Biomedical Science and Technology: Recent Developments in the Pharmaceutical and Medical Sciences

Advancing with Biomedical Engineering Today, in most developed countries, modem hospitals have become centers of sophis­ ticated health care delivery using advanced technological methods. These have come from the emergence of a new interdisciplinary field and profession, commonly referred to as "Bio­ medical Engineering." Although what is included in the field of biomedical engineering is quite clear, there are some disagreements about its definition. In its most comprehensive meaning, biomedical engineering is the application of the principles and methods of engi­ neering and basic sciences to the understanding of the structure-function relationships in normal and pathological mammalian tissues, as well as the design and manufacture of prod­ ucts to maintain, restore, or improve tissue functions, thus assisting in the diagnosis and treat­ ment of patients. In this very broad definition, the field of biomedical engineering now includes: • System analysis (modeling, simulation, and control of the biological system) • Biomedical instrumentation (detection, measurement, and monitoring of physio­ logic signals) • Medical imaging (display of anatomic details or physiologic functions for diag­ nosis) • Biomaterials (development of materials used in prostheses or in medical devices) • Artificial organs (design and manufacture of devices for replacement or augmen­ tation of tissues or organs) • Rehabilitation (development oftherapeutic and rehabilitation procedures and de­ vices) • Diagnostics (development of expert systems for diagnosis of diseases) • Controlled drug delivery (development of systems for administration of drugs and other active agents in a controlled manner, preferably to the target area)