What Does a Biomedical Engineer Do?

An engineering degree can lead to all sorts of careers, and that’s part of the reason these degrees have become so important. There are a number of important jobs that require specialized engineers, so individuals with engineering degrees are in high demand. To understand just how important engineers are, you need look no further than biomedical engineers. A biomedical engineer designs solutions to problems involving biology and medicine, and they do this in a few different ways.




Instruments


Biomedical engineers design instruments and devices that are used for medical purposes. Some instruments, like MRI machines, are used to look inside a patient to detect any problems that would otherwise go unnoticed. Other instruments are used during treatment, like robotic arms that aid in surgery. Instruments are also used for monitoring patients, administering drugs, and many other purposes, so it is clear to see that engineers play an important role in the field of modern medicine and health care.
Artificial Body Parts


Engineers also design the artificial body parts that are used to replace injured limbs. People come in different shapes and sizes, so the one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work for artificial body parts. When a person is in need of an artificial limb, they need one that is sized to fit them. Engineers have become even more important now that artificial body parts are becoming more advanced and are starting to replicate some of the functions that a natural limb provides.
Software


Most new instruments and artificial body parts require software designed by a biomedical engineer in order to function properly. Software is crucial to medical care in a number of ways. Software can be used to simulate and test new drug therapies. Software is also crucial in a number of instruments; software is what allows doctors and technicians to tweak the settings on an instrument to get a look at the things they really need to see. Artificial body parts and implants also rely on software to operate correctly. With an engineering degree, an individual can actually help with advances in the field of medicine.