It intermixes the problem solving ability and design of medical and biological sciences with engineering to augment healthcare monitoring, diagnosis and therapy. Compare to several other engineering fields, biomedical engineering discipline has just in recent times emerged as its very own discipline. This form of evolution is only common as a new field evolution from being an interdisciplinary specialty amongst the already-recognized fields to being considered as a field on its own.

However, most of the works in biomedical engineering jobs comprise of researches and developments. Several subfields of biomedical engineering offer you a huge span to tap your potential in your selected area of interest.

The major areas of biomedical engineering jobs are bio-micro electromechanical system (BioMEMS), biomechanics, bioinformatics, clinical engineering, imaging and image processing, biomaterials, biotechnology, cellular tissue and genetic engineering, bionanotechnology, information technology, sensors and measurement, proteomics, neutral engineering, bioinstrumentation, telemedicine, radiology, physiological system and modeling, robotics in surgery, bionics, rehabilitation engineering, orthopedic bioengineering, system physiology, and biosignal processing.

The major biomedical applications consist of the several diagnostic and therapeutic medical devices which vary between clinical equipment and micro-implant, development of biocompatible prostheses, pharmaceutical drugs, therapeutic biological, regenerative tissue growth, and common imaging equipment; for instance, EEGs and MRIs. Moreover, if you actually wish to take up any of the various biomedical engineering jobs, I mean if you actually opt for a career in any of the several biomedical engineering fields, you need a minimum of 4 years of university education.

After your successive completion of the program, you might assume an entry level clinical engineering position in a hospital setting, or an engineering position in a pharmaceutical or medical device company, or even a sales position for biotechnological or biomaterial company. In the same vein, post graduation in the same field of study in biomedical engineering proffers pretty much rewarding biomedical engineering jobs opportunity in research and development for any academic, industrial or government setting.

Some students of biomedical engineering may even decide to swerve to dental or medical schools after obtaining their bachelor’s degree from their respective field of biomedical engineering. One of the incredible biomedical engineering jobs that anybody that has earned his or her degree from this interdisciplinary specialization can take up is the patient lawyer.

This particular job entails the protection of intellectual property’s rights for biomedical developments.

The job profile of somebody that is into any of the biomedical engineering jobs (a biomedical engineer’s job profile) may include work to augment equipment such as artificial limbs and heart valves as well as contributing to develop series of medical devices like the heart pacemakers.

Biomedical engineers may also carry out various researches with scientists, physicians as well as chemists in hospitals and colleges. Whilst they are working in hospital settings, they assist to monitor and maintain byzantine medical systems. Furthermore, one measure of success of this field is the degree of excitement and enjoyment the biomedical engineers receive from biomedical engineering jobs. As I have earlier said, this field combines the techniques and skills utilized in different engineering fields such as the electrical, mechanical, optical and chemical engineering. The knowledge of every single one of these various subjects is essential in order to be an appropriate biomedical engineer.

For as many students that really wish to pursue a scientific career but not yet certain of which field, biomedical engineering is an incredible assortment of all scientific disciplines into a single major. The students taking this major would take series of classes without being moored down to the detailed analysis of a specific aspect of science. Another major success of this major is the financial stability which can be gained from biomedical engineering jobs. Basically, the average annual salary for a first year biomedical engineer is around forty eight thousand dollars which is just slightly less than that of electrical engineer.

However, compare with other field of engineering such as the electrical and mechanical engineering, the competition and rivalry amongst applicants that apply for biomedical engineering is not high. The constant transformation of healthcare situation with state-of-the-art infrastructure has really augmented the availability of biomedical engineering jobs as such bringing about the high demand for biomedical engineers.

Biomedical Engineering Degree – What You Should Know

A biomedical engineering degree is a cross between engineering and biological science because it applies the skills and training of an engineer to the medical field. The human body is made up of inter-connected systems that are often likened to machines, and machines fall naturally under the domain of engineering.

Thus it is not surprising to extend engineering knowledge to biological science and to give it formal recognition as a biomedical engineering degree. Biomedical engineering is ideal for those willing to take on the rigors of medical studies combined with the power of engineering analysis and design. The driving motivation for this endeavor is a desire to serve others through the use of science and technology in improving the quality of life of human beings.

