Application of Engineering to Medicine

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I was asked by user alias 'cooljat' why am I doing Clinical Medicine Research when I have done Engineering. 'cooljat' feels Medicine and Engineering are two distinct fields. As this is a question I am commonly asked, I thought I would create a thread on it.

Engineering can be applied to many different areas. The areas that we instantly recognise are Automotive, Packaging Technology, Consumer Electronics.

In the last two decades, a growing area has been the application of Engineering in Medicine. Diagnostic and Monitoring devices ranging from 'a digital Blood Pressure Monitor' to an MRI scanner are two easily identifiable examples. In recent years, there has been a lot of development in the application of Robotics in the Medical Field particularly for surgeries where surgeons may need - greater stability and precision for tool placement, minimally invasive surgery (small incisions on the skin, faster recovery) etc.

I did Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering and while I was studying, I worked for Industrial Engineering companies in India, Germany and Australia on the design and simulation of automated production processes. I felt drawn towards the application of Engineering in Medicine as I find it will be an area that will challenge and mentally stimulate me. Also, I want to help in providing patients personalised healthcare. I am working in the area of developing Monitoring Devices that can be conveniently worn by patients who need long-term monitoring.Through my medical engineering research project, in addition to the Engineering aspect, I am learning about the various processes involved in developing an 'idea/ concept' into a working prototype for a product, especially for the Medical Industry. When I finish, I am keen to start part of my work in this area in India as well.

People who are keen to discuss Medical Engineering only, please feel free to convey your experience, thoughts, work under this thread. I know many people will have thoughts on 'provision of healthcare in villages and rural areas', please start a separate thread for that.
 
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Hi
It is really nice thread. In these day lot of people are doing interdisciplinary research. What is your previous backgroud? I think a pure biologist cant do this kind of job. Medical engineering is like bridge to join all kind of engineering. But it is not new engineering. Every people know about the X-Ray, thermometer , utrasound... these are so many instruments, these kind of tool are based on old research concepts. So now in these days scientist or researcher working towards the advancement to get the exact diognostic with low cost and less side effects.




aakankshac said:
I was asked by user alias 'cooljat' why am I doing Clinical Medicine Research when I have done Engineering. 'cooljat' feels Medicine and Engineering are two distinct fields. As this is a question I am commonly asked, I thought I would create a thread on it.

Engineering can be applied to many different areas. The areas that we instantly recognise are Automotive, Packaging Technology, Consumer Electronics.

In the last two decades, a growing area has been the application of Engineering in Medicine. Diagnostic and Monitoring devices ranging from 'a digital Blood Pressure Monitor' to an MRI scanner are two easily identifiable examples. In recent years, there has been a lot of development in the application of Robotics in the Medical Field particularly for surgeries where surgeons may need - greater stability and precision for tool placement, minimally invasive surgery (small incisions on the skin, faster recovery) etc.

I did Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering and while I was studying, I worked for Industrial Engineering companies in India, Germany and Australia on the design and simulation of automated production processes. I felt drawn towards the application of Engineering in Medicine as I find it will be an area that will challenge and mentally stimulate me. Also, I want to help in providing patients personalised healthcare. I am working in the area of developing Monitoring Devices that can be conveniently worn by patients who need long-term monitoring.Through my medical engineering research project, in addition to the Engineering aspect, I am learning about the various processes involved in developing an 'idea/ concept' into a working prototype for a product, especially for the Medical Industry. When I finish, I am keen to start part of my work in this area in India as well.

People who are keen to discuss Medical Engineering only, please feel free to convey your experience, thoughts, work under this thread. I know many people will have thoughts on 'provision of healthcare in villages and rural areas', please start a separate thread for that.
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Dear Dr. Kumar,

Thank you. I have an Engineering background and am now doing a PhD in the Faculty of Medicine. Engineering is the core background that is required for device/robot design, building, programming and testing. Engineers active in this area generally work together with doctors and surgeons who are experts in the particular area/ problem.

It is certainly a multidisciplinary area. My undergraduate course was in Robotics & Mechatronics Engineering which was an integrated study of Mechanical, Electronics and Software Engineering as well as robotics topics such as control and automation, robot system design. I am not an expert in all three areas but have an overall understanding of the three and how they can be integrated together.

I did not mention in my previous post that Robotics/ Engineering is also being applied in the area of Rehabilitation for patients who are either physically challenged or suffer physical challenges associated with strokes etc. Also, Robotic prosthetics have been developed for people suffering from limb loss.

You are correct that everyone knows about the early diagnostic tools. Earlier people used to suffer from acute diseases such as infections etc. Now, the focus is on health management. In India we still have many relatives around to help and also can get domestic help but in western countries that is difficult and research and development is focussed on developing devices that can help the elderly live a healthier, safer an independent life. So a lot of development is being made in Robotics and Mechatronics in Medicine.

Even for health management - wearable heart rate monitors, pedometers etc have been developed which can be used by anyone. And even these are being improved and more features are being incorporated in them (ECG monitor, GPS location).

bislas said:
Hi
It is really nice thread. In these day lot of people are doing interdisciplinary research. What is your previous backgroud? I think a pure biologist cant do this kind of job. Medical engineering is like bridge to join all kind of engineering. But it is not new engineering. Every people know about the X-Ray, thermometer , utrasound... these are so many instruments, these kind of tool are based on old research concepts. So now in these days scientist or researcher working towards the advancement to get the exact diognostic with low cost and less side effects.
Click to expand...
 
