Biomedical engineers develop artificial tissues and organs used for transplantation. They design prosthetic devices and create computerized systems that can be applied to solving complex medical problems as well as shedding light on less spectacular but equally important issues, such as determining what causes older people to fall, and how falls can be prevented. They develop technologies which use mathematics and computers to simulate physiologic systems, functions, and malfunctions. Biomedical engineers apply their knowledge to everything from developing better drug-delivery systems to computer-assisted micro-surgery on unborn babies to creating wireless devices for cardiac and cancer diagnosis.
Specific areas of concentration in biomedical engineering are numerous and diversified. They include specialties such as biomechanics, cell and tissue engineering, medical imaging, systems biomedicine, biomolecular engineering, biomaterials, gait analysis, bioinformatics, and instrumentation. Graduates from biomedical engineering programs establish careers in medical facilities, industry, government, and research institutes. They become attached to universities or pursue more education in medical school, or other professional schools. In today's world biomedical career possibilities are constantly growing, and tomorrow's health care demands will probably produce even more.