What is Biomedical Engineering?

Biomedical engineering integrates physical, chemical, mathematical, and computational sciences and engineering principles to study biology, medicine, behavior, and health.

It advances fundamental concepts; creates knowledge from the molecular to the organ systems level; and develops innovative biologics, materials, processes, implants, devices and informatics approaches for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, for patient rehabilitation, and for improving health.

NIH working definition of bioengineering – July 24, 1997

Mechanobiology versus Biomechanics

I heard once these definitions from Prof. J.Humphrey and I find them quite nice :

Mechanobiology – the study of altered cellularactivity (gene expression or function) in response to changes in mechanical stimuli.

Biomechanics – the development, extension,and application of mechanics for purposes of understanding better biology, physiology, and pathophysiology as well as the treatment of disease and injury.(must invoke the 5 basic postulates of mechanics)

what I really like about the latter, is that mechanic laws should be extended and developed in order to be used in living tissue. We can not always use the existing rules. We should look for new ones, new relationships and discover new horizons. For sure, we have to remain in the framework of principle of mechanics.