Both medicine and engineering are directed towards that objective.

Biomedical engineering has emerged from the various interdisciplinary specializations that focus on the natural sciences, namely, biology, chemistry and physics. Because of its strong foundation on the natural sciences, biomedical engineering has close links to the more established fields of chemical engineering, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering.

A biomedical engineering degree opens up various career opportunities in this emerging field of study as the medical profession increasingly looks to biotech solutions in addressing the problems of healthcare diagnosis, monitoring and therapy. Holders of biomedical engineering degrees can look forward to challenging careers in academia, the biotechnology industries, public health, or medical sciences. Biomedical engineering also provides a solid foundation for advanced degrees in related fields such as physical therapy, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, public health, sports physiology, medical school, dental school, and pharmacy school.

An undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering serves as a first step, but a master’s degree is often required as an entry level qualification into the profession. Currently there are no professional certifications required for the practice of biomedical engineering similar to the traditional engineering fields.

The broad and diverse spectrum of specialized fields calls for deeper study into the discipline of one’s choice. Some of the specialization tracks or sub-disciplines of biomedical engineering include:

Biomechanics: the science concerned with the internal and external forces acting on the human body and the effects produced by these forces. The focus would be on medical devices and the modeling of biological systems.

Bioinstrumentation/Bioelectrical Systems: the use of instruments for the recording or transmission of physiological information, such as breathing rate or heart rate. The focus is on medical devices and modeling of biological systems, such as circuit analogies to the nervous system.

Cell, Tissue and Bio-molecular Engineering: the perspective of viewing the life sciences at a molecular level. The discipline covers a wide range, from artificial tissues to drug delivery and genetic engineering. It combines expertise from biology, mathematics, computer science, and chemical engineering.

Rehabilitation Engineering: the systematic application of engineering sciences to design and develop technological solutions to problems confronted by individuals with disabilities. Through rehabilitation engineering such individuals can overcome problems with mobility, communications, hearing, vision, and cognition and enable them to perform functions that ease their integration into the community.

Medical Devices: this refers to health care products that achieve their intended results through methods other than chemical (e.g., pharmaceuticals) or biological (e.g., vaccines) means. Examples include pacemakers, the heart-lung machine, dialysis machines, artificial organs, implants, artificial limbs, and prosthetics.

Imaging and Image Processing: developing low-cost image acquisition systems and image processing algorithms as applied in a biomedical context. Examples of imaging methods that are used to “see” inside the human body are X-rays, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computerized tomography (CT).

The curriculum for a biomedical engineering degree includes basic engineering courses, biology and other basic sciences. Since much of the actual professional work in biomedical engineering involves research and development, lab and design projects are expectedly part of the curriculum. This provides students with hands-on, real-world experience.

A thesis in the senior year could also be required for a biomedical engineering degree. Career-related experiences through internship programs, summer jobs or a co-op are even more valuable for the student. Students have been known to work on projects in the areas of cell and tissue engineering, genetics, and vaccines. The pursuit of a biomedical engineering degree requires certain qualities and skills such as analytical and problem-solving skills, organizational skills, communication skills, curiosity, creativity, innovativeness, persistence, attention to detail, resourcefulness and perseverance.

Armed with a sophisticated level of scientific and technical knowledge and the versatile skills honed by a biomedical engineering degree, one has the potential to develop a new drug therapy for previously incurable diseases or to design the next micro-robot that doctors use to perform intricate surgeries. Biomedical engineers use their skills and dedication to design, construct, implement, and maintain lifesaving devices that have positive impact on the lives of people.

Biomedical Engineering Colleges Across The World

Basically, the various biomedical engineering colleges across the world train experts about the production and development of drugs, prostheses, therapies medical devices and diagnostic devices. Biomedical engineering is a special field of engineering that intermixes engineering and medical techniques as well as the principles and put them into operation in the medical world so as to improve healthcare diagnosis and treatment. Practically, some of the works in biomedical engineering involve research and development.

As a result, it has brought about the development and/or production of artificial heart, micro-planting, and prosthesis. However, at the very junction of medicine or healthcare and engineering you will come across the various biomedical engineering colleges. Students could obtain bachelor and master degrees from any of these accredited biomedical engineering colleges and schools.

