Significance of biomedical engineering in new normal
The Covid pandemic has claimed the lives of thousands of people worldwide and has become an unprecedented burden to public health, our society as well as the global economy. At one point building resistance against this virus seemed nearly impossible especially when the rate of spread of the virus was increasing exponentially. But the world adapted, went for a lockdown, and came back embracing the possibilities of the new normal. The infiltration of the new normal into society would not have been possible without biomedical engineers.
Most of them realized their call and worked relentlessly in assisting the frontline workers with ample technological support as well as indulged enthusiastically in creating new technology within an amazingly short span of time. They continue to do so as the new normal requirements include masks, thermal scanners, and other medical gears. The improvisation of these types of equipment as well finding new sustainable replacements has been recognized as their new mission.
Biomedical engineers’ general roles include designing and developing equipment and devices to diagnose different diseases and syndromes, aid the recovery of these ailments, improve the general health, and other equipment that can be used on the human body. This also includes internal devices, such as stents or artificial organs, or external devices, such as braces and supports (orthotics). It is a role that requires excellent knowledge of computing, biology, engineering, inventive nature, and good problem-solving skills.
With the commencement of the Covid pandemic, biomedical engineers diversified their roles. With the development of vaccines along with scientists from different domains of science, improvising machines for detection, and supplying enough medical instruments for treatment, biomedical engineers themselves realized their need and importance while surviving this pandemic.
They use their ingenuity to make the items that are so desperately needed. Many uses reverse engineering techniques to help them deconstruct items and their parts to help them better understand the make-up of the equipment and the optimum methods needed to recreate them. This process would normally take months, but the challenge is to shorten this time frame as much as possible. Items are needed within days or weeks, so they work to safely speed up the production and testing process, to ensure that equipment is distributed quickly, while still meeting high health and safety requirements.
Even in the spur of Covid 19, the higher vision of biomedical engineers that is the miniaturization and computerization of the medical industry is never neglected and is given immense significance. Even though the medical industry did come a long way from the traditional treatment methods and primitive diagnosing methodologies, the scope of error is never nearly zero. Understanding the importance of healthcare, biomedical engineers are relentlessly working towards designing and producing advanced and accurate medical components.
As the virus continues to thrive this newfound significance is not yet died. The development of a more sustainable solution to the numerous healthcare problems as well as lifestyle problems is a necessity. Also, the increasing importance of mechanicalizing the medical industry not just to reduce the errors but as well as to identify and cure the impossible makes the future of a biomedical engineer bright and at the same time reminds them of the significance of their efficiency.