Hi All
As Sanjeevji said, this thread is really nice.
Currently I am studying in IISc. Here one professor who works in Biomedical Engineering related areas which you mentioned but I dont know why people are not interested in doing work in this area in India. I have been seeing since I joined here, there is no student who is working with her.

I came to know something about this particular field of research after coming here. I think it has great future in India too.
Regards
Manoj
 
aakankshac said:
I was asked by user alias 'cooljat' why am I doing Clinical Medicine Research when I have done Engineering. 'cooljat' feels Medicine and Engineering are two distinct fields. As this is a question I am commonly asked, I thought I would create a thread on it.

Engineering can be applied to many different areas. The areas that we instantly recognise are Automotive, Packaging Technology, Consumer Electronics.

In the last two decades, a growing area has been the application of Engineering in Medicine. Diagnostic and Monitoring devices ranging from 'a digital Blood Pressure Monitor' to an MRI scanner are two easily identifiable examples. In recent years, there has been a lot of development in the application of Robotics in the Medical Field particularly for surgeries where surgeons may need - greater stability and precision for tool placement, minimally invasive surgery (small incisions on the skin, faster recovery) etc.

I did Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering and while I was studying, I worked for Industrial Engineering companies in India, Germany and Australia on the design and simulation of automated production processes. I felt drawn towards the application of Engineering in Medicine as I find it will be an area that will challenge and mentally stimulate me. Also, I want to help in providing patients personalised healthcare. I am working in the area of developing Monitoring Devices that can be conveniently worn by patients who need long-term monitoring.Through my medical engineering research project, in addition to the Engineering aspect, I am learning about the various processes involved in developing an 'idea/ concept' into a working prototype for a product, especially for the Medical Industry. When I finish, I am keen to start part of my work in this area in India as well.

People who are keen to discuss Medical Engineering only, please feel free to convey your experience, thoughts, work under this thread. I know many people will have thoughts on 'provision of healthcare in villages and rural areas', please start a separate thread for that.
Click to expand...

Almost every type of science and engineering has its applications in medicine. one needs many type of tools to diagnose and treat the disease. Physician is only like a conductor in orchestra to ensure that right tool is used at right time. Bio-Medical engineering as a speciality is not so new. There have been universities awarding degrees for almost 40 years now. IIT Delhi also has a department of Bio-Medical Engineering for almost 35 years. Most of modern advances in medicine can be traced back to engineering applications. I am witness to many inventions right in front of my eyes. I have seen Ultrasound and CT scanners evolving from very rudimentary level to the most sophisticated levels they are today. Being a medical physicist myself, bio-medical engineering was part of my course material. I had the honour of commissioning first CT scanner in India , first Ultrasound unit in north India. I was among the few in India who started the applications of computers in hospitals in late 70s. Problems of rural health can only be addressed by intelligent applications of engineering in medicine. Bio-Medical engineering is a big topic and one can spend life time on it..

RK^2
 
Dear Dr. Kalkhande,

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience in this thread! You are right, Biomedical Engineering is not new and has been around for a while. Also no matter how much we advance, the underlying basis of all developments is 'first principles'. Indeed it is a very large topic but it would be good to know who all in Jatland are active in this area as well as stimulate the interest of students and professionals . :-)

The advances in the last 10 years in the areas of miniaturised low power electronics, communication technologies, computing, data storage and security are propagating new developments and applications that were previously not feasible.

You and Dr. Kumar have correctly pointed out that intelligent, cost-effective designs are required, especially for addressing the healthcare needs of people in rural areas. This is a challenge for us Engineers!! At the same time, it must be noted that the cost of new products have to take on the R&D cost as well as a profit margin for the developer/ manufacturer.

On another note, I think you know my Foofaji, Dr. Ashok Verma? I think you mentioned that in a post somewhere on Jatland a few years ago.

Best Wishes,
Aakanksha

rkumar said:
Almost every type of science and engineering has its applications in medicine. one needs many type of tools to diagnose and treat the disease. Physician is only like a conductor in orchestra to ensure that right tool is used at right time. Bio-Medical engineering as a speciality is not so new. There have been universities awarding degrees for almost 40 years now. IIT Delhi also has a department of Bio-Medical Engineering for almost 35 years. Most of modern advances in medicine can be traced back to engineering applications. I am witness to many inventions right in front of my eyes. I have seen Ultrasound and CT scanners evolving from very rudimentary level to the most sophisticated levels they are today. Being a medical physicist myself, bio-medical engineering was part of my course material. I had the honour of commissioning first CT scanner in India , first Ultrasound unit in north India. I was among the few in India who started the applications of computers in hospitals in late 70s. Problems of rural health can only be addressed by intelligent applications of engineering in medicine. Bio-Medical engineering is a big topic and one can spend life time on it..

RK^2
Click to expand...
 
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Hey Akanksha,

Thanks for the Enlightenment !! :)

Way to go ... godspeed!



PS: btw, I asked 'How' not 'Why' ur in medicine, plz correct it! :)


Rock on
Jit
 
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innovation is the key...

Biomedicle engineering or engineering to medicine though not new but i feel the most focus of reserch is commercial.Tele medicine was also somewhat innovative concept but its benifit failed to reach the masses....i hope and wish akanshas reserch produce something cheap and commomnly avilable tool to be utalized by all...
hey akansha..have some focous on dentistry also!!!!!
regards
dr.varun dahiya.
 
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