Biomedical Engineering And Prosthetic Limbs

In a world of innovation and technology, biomedical engineering has grown tremendously in recent years. This broad field of engineering has endless possibilities for innovations ranging from biomaterial concepts to medical applications including stem cells, medical imaging and imaging prosthetics. Biomaterial engineering applies engineering principles to tissues and cells at a molecular level for medical purposes. Medical Imaging involves obtaining computer images of certain anatomical regions that can diagnosis certain illnesses such as cancer. Finally, Biomedical Engineers create prosthetic limbs to replace amputated limbs in individuals. With over 185,000 new lower extremity amputations each year in the United States alone, this identifies

One of the most famous subcategories of this area is tissue rehabilitation. According to John Hopkins Biomedical Engineering Department, this rapidly growing subcategory helps reconstruction of different components of the body, such as cartilage, bone, blood vessels, etc. Stem Cell Research has recently grown in popularity in the rebuilding of damaged cell tissue. Burn Victims can use the stem cell graphs in order to increase the productivity of skin growth over the burns. Roughly 10,000 burn victims each year have to undergo grafts which take a large patch of their skin and place it where the burn is for the skin to heal. However, with these advancements made by Biomedical Engineers, they can use stem cells to develop artificial skin instead of taking skin from elsewhere on the victim. This subcategory is not only for burn victims, but it can be useful for people needing organ transplants as

While they have been around for decades, the prosthetics we see today are astronomically advanced since the first developments in the medical field. Basic prosthetics like glass eyes and legs are still around today, but robotic prosthetics have grown tremendously in popularity. Biomedical Engineers have incorporated science, technology, and math to create prosthetics that react when certain nerves in our body are acknowledged. There are two particularly susceptible populations that are in need of prosthetics: United States Veterans and individuals with amputated limbs resulting from advanced stage diabetes. With increasing number of foreign conflicts, the United States Veteran population represents a unique percentage that will benefit from advancements in prosthetic limbs. The Veteran Affairs Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Service provides veterans with amputated limbs with prosthetics. There are 70 locations ranging all around the U.S. which helps veterans easily access the prosthetics they need. The Diabetes Council states that 70,000 lower extremity amputations were done due to diabetic problems. With the developing need of prosthetics within these two extensive populations, Biomedical Engineering is in high demand to provide and create efficient modern