Editing Biomedical engineering (section)

== Hospital and medical devices ==
{{Main|Medical device|medical equipment|Medical technology}}
[[File:Schematic of silicone membrane oxygenator.jpg|thumb|Schematic of silicone membrane [[oxygenator]]]]

This is an ''extremely broad category''—essentially covering all health care products that do not achieve their intended results through predominantly chemical (e.g., pharmaceuticals) or biological (e.g., vaccines) means, and do not involve metabolism.

A medical device is intended for use in:
* the diagnosis of disease or other conditions
* in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease.

Some examples include [[artificial pacemaker|pacemakers]], [[infusion pump]]s, the [[heart-lung machine]], [[Kidney dialysis|dialysis]] machines, [[artificial organ]]s, [[implant (medicine)|implants]], [[artificial limb]]s, [[corrective lenses]], [[cochlear implant]]s, [[ocular prosthetics]], [[facial prosthetics]], somato prosthetics, and [[dental implant]]s.
[[File:Opampinstrumentation.svg|right|thumb|Biomedical [[instrumentation amplifier]] schematic used in monitoring low voltage biological signals, an example of a biomedical engineering application of [[electronic engineering]] to [[electrophysiology]]]]

[[Stereolithography]] is a practical example of ''medical modeling'' being used to create physical objects. Beyond modeling organs and the human body, emerging engineering techniques are also currently used in the research and development of new devices for innovative therapies,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cancerjournal.net/article.asp?issn=0973-1482;year=2006;volume=2;issue=4;spage=186;epage=195;aulast=Hede|title="Nano": The new nemesis of cancer Hede S, Huilgol N – J Can Res Ther|work=cancerjournal.net|access-date=2007-02-02|archive-date=2015-12-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222102418/http://www.cancerjournal.net/article.asp?issn=0973-1482;year=2006;volume=2;issue=4;spage=186;epage=195;aulast=Hede|url-status=live}}</ref> treatments,<ref>{{cite journal|year=2006|author=Couvreur, Patrick|author2=Vauthier, Christine|s2cid=1520698|title=Nanotechnology: Intelligent Design to Treat Complex Disease|journal=Pharmaceutical Research|volume=23|number=7|pages=1417–1450(34)|pmid=16779701|doi=10.1007/s11095-006-0284-8|doi-access=free}}</ref> patient monitoring,<ref name="CurtisDalby2006">{{cite journal|last1=Curtis|first1=Adam SG|last2=Dalby|first2=Matthew|last3=Gadegaard|first3=Nikolaj|title=Cell signaling arising from nanotopography: implications for nanomedical devices|journal=Nanomedicine|volume=1|issue=1|year=2006|pages=67–72|issn=1743-5889|doi=10.2217/17435889.1.1.67|pmid=17716210}}</ref> of complex diseases.

Medical devices are regulated and classified (in the US) as follows (see also ''Regulation''):
* Class I devices present minimal potential for harm to the user and are often simpler in design than Class II or Class III devices. Devices in this category include tongue depressors, bedpans, elastic bandages, examination gloves, and hand-held surgical instruments, and other similar types of common equipment.
* Class II devices are subject to special controls in addition to the general controls of Class I devices. Special controls may include special labeling requirements, mandatory performance standards, and [[Postmarketing surveillance|postmarket surveillance]]. Devices in this class are typically non-invasive and include X-ray machines, PACS, powered wheelchairs, infusion pumps, and surgical drapes.
* Class III devices generally require premarket approval (PMA) or premarket notification (510k), a scientific review to ensure the device's safety and effectiveness, in addition to the general controls of Class I. Examples include replacement [[heart valves]], hip and knee joint implants, silicone gel-filled breast implants, implanted cerebellar stimulators, implantable pacemaker pulse generators and endosseous (intra-bone) implants.

=== Medical imaging ===
{{Main|Medical imaging}}

Medical/biomedical imaging is a major segment of [[medical device]]s. This area deals with enabling clinicians to directly or indirectly "view" things not visible in plain sight (such as due to their size, and/or location). This can involve utilizing ultrasound, magnetism, UV, radiology, and other means.

