Biomedical engineering is a specialized branch of engineering applying the principles of biology or medical sciences and engineering to streamline the healthcare services in the country and offer biomedical solutions for health issues.
Biomedical engineers utilize machinery and technology to design equipment like artificial internal organs, surgical robots, life-saving pharmaceutical drugs, advanced prosthetics, and machines that can diagnose medical problems. Check How to Become a Biomedical Engineer?
Candidates willing to pursue this career can opt for 4 years BTech programs or 5 years integrated BTech - MTech programs and work as biomedical engineers. Many candidates prefer to pursue PhD Biomedical Engineering also for further research and development in this field.
The study of Biomedical Engineering offers advanced health care treatment which includes diagnosis, monitoring, and therapy and thus helps doctors and physicians in their healthcare practices. Due to the latest development in the field of medical science and technology, there is a rush among young individuals to join this field and offer biomedical solutions to common people with health issues and disabled patients.
Table of Content
What is Biomedical Engineering?
Also referred to as Bioengineering, this is a niche engineering branch that deals with the design concepts of life sciences and the application of engineering principles to improve the quality of healthcare services in the country.
- Combination of medicine, biology and engineering principles.
- Used in the design of medical equipment namely artificial internal organs, imaging equipment such as MRIs and EKG/ECGs, advanced prosthetics, pharmaceutical drugs and kidney dialysis.
- It is usually a 4 year BTech program or 5 years integrated BTech - MTech program.
- Can be pursued after completion of 10+2 in Science stream from a recognized board.
- Admission in most institutes is based on performance in entrance examinations viz JEE Main, SRMJEEE, BITSAT, etc.
- After completion of this course, candidates can work as Biomedical Engineer, Instrument Engineer or Researcher.
Also Check: Diploma in Biomedical Engineering
What does a Biomedical Engineer do?
The major job responsibilities of a Biomedical Engineer are as follows:
- Designing biomedical equipment and devices viz artificial organs, surgical robots, various diagnostic and therapeutic medical devices, pharmaceutical drugs and machines for diagnosing medical problems.
- Installation, maintenance and technical support for biomedical equipment.
- Evaluation of safety, effectiveness and efficiency of biomedical equipment.
- Conduct research on the engineering aspects of biological systems of humans and animals by working in close association with life scientists, chemists and medical scientists.
- Preparation of technical reports, publish research papers, and make necessary recommendations based on research outcome.
- Presentation of research outcomes to scientists, clinicians, engineers, and hospital management to put their research work into practical use.
- Developing materials required for the replacement of certain body parts.
- Train clinicians and other personnel involved in the operation of biomedical equipment and devices.
Check:
Roles and Responsibilities of a Biomedical Engineer
The primary responsibility of a biomedical engineer is to design and develop biomedical equipment and devices such as artificial organs which include artificial hearts and kidneys, pacemakers to name a few.
- They are also involved in the research and development of new theories and principles for healthcare improvement.
- Additionally, they are also involved in the evaluation of safety and efficiency of equipment used for diagnosis, treatment and monitoring, preparing technical reports for health professionals and the public along with imparting essential training to technologists and technicians for the proper usage of biomedical equipment.
Responsibility 1
- Biomedical engineers are involved in designing and developing biomedical equipment and devices via artificial internal organs like artificial hearts and kidneys, replacements for body parts, new pharmaceutical drugs and machines for diagnosing medical problems.
- With the aid of the latest developments in the field of technology and medical sciences, biomedical engineers develop artificial organs to replace internal body organs which have stopped functioning, putting life at risk or malfunctioning, inviting fatal incidents.
- For instance, there are lakhs of children in India born with defective heart or kidney, biomedical engineers offer best treatment for these children with birth defects by providing them with artificial heart or kidney or lungs and thus offer them an improved life.
Responsibility 2
- These engineers are involved in the installation, maintenance, repairing and offer technical support for biomedical devices ranging from clinical equipment to micro-implants, common imaging equipment such as MRIs and EKG/ECGs.
- Since such devices are delicate and expensive enough, technologists and technicians without having sufficient knowledge on handling and using such devices cannot offer best services and generate reports for patients suffering from various health issues.
- Since such devices are developed using the latest technology, maintenance and repair of such devices are complicated and need expert advice and handling for resolving any technical fault generated during operation.
Responsibility 3
- Biomedical engineers are also involved in ensuring the safety and effectiveness of equipment used for diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring.
- Ensuring the right voltage and supply of power is available for the proper functioning of such devices is closely monitored by these engineers.
- Slight variation in supply of voltage can lead to damage of such devices and thus can generate erroneous output and reports.
- They also ensure that these biomedical devices are functioning in an efficient and effective manner generating the right output for diagnosis of healthcare issues of patients.