Biomedical engineering which is a unique interdisciplinary field combines the fields of medicine and engineering for the development of healthcare. Biomedical engineering colleges teach analysis and problem solving for the development of medical care and medical technology. The series of degree programs offered in these colleges and universities prepare graduates for careers in medical image processing, imaging, design, electronic communication systems, development of biomedical products and medical image archiving.

Ordinarily, the degree studies in biomedical engineering colleges comprises of three major fields; which are engineering, medicine and biology. As such, biomedical engineering students can expect to carry out research with medical scientists, nurses as well as chemists. They can learn to augment products and systems for medical practice. Also, students can learn techniques and strategies for evaluating artificial organs and devices for the replacement of those body parts that are functionless. Most accredited biomedical engineering colleges and universities across the world often proffer graduate studies for pursuing biomedical and research at master or doctoral degree level.

Experts with biomedical engineering degrees can perfectly design software, instruments and devices; at the same time, they can develop inventive medical processes and carryout research to resolve medical and clinical problems.

Generally, graduates of biomedical engineering colleges and universities can find positions in research facilities and companies, government regulatory agencies, colleges and universities, medical research institutions, hospitals and also in some sectors of educational systems. In the same vein, as you can rightly walk in to these various biomedical engineering colleges and obtain degrees in this special field, you can as well obtain some biomedical engineering degrees through online studies. Some of the biomedical engineering colleges offer online degrees. You can obtain bachelor or master degrees via these online accredited colleges.

These online colleges also offer doctoral level research and biomedical degrees.

Moreover, higher level programs of study might require the preceding education and/or experience in any of the related biomedical field prior to admission into biomedical engineering degree programs. Biomedical engineering colleges and universities that offer series of biomedical engineering programs usually have the facilities and resources that can augment the provision of instruction for those related fields of mechanical, chemical and electrical engineering as well as medical and biological sciences with computer simulation.

All of these engineering and biological disciplines require a greatly different set of course-work and knowledge base to be able to efficiently perform in such field.

A steadfast biomedical engineering program splits and specialize these courses to suit the requirements of biomedical engineers sans over-tasking the student with excess and/or superfluous information. As we all know, the world of today has drastically brought about over dependence on computers, yet some of the biomedical engineering positions still require a considerable amount of work in the laboratory.

Own to this, biomedical engineering colleges proffer laboratory experience which is pretty much necessary for students to be able to work efficiently and effectually in the real world. Practical or laboratory classes offer crucial practice with lab techniques, etiquette, procedures, and tools which on a regular basis are accepted and fastidiously followed by laboratory technicians and researchers.

In conclusion, own to the experience and knowledge obtained in instructional and laboratory classes, students from biomedical engineering colleges can request for internships or summer research positions that make use of the skills obtained into real research. The result can either be published in journals or further develop researches in the private biomedical area. Usually, most of the hiring companies and facilities do base their choices on which biomedical engineering colleges the candidates attended.

Top 5 Biomedical Engineering Companies In The United States

Biomedical engineering companies are located throughout the United States. Many of these companies develop and test new medical equipment to improve patient care and quality of life. Each biomedical engineering company focuses on an aspect of health and how to improve patient care.

1. Aptus Endosystems

Aptus Endosystems, founded in 2002, is located in Sunnyvale, California and has about 45 employees. They are a private company that focuses on manufacturing technology for endovascular aneurysm repair. The Aptus Endosystems technology for the repair of aneurysms is a much less invasive procedure than surgery. However, doctors are still able to maintain the same amount of control while operating. The company also manufactures an EndoStapling System and the Aptus Endograft.

2. CardioKinetix

CardioKinetix is located in Menlo Park, California and only employs a small number of people. The company has created a product called The Parachute which is placed into the left ventricle of the heart to be used as a catheter for patients who have recently had a heart attack. CardioKinetix is still conducting research and clinical trials for new technology that will help heart patients in the future.

