Although we have heard a great deal about the potential of biomedical engineering in health care, utilization of engineering and technology in the health care field has not progressed as expected. Reasons for this situation are presented and they include the points of view in industry, engineering and the medical community. Expanded and successful use of clinical engineers in health care institutions, the development of relevant educational curricula and a continuum of medical engineering education, as well as early involvement of biomedical engineering in the planning of health care delivery at Federal, State and district levels, could expedite the engineering medical interaction.

The aim of the paper is to inform about the requirements laid on education in the fields of Biomedical Technology and Biomedical Engineering in the connection with legal provisions on non-medical health service occupations in the Czech Republic and its compliance with the working documents on harmonization of biomedical engineering education in Europe (BIOMEDEA project). The legal provisions define completely new position of technical personnel in the health care service system. We show how the legal regulations and European recommendations are reflected in Master study at the Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Electrical Engineering.

The health care industry is dependent on new innovations for its survival and expansion. Health care innovations are also important for improving patient care. Through activities at the centre for biomedical engineering and physics (CMTF) we have generated growth both in academia at the universities and in the industry in northern Sweden. Fruitful cooperation was generated between 26 research projects and about 15 established companies in the field of biomedical engineering. The established researcher-owned company for business development of the research results from the CMTF, CMTF Business Development Co Ltd, has so far launched three spin-off companies and has 10 new business leads to develop. The activities have also increased the interest for commercialization and entrepreneurship among the scientists in the centre. So far a total of nine spin-off companies have resulted from the CMTF-research since the year 2000 that has improved the health care market in northern Sweden.

Aim: To highlight the importance of biomedical engineering, with respect to the many basic amenities including adequate water supply, electricity, drugs and medical equipment necessary for the proper functioning of medical doctors which are totally lacking in most developing countries. Method: Review of biomedical engineering and the implication of lack of its development in health care delivery. Result: While a properly organised and equipped traditional hospital engineering service may effectively provide for adequate water supply and electricity, as well as other ancillary services, the design, research and production or innovative and functional medical equipment fall under the basic function of biomedical engineering which is not yet constituted in most developing countries. Conclusion: For an effective, smooth?running, total health care delivery system especially in the developing countries, the importance of constituting, nurturing and development of the discipline of Biomedical Engineering cannot be over-emphasised. Consequently an objective, pragmatic and result?oriented policy geared towards training and manpower development ? both in academic research and applied production engineering relevant to optimal medical practice should be pursued with utmost vigour. Key Words: Bioengineering,Health Care Delivery, Bioinstrumentation,Developing Countries Journal of College of Medicine Vol.9(1) 2004: 54-58

A scheme for the utilization of biomedical engineers is suggested which would lead to better health care systems. The scheme proposed includes biomedical engineers for health services and health care systems, for research, for teaching and for medical engineering industry. The setting up of regional biomedical engineering servicing units for the repair of biomedical equipment with a Director of biomedical engineering at the Centre, the necessity of biomedical engineers for the solution of research problems, the importance of including the curriculum of post-graduate medical studies, the appropriate study area of biomedical engineering and the employment of biomedical engineers by all medical engineering industries is stressed. The proposed scheme if implemented would demand a large number of biomedical engineers and technicians.

A new program of courses in biomedical engineering has been initiated at Michigan Technological University, both at the graduate and undergraduate level. The rationale for the development of these courses stems from the rapid growth in technology which has permeated almost all areas of health care delivery. The major goals of each course are described in terms of 1) establishing a required level of technical competence and literacy in the field, 2) developing those communication skills that will typically be required of the students after graduation, and 3) developing a sense of challenge which will last the students beyond their formative years. The philosophy underlying the choice of topical content, course organization, and student evaluation are all considered within the broader framework of establishing a modern foundation which the student, as well as the industrial and clinical community, can readily appreciate and identify with.

The goal of the biomedical engineering is to contribute to a better quality of life by improving health with innovative technologies. The containment of the costs of health care is as important as the improvement of the quality health care. Biomedical engineering integrates physical, chemical, mathematical, and computational sciences and engineering principles to study biology, medicine, behavior, and health as it was defined in a 1997 NIH working definition. It advances fundamental concepts; creates knowledge from the molecular to the organ systems level; and develops innovative biologies, imaging, materials, processes, implants, devices and informatics approaches for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, for patient rehabilitation, and for improving health. This presentation will present a few recent developments in biomedical engineering, with emphasis on bioinformatics and robotic medicine. The key to the success of realize the promises of biomedical informatics and personalized medicine is to harness biologic information in an integrated and interoperable fashion. A partnership between human clinicians and computer-based robotic technology will fundamentally change the way surgery and interventional medicine is performed in the 21st Century.

Since its beginning in the late sixties, biomedical engineering has been making a steady progress in India. Relationship of biomedical engineering with the health care system in India are covered. International trends have been outlined and some suggestions for coordination with international organisations are given. Information on institutes and laboratories involved in India has been provided to serve as a data bank for those developing interdisciplinary collaborations.

The Memphis Center for Biomedical Engineering in Pediatrics is an educational and research program that applies biomedical engineering to children's health care. The program involves Biomedical Engineering and related engineering departments and academic and clinical medical programs in Memphis. Students and faculty from these institutions carry out clinically related research in applying instrumentation, imaging, radiation, computation and rehabilitation engineering to children's health care. The Center has laboratory facilities in the Children's Foundation Research Center at LeBonheur Children's Medical Center and currently has clinical studies involving pediatric neurology, neonatal intensive care, gait analysis, critical care instrumentation, and diagnostic measurements. The Center links the facilities of the science and engineering departments of the universities with the Memphis programs in clinical pediatrics.

AbstractIn the industrialized nation, almost every facet of our lives is permeated by technological innovation at an accelerated pace. This is especially true in the areas related to health and medicine, which has further led to the evolution of a health care system that is technologically related and capable of providing a wide range of effective therapeutic and diagnostic treatments. The application of the principles and problem-solving techniques of engineering, biology and medicine is Biomedical engineering. Biomedical engineering focuses on the advancements to improve human health at all possible levels. Biomedical engineering has emerged as a new area of research combining biology and medicine with technology, providing new designs and concepts of medical instrumentation for the diagnosis, cure and prevention of various diseases. Biomedical engineering in the last three decades has sustained growth in human resources along with the emergence of careers as graduates and postgraduates and apart from this research works, health care and technological development are some of its other aspects. The present paper will provide an insight into biomedical engineering and future scopes, specifically in India. Biomedical engineers use and apply knowledge of the modern biological principles in their designing process. A biomedical engineer can work in a wide variety of areas and disciplines. Apart from this, there are several opportunities in industries for innovations, designing and developing new techniques. In the last few years, biomedical engineering has emerged as a booming career as the area of work and research and the possibilities of innovations in this field are nearly endless. Thus, the future of biomedical engineering is tied to both the obstacles we face in the field of medical sciences and its advancements. Hence the use of the biomedical engineering method has become a necessity for human health, research and development.