Innovations in Biomedical Engineering

From artificial organs and wearable health sensors to genetic modifications and improved prostheses, today’s biomedical engineers are making extraordinary scientific advancements. The field of biomedical engineering is expected to expand at a rate that exceeds the national average, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projecting a seven percent increase in job growth from 2023 to 2033.¹ This is due in part to the industry’s life-saving work, cutting-edge research and attractive pay rate.¹

This article will explore the significant impact of biomedical engineering on the healthcare industry as a whole, with a focus on several key innovations.

Biomedical Engineering and Its Impact on Healthcare

Biomedical engineering is a highly interdisciplinary field. It combines engineering principles with those of the medical sciences to design and build medical devices and technologies that improve quality of life and save human lives. Some divide biomedical engineering into four specializations, or sub-disciplines:²

• Clinical engineering involves the supervision of medical devices in healthcare facilities and education on their proper use
• Medical device engineering consists of the research, design and invention of new medical devices (e.g., diabetic pumps, pacemakers, dental implants, wearables)
• Medical imaging deals with equipment used to view the inner workings of the human body (X-ray machines, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, positron emission tomography)
• Tissue engineering uses technology to regrow or replicate entire tissue systems (skin grafts, artificial tendons or ligaments, even entire organs)

These disciplines have significantly transformed the way healthcare providers deliver patient care. For example, advancements in medical imaging have provided clinicians with a clearer view of human health conditions, enabling earlier diagnosis and more personalized treatment options.³ Improvements in medical device engineering have created smaller, more precise medical equipment, such as portable diabetic pumps, for a better quality of life and more positive patient health outcomes.⁴

Emerging Biomedical Technologies

Recent biomedical research innovations are helping healthcare providers tackle the most daunting medical challenges in several fields.

Robotics

Also known as robot-assisted surgery, robotic surgery has allowed physicians to perform operations on patients with greater precision, accuracy and effectiveness than ever before.⁵ The exact configuration will vary by procedure but consists of robotic arms, a 3D screen for a surgeon to view, and an interface through which the surgeon operates the equipment.

The superior precision of the robotic device leads to fewer infections, smaller incisions and less blood loss to the patient, but it can also help address healthcare shortages. Physicians may perform some surgical procedures remotely, enabling a patient to receive treatment from a clinician in another part of the world. This allows patients to have their needs addressed by available clinicians, resulting in better, more accessible care.⁶

Nanotechnology

Researchers are now leveraging nanotechnology as a means of superior-treatment drug delivery. For example, nanotechnology can deliver chemotherapy drugs to the site of cancerous tissue and facilitate more targeted radiation that has less impact on non-cancerous human cells. The result is a treatment plan more precisely tailored to an individual patient's needs, with superior patient outcomes.⁷

Genetic Engineering

Genetic engineering is critical in treating a wide range of diseases. It works by either repairing defective genes or replacing them altogether. It can treat numerous conditions, including:⁸

• Severe combined immunodeficiency
• Hemophilia and other blood disorders
• Blindness caused by retinitis pigmentosa
• Some cancers, including leukemia
• Inherited neurological disorders
• Heart and blood vessel diseases
• Infectious diseases

One form of genetic engineering is called clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR).⁹ First discovered in bacteria, CRISPR removes damaged genes and replaces them with healthy ones, providing a root-cause treatment to many medical conditions.

Cutting-Edge Biomedical Engineering

Several cutting-edge biomedical engineering advances involve next-generation technology found in computer science. Examples include:

• Artificial intelligence (AI): With multiple benefits to the healthcare industry, AI can detect patterns in demographic data to diagnose patients' conditions more accurately, and serve as a valuable tool for tracking the spread of pathogens¹⁰  
• Computer vision (CV): These AI-powered algorithms can provide closer inspection of tumors and other tissue systems—and a more accurate diagnosis of patient conditions¹¹ 
• Virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR): Now used as a training tool in leading teaching facilities, VR/AR provide realistic simulations with which healthcare providers practice a procedure before operating on a live patient; this results in better clinician preparedness, fewer complications and, ultimately, better patient care¹² 
• Biosensors: By integrating the sensors created by the Internet of Things (IoT) with bio-friendly electronics, clinicians can embed sensors within a patient, enabling closer monitoring and symptom detection¹³

Software isn't the only driver powering progress. Other emerging trends in biomedical engineering involve tissue regeneration and the development of entire organ systems. For example, smart implants replace a tissue system or organ, employ biosensors to diagnose and monitor a patient's condition, and automatically perform medical actions.¹⁴

Advances in Biomedical Engineering

The near future of biomedical engineering involves considerations not only of healthcare processes but of the environment and the greater social good. Eco-friendly medical devices such as biodegradable sensors can help reduce environmental harm caused by some healthcare technologies. When performed remotely, robotic surgery can save lives of individuals who would otherwise not have access to patient care.

Despite these advancements, some challenges surrounding biomedical innovations remain. Ethical considerations in biomedical engineering, regarding data security and privacy, are especially relevant to advances that deal with genetics. Bias in artificial intelligence has already hindered some people in underserved communities from receiving quality care.^15,16 Even with these challenges, current biomedical engineering breakthroughs show great promise for revolutionizing personalized medicine, the healthcare industry and the world as a whole.

Become a Leader in Biomedical Engineering Innovation

Position yourself for a successful career in biomedical engineering leadership. Deepen your expertise in the online MS in Biomedical Engineering program from the Case School of Engineering. Our acclaimed faculty leads this practice-oriented program, which is specifically designed to teach immediately applicable interdisciplinary skills to working professionals. You’ll advance your technical acumen, strengthen your critical thinking and redefine your career journey.

Better yet, you can tailor your coursework to fit your schedule. This fully online program accommodates your commitments at work and at home, so you can enjoy the flexibility to study any time, from anywhere.

Don’t wait to get ahead. Schedule a call with one of our admissions outreach advisors today.