Biomedical Engineering

Biomedical engineering is the application of engineering principles and techniques to the medical field. This field seeks to close the gap between engineering and medicine. It combines the design and problem solving skills of engineering with medical and biological sciences to improve healthcare diagnosis and treatment.

Solutions that Bio-medical Engineers provide: -More accurate diagnostic methods with quicker result analysis -Robotic organ replacements like bionic eyes, bionic ears; prosthetics and devices like pace- makers -Robotic surgical instruments -Improved bio-medical imaging techniques -Programming computerized equipments according to the medical requirement -Testing, working with and selecting Bio- materials compatible for various functions

Sonography Biomedical Imaging Techniques: Sonography Medical ultrasonography uses high frequency broadband sound waves in the megahertz range that are reflected by tissue to varying degrees to produce (up to 3D) images. This is commonly associated with imaging the foetus in pregnant women. Other important uses include imaging the abdominal organs, heart, breast, muscles, tendons, arteries and veins.

Sonography Biomedical Imaging Techniques: Sonography Advantages which make it ideal in numerous situations are that it studies the function of moving structures in real-time and emits no ionizing radiation. Disadvantage is that it can not capture detailed images.  When ultrasound is used to image the heart it is referred to as an Echocardiogram.

RADIOGRAPHY Radiography is the use of X-rays to view a non- uniformly composed material such as the human body. A heterogeneous beam of X-rays is projected toward an object. According to the density and composition of the different areas of the object a proportion of X-rays are absorbed by the object. The X-rays that pass through are then captured behind the object which gives a 2D representation of all the structures.

Radiography Projectional radiography: are often used to determine the type and extent of a fracture as well as for detecting pathological changes in the lungs. With the use of radio-opaque contrast media, such as barium, they can also be used to visualize the structure of the stomach and intestines

Fluoroscopy produces real-time images of internal structures of the body in a similar fashion to radiography, but employs a constant input of x-rays, at a lower dose rate. Fluoroscopy is also used in image-guided procedures when constant feedback during a procedure is required. Fluoroscopy is an enhanced x-ray that produces its moving image on a television-like monitor

Computed Tomography and Computed Axial Tomography CT scan or CAT scan, is a medical imaging procedure that utilizes computer-processed X-rays to produce tomographic images or 'slices' of specific areas of the body. These cross-sectional images are used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in various medical disciplines. Digital geometry processing is used to generate a 3- D image of the inside of an object from a large series of two-dimensional X-ray images taken around a single axis of rotation. CT scans are done for multiple and complex fractures, detecting tumours and cancer spread, haemorrhage, etc.

Computed Tomography and Computed Axial Tomography Advantages: Eliminates superimposition of images of structures outside the area of interest High-contrast resolution: differences between tissues that differ in physical density by less than 1% can be distinguished Data from a single CT imaging procedure can be viewed as images in different axial planes. This is referred to as multi-planar reformatted imaging Disadvantage: Uses high ionizing radiations hence dosage must be properly monitored.

Computed Tomography and Computed Axial Tomography

Laser Therapy for Cancer Treatment LASER stands for ‘Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation.’ Laser light is concentrated so that it makes a very powerful and precise tool, and used as a therapy sometimes to treat cancer cells. Lasers can cut a very tiny area to remove very small cancers without damaging surrounding tissue. Lasers are used to apply heat to tumours in order to shrink them. Lasers are sometimes used with drugs that are activated by laser light to kill cancer cells. Lasers can bend and go through tubes to access hard to reach places. Lasers are used in microscopes to enable physicians to view the site being treated.

Pros of laser surgery Lasers are more precise and exact than blades (scalpels). So, the tissue near a laser cut (incision) is not affected. The heat produced by lasers helps clean (sterilize) the edges of the body tissue that it’s cutting, reducing the risk of infection. Since laser heat seals blood vessels, there is less bleeding, swelling, pain, or scarring. Operating time may be shorter. Healing time is often shorter.

Cons of laser surgery Fewer doctors and nurses are trained to use lasers. Laser equipment costs a lot of money and is bulky compared with the usual surgical tools used for now. Strict safety precautions must be followed in the operating room when lasers are used. For example, the entire surgical team and the patient must wear eye protection. The effects of some laser treatments may not last long, so they may need to be repeated. And sometimes the laser cannot remove all of the tumour in one treatment, so more treatments may be needed.

Prosthetics