Alternatively, navigation-guided equipment utilizes [[electromagnetic]] tracking technology, such as [[catheter]] placement into the brain or [[feeding tube]] placement systems. For example, ENvizion Medical's ENvue, an electromagnetic navigation system for enteral feeding tube placement. The system uses an external field generator and several EM passive sensors enabling scaling of the display to the patient's body contour, and a real-time view of the feeding tube tip location and direction, which helps the medical staff ensure the correct placement in the [[Gastrointestinal tract|GI tract]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Jacobson |first1=Lewis E. |last2=Olayan |first2=May |last3=Williams |first3=Jamie M. |last4=Schultz |first4=Jacqueline F. |last5=Wise |first5=Hannah M. |last6=Singh |first6=Amandeep |last7=Saxe |first7=Jonathan M. |last8=Benjamin |first8=Richard |last9=Emery |first9=Marie |last10=Vilem |first10=Hilary |last11=Kirby |first11=Donald F. |title=Feasibility and safety of a novel electromagnetic device for small-bore feeding tube placement |journal=Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open |date=1 November 2019 |volume=4 |issue=1 |pages=e000330 |doi=10.1136/tsaco-2019-000330 |pmid=31799414 |pmc=6861064 |url=https://tsaco.bmj.com/content/4/1/e000330 |language=en |issn=2397-5776 |access-date=3 March 2023 |archive-date=3 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230303053759/https://tsaco.bmj.com/content/4/1/e000330 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:brain chrischan.jpg|thumb|right|A T1-weighted [[MRI]] scan of a human head, an example of a biomedical engineering application of [[electrical engineering]] to [[diagnostic imaging]]. [[:Image:brain chrischan 300.gif|Click here]] to view an animated sequence of slices.]]Imaging technologies are often essential to medical diagnosis, and are typically the most complex equipment found in a hospital including: [[fluoroscopy]], [[magnetic resonance imaging]] (MRI), [[nuclear medicine]], [[positron emission tomography]] (PET), [[PET-CT scanning|PET-CT scans]], projection radiography such as [[X-ray]]s and [[CT scan]]s, [[tomography]], [[ultrasound]], [[optical microscopy]], and [[electron microscopy]].

=== Medical implants ===
{{main|Implant (medicine)}}
An implant is a kind of medical device made to replace and act as a missing biological structure (as compared with a transplant, which indicates transplanted biomedical tissue). The surface of implants that contact the body might be made of a biomedical material such as titanium, silicone or apatite depending on what is the most functional. In some cases, implants contain electronics, e.g. artificial pacemakers and cochlear implants. Some implants are bioactive, such as subcutaneous drug delivery devices in the form of implantable pills or [[drug-eluting stent]]s.

[[File:Army prosthetic.jpg|right|thumb|[[Artificial limb]]s: The right arm is an example of a [[prosthesis]], and the left arm is an example of [[Proportional myoelectric control|myoelectric control]].]]
[[File:Prosthetic eye.png|thumb|A [[Ocular prosthesis|prosthetic eye]], an example of a biomedical engineering application of [[mechanical engineering]] and [[biocompatible material]]s to [[ophthalmology]]]]

=== Bionics ===
{{further|Bionics#In medicine}}
Artificial body part replacements are one of the many applications of bionics. Concerned with the intricate and thorough study of the properties and function of human body systems, bionics may be applied to solve some engineering problems. Careful study of the different functions and processes of the eyes, ears, and other organs paved the way for improved cameras, television, radio transmitters and receivers, and many other tools.

=== Biomedical sensors ===
In recent years biomedical sensors based in microwave technology have gained more attention. Different sensors can be manufactured for specific uses in both diagnosing and monitoring disease conditions, for example microwave sensors can be used as a complementary technique to X-ray to monitor lower extremity trauma.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Shah|first1=Syaiful|last2=Velander|first2=Jacob|last3=Mathur|first3=Parul|last4=Perez|first4=Mauricio|last5=Asan|first5=Noor|last6=Kurup|first6=Dhanesh|last7=Blokhuis|first7=Taco|last8=Augustine|first8=Robin|date=2018-02-21|title=Split-Ring Resonator Sensor Penetration Depth Assessment Using in Vivo Microwave Reflectivity and Ultrasound Measurements for Lower Extremity Trauma Rehabilitation|journal=Sensors|language=en|volume=18|issue=2|pages=636|doi=10.3390/s18020636|issn=1424-8220|pmc=5855979|pmid=29466312|bibcode=2018Senso..18..636S|doi-access=free}}</ref> The sensor monitor the dielectric properties and can thus notice change in tissue (bone, muscle, fat etc.) under the skin so when measuring at different times during the healing process the response from the sensor will change as the trauma heals.