3. Cryovascular Systems

Cryovascular Systems was located in Los Gatos, California in 1997 but is now owned by Boston Scientific Corporation. The company developed the PolarCath which aims to improve the blood circulation in arteries surrounding the heart by cooling them down to a precise temperature. Crysovascular Systems has also created a non-saline device that is used as a heart catheter and can open up the arteries. The company is privately owned and their main focus is to create medical equipment that improves the quality of treatment for patients with arterial and coronary diseases.

4. Devax

Devax is located in Irvine, California and currently has around 33 employees. The company aims to design and implement stent systems that are used to treat coronary artery disease. One of Devax’s products is called the Axxess stent system which treats lesions that can affect blood flow to the heart. This stent system is still in its clinical testing stages and is not set to be implemented in hospitals anytime soon. In the meantime, Devax is working on several other stent systems that aim to improve blood flow to the heart.

5. Heartport, Inc.

Heartport, Inc. is company that creates cardiovascular devices that make heart surgery less invasive. As of 2001, Heartport, Inc. was bought by the company Johnson & Johnson. Heartport, Inc.’s main achievement,called the Port-Access-TM-system, allows heart surgeries to be performed with only minor incisions orsmall holes. Traditional heart surgeries need to crack the ribs to in order to get to the heart but with Heartport, Inc.’s system there is no need for this. As a result, the patient’s recovery time is cut in half.

The main goal of many biomedical engineering companies is to research and develop new technology that will help surgeries become less invasive and improve the quality of patient’s hospital stay. Biomedical engineering companies play an integral role in the future of medical technology.

Top 5 Biomedical Engineering Schools In The United States

Students who want to become a biomedical engineer have two options: obtain their Bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering or study engineering in undergraduate, then get their graduate degree in biomedical engineering. Students can also receive training on the job with just a Bachelor’s degree in engineering.

1. Johns Hopkins University

In order to get an undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering from Johns Hopkins University, students must take a variety of courses in biology, chemistry, higher level math, nanotechnology and computational biology. Johns Hopkins also has a Master’s and PhD program for biomedical engineering. Courses in the biomedical engineering program focus heavily on the engineering aspect of the career and include course such as computational biology, cellular and tissue engineering and imaging.

2. Georgia Institute of Technology

The Georgia Institute of Technology offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees in biomedical engineering. Students may also choose to have a minor in biomedical engineering but must complete at least 15 unit hours of biological engineering classes. Georgia Institute of Technology also offers a research program for undergraduate biomedical engineering majors provided that they create a research proposal and meet all of the prerequisite requirements. The research program will be most beneficial for students who wish to work in a laboratory or hospital and will give students valuable research experience.

3. Duke University

Duke University is consistently rated as one of the top schools for biomedical engineering each year. The undergraduate biomedical engineering program fuses classes and hands-on experience in order to prepare students for their future careers in the biomedical field. Duke University also offers a graduate program where student can earn their Master’s degree or PhD in biomedical engineering. The graduate program focuses more on research and laboratory work to prepare students for their future work.

4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers both undergraduate and graduate programs in biomedical engineering. The biomedical engineering major is a recent addition to the school with nine new courses added to the curriculum. The graduate biomedical engineering curriculum includes Bioengineering Research, Applied Bioscience Research or a combination of both. MIT students do not pick their major during their freshmen year, but students who know they want to study biomedical engineering need to take biology, calculus and introduction to engineering courses their first year.

5. Stanford University

The biomedical engineering department at Stanford University is mainly a post-graduate program. However, students may study biomedical engineering as an undergraduate major, but they must be pre-approved through the engineering department first. The biomedical engineering program is designed so that biology and engineering are taught together whenever possible so that students receive a well-rounded education. Students in the biomedical engineering department will gain experience in both the biology and engineering fields.

Students who want to pursue biomedical engineering need to take as many science classes as they can. In high school, future biomedical engineers should take advanced biology, anatomy and physiology, chemistry and physics. Math is also an important part of becoming a biomedical engineer—especially calculus.

Biomedical engineering salaries are affected by educational level and experience. Location is also another controlling factor in biomedical engineering salaries. Biomedical engineers are in constant demand so their salaries are above the median range. Also some Private Institutions offer Certification Programs to help Aspiring Individuals become a Biomedical Engineer.