Skills Required to be a Biomedical Engineer
In order to be a successful biomedical engineer, one must have various skills and knowledge. The following are the skills required to be a successful Biomedical Engineer.
| Analytical skills | Communication skills |
| Listening skills | Problem-solving skills |
| Statistics/ Math skills | Ability to work in a team |
Top Biomedical Engineer Recruiters
Biomedical Engineers are required in various research, medical healthcare, functioning of equipment and technologies used in treatment. There are numerous companies and healthcare organisations which recruit them. The following list is the top recruiters of Biomedical Engineers.
| Siemens Healthcare | GE Healthcare |
| Toshiba Medical Systems | Medtronic |
| Samsung Healthcare | Abbott |
| Roche Diagnostics | Zimmer Biomet |
Salary of a Biomedical Engineer
The average base salary of a Biomedical Engineer in India is INR 3,68,000. Salary varies depending on the educational background, the profile of the candidate, experience, and type of organization he/ she is employed with.
Top healthcare equipment providers namely Siemens Healthcare, Johnson & Johnson offer an annual average salary of INR 3,50,000- 4,50,000 to Biomedical engineers. The following is a list of salaries depending on various aspects.
Experience Wise
| Experience | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 1 - 4 | INR 307,668 |
| 5 - 9 | INR 405,821 |
| 10 years and above | INR 508,682 |
Qualification Wise Salary
| Qualifications | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Diploma in Biomedical Engineering | INR 1,50,000- 1,75,000 |
| Bachelors in Biomedical Engineering | INR 3,50,000 - 4,00,000 |
| Master's In Biomedical Engineering | INR 3,50,000 - 4,50,000 |
| PhD in Biomedical Engineering | INR 4,50,000 |
Region Wise Salary
| Region/ Cities | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Chennai | INR 3,70,000 |
| Bangalore | INR 3,36,000 |
| Kerala | INR 3,69,000 |
| Delhi | INR 5,50,000 |
What does a Biomedical Engineer do?: FAQs
Ques. What are the various entrance examinations conducted in India for admission into BTech biomedical engineering?
Ans. Admission into a 4 year full time B.Tech course in biomedical engineering is mostly conducted through performance in the following all India entrance examinations.
- JEE Main
- SRMJEEE
- BITSAT
- VITEEE
- KIITEEE
Ques. What are the various post graduate courses available in biomedical engineering?
Ans. Listed below are the popular post graduate courses in biomedical engineering:
- PG Diploma in Biomedical Engineering.
- MSc (Masters of Sciences) in Biomedical Engineering.
- ME (Masters of Engineering) in Biomedical Engineering.
- MTech (Masters of Technology) in Biomedical Engineering.
Ques. What are the basic subjects covered in a 4 year B.Tech course in biomedical engineering?
Ans. Listed below are the basic subjects covered in a 4 year full time BTech course in biomedical engineering:
- Thermodynamics
- Electric circuit analysis
- Human Anatomy & Physiology
- Medical Instrumentation
- Principles of Diagnostics and Therapeutic Equipment
- Biomechanics
- Biomedical Signal Processing
- Principles of radiological equipment
- Advanced biomedical instruments
Apart from the above exhaustive list, some common subjects taught in this course are Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Basics of civil and mechanical engineering, Microprocessors etc.
Ques. Name some colleges offering B.Tech in biomedical engineering?
Ans. Listed below are some of the colleges offering B.Tech in biomedical engineering:
- Manipal Institute of Technology
- Vellore Institute of Technology
- Lovely Professional University
- Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology
- Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology
- National Institute of Technology, Rourkela
- Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad
Ques. What are the specializations offered in Biomedical engineering?
Ans. Listed below are some of the popular specializations offered in biomedical engineering:
- Surgical Instruments and Medical Devices Engineering
- Tissue Engineering
- Biomaterials Engineering
- Neural Engineering
- Biomechanical Engineering
- Telehealth Communication Engineering
- Biosignal Process Engineering
Ques. What are the job responsibilities of an Instrument Engineer after completing graduation in Biomedical engineering?
Ans. An Instrument Engineer is primarily involved in designing, testing and upgrading of various biomedical equipment and devices which are used for diagnosis and treatment of different diseases.
Ques. Name some colleges in India offering M.Tech in biomedical engineering?
Ans. Listed below are some of the Indian colleges offering M.Tech in biomedical engineering:
- Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay
- Indian Institute of Technology, Madras
- Vellore Institute of Technology
- SRM Institute of Science and Technology
- RV College of Engineering
- Delhi Technological University
Ques. How to get admission into B.Tech Biomedical engineering at Vellore Institute of Technology?
Ans. Vellore Institute of Technology offers admission into B.Tech Biomedical engineering for candidates who have completed 10+2 in Science stream and have valid score in VITEEE, in house entrance examination conducted by the institute for engineering admission.
Ques. What are the products or services offered by Siemens Healthcare in the field of Biomedical engineering?
Ans. Siemens Healthcare which is a world renowned medical technology company offers products in the field of Medical Imaging, Laboratory Diagnostics, Hearing Instruments and Therapy Systems.
Ques. What are the eligibility criteria for admission into M.Tech courses in Biomedical engineering?
Ans. Candidates willing to pursue M.Tech in Biomedical engineering must have completed graduation in Biomedical Engineering/ Biotechnology from a recognized university. Even candidates with an MBBS degree are also eligible to apply for this course.
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