Biomedical

Question 1

What are some common materials used in biomedical engineering?

Answer 1

• Stainless steels
• Titanium
• Polymers
• Ceramics

Question 2

What is the range of bioengineering

Answer 2

Range
• Adjust, repair and replace prosthetic devices and implants, monitoring machines and surgical instruments
• Choosing materials which will not suffer greatly from fatigue, corrode, or be rejected by body tissue

Question 3

What does ‘inert’ mean?

Answer 3

The material won’t flake off with wear and potentially cause harm to the user. Glass and ceramics are inert.

Question 4

What ceramics have been used in biomedical engineering and why?

Answer 4

Alumina
• A bioinert ceramic
• Highly stable, has good compressive strength and high wear resistance
• Poor tensile strength and fracture toughness

Partially stabilised Zirconia
• Metastable phase, which means when a crack passes through it changes to a more stable structure and takes up greater volume. This inhibits further growth

Question 5

What are polymers used for and why?

Answer 5

• Polycarbonate is used for device housings
• PVC for blood bags
• Polyamides for sutures (stitching for a wound)
• Polyesters for vascular (blood vessels) grafts
• Light-weight polyethylene for hip and knee joints

Question 6

What is the nature of biomedical engineering?

Answer 6

Nature
• Problem solve in in medicine and biomedical sciences
• They generally work as part of an interdisciplinary team
• Responsible for the development of devices to enhance the lives of people with disabilities or illnesses

Question 7

What are some fields of biomedical engineering?

Answer 7

• Biomaterials: creation of structures and devices to replace biological function
• Biomechanics: applying mechanics to understanding the function of the cell and organ systems in healthy and diseased states.
• Biosignals: developing software and technology to monitor body function (eg the brain with EEG, or the heart with ECG)
• Biocomputing: model, investigate and provide medical solutions using computing technologies
• Rehabilitation engineering: design and development of equipment such as wheelchairs and walking frames

Question 8

What are some health and safety issues within the field?

Answer 8

• “Do no harm” principle: biomedical engineers are ethically and legally required not to cause harm to patients through faulty procedures or equipment
• Biomedical engineers are required by law to extensively test all equipment, procedures and materials so no adverse affects occur
• The aim is to improve people’s quality of life
• NSW Work, Health and Safety Act 2011 outlines minimum standards for worker safety

Question 9

What are the different orders of lever?

Answer 9

First order: Fulcrum in between Effort and Load
                    E F L
Second order: Load closest to fulcrum
                    E L F
Third order: Effort closest to fulcrum
                    L E F

Question 10

How do you calculate velocity ratio?

Answer 10

VR = de / dl

Velocity Ratio = distance Effort / distance Load

Question 11

What is the equation for stress?

Answer 11

σ = F / A

Stress (Mpa) = Force / Area