Probing into the depths of science

WHO could have ever imagined that a day would come when engineering and medicine would blend to become a singular science? Medicine and engineering are two of the earliest and most challenging professions. But over the years, there have been many rapid developments in both fields that have spawned a gamut of new specialisations.

Every new off shoot develops into a sophisticated area of study involving research and becomes a career by itself.

One of the more interesting developments is the evolution of biomedical engineering. Biomedical engineering is a perfect blend of medicine and engineering.

And like doctors and life scientists biomedical engineers also work with humans and animals, albeit in a different way.

They often work in tandem with other life scientists, chemists, and medical scientists to aid the cause of preventive and curative medicine. But unlike other medical professionals, biomedical engineers develop devices, systems and procedures to simplify or aid medical research or help solve heath and medical problems.

Biomedical engineering has immense scope for path breaking research.

The sudden spurt in radical research concepts that have lent a whole new direction to treatment modalities is essentially due to developments in this field.

Gene and tissue manipulation, creation of artificial organs, discovery of life saving biomaterials, sophisticated surgical equipment and medical imaging techniques, etc are all a result of biomedical engineering.

For the layman, although biomedical engineers may seem like an elite class of practitioners, the ever-increasing tribe of these specialists have all had humble beginnings, which can be traced back to an ordinary engineering degree.

Most begin with a graduation in a related subject such as electrical, chemical or mechanical engineering and then team this up with a specialisation in biomedical engineering.

However, now there are graduate (BE) courses available in biomedical engineering. Typically, most students opt for masters in biomedical engineering after their BE. But one can also do a masters course in the subject after MBBS.

In India, biomedical engineering is available at the masters and doctoral levels at IIT Mumbai. Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005 (UP) and Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Vidya Vihar, Pilani 333031 (Rajasthan) offer an M.Tech in biomedical engineering.

Biomedical engineering is fascinating by the sheer diversity and range of applicability it offers the individual practitioner. The scope for further progress therefore seems infinite. The chief specialities in this field include

bioinstrumentation, biomaterials, biomechanics, cellular, tissue and genetic engineering; clinical engineering; rehabilitation engineering; orthopaedic surgery; medical imaging; and systems physiology.

In India, a society was set up to further the cause of biomedical healthcare research. Prof. Guha, Dr. Haridasan, Wg.Cdr. Mohan, and Dr. H.V.G. Rao started the Bio-Medical Engineering Society of India (BMESI) in the late 60's.

The society was instrumental in the establishment of 50 research centres across the country that use sophisticated diagnostic, bio-analytical and therapeutic equipment. It also conducts conferences and seminars on topics linked to biomedical engineering.

Professionally, biomedical engineering offers exciting possibilities.

Biomedical engineers can work in a variety of settings, from hospitals, research institutes and facilities, educational institutes, and pharmaceutical companies to government establishments, and regulatory agencies. They can work as independent advisors and consultants as well. There is indeed no looking back for biomedical engineers and the future is theirs for the asking.

SAMYUKTA KODA

samyukta.hyd@cnkonline.com