Knowledge and study are an important part of the modern world, education is the combination of both of these which is a more formal term to be used. Education is said to be the key to success, and that is why it is considered an important tool for reshaping society.
There are several courses within the education system, which are directed in different fields, some courses offered technical degrees, which further leads to several technical jobs. Many times, students get confused when the choices are given due to lack of knowledge about the course, that sometimes leads to failures.
Engineering is such a vast term which includes several types of it, for example, mechanical, civil, electronics, chemical, etc., this leads to confusion in students choosing the right field for them. Engineering has great scope in various fields including medical.
Bioengineering vs Biomedical Engineering
The main difference between bioengineering and biomedical engineering is that bioengineering theoretically focuses on different areas of natural science to solve several issues, on the other hand, biomedical engineering focuses practically in the context of health. Biomedical engineering is said to be a more specialized version of bioengineering.
Comparison Table Between Bio-engineering and Biomedical engineering
| Parameters of Comparison | Bioengineering | Biomedical Engineering |
| Definition | the course which deals theoretically with life sciences, physical sciences, engineering principles, mathematics, and problem-solving in biology, health, medicines, and other fields. | It is a more specialised version of bioengineering, which uses several theories of different discipline’s principles and utilizes them practically to improve human health. |
| Other inclusive courses | Biomedical engineering, etc. | Bioinformatics, neural engineering, etc. |
| Type of knowledge | Theory | Practical |
| Fields | Agriculture, natural resources, health, etc. | Health and Care |
| More preferred | Less preferred | More preferred |
What is Bio-engineering?
Bioengineering or biological engineering is a course that deals theoretically with life sciences, physical sciences, engineering principles, mathematics, and problem-solving in biology, health, medicines, and other fields.
In simple words, bioengineering can be defined as the applied engineering practices in general biology. It is a vast field that even covers agriculture, pharmaceuticals, topics related to food, natural resources, etc.
Bioengineering covers several aspects of traditional engineering fields, including chemical, electrical, mechanical engineering, etc., a bioengineering graduate can be employed in several institutions as they know medical devices, pharmaceuticals, etc., they can even pursue careers in law, business, or any other field of their choice.
Few examples that bioengineering covers are; medical image techniques including MRI or Xray, the study of artificial organs like an artificial hip, joints, knees etc., and using engineering principles in fields of pharmaceuticals for manufacturing purposes.
The complexity of the course makes it vast, and thus preferred by fewer people, the specialized courses within bioengineering like biomedical engineering are preferred more due to the clarity of field it offers. Bioengineering mostly offers research work as the discipline covers the theory part more.
What is Biomedical Engineering?
Biomedical engineering is a more specialized version of bioengineering, which uses several theories of different discipline’s principles and utilizes them practically to improve human health. This field of Engineering is more focused on developing tools and techniques within the medical devices and human health care context.
In other words, biomedical engineering for biomedical engineers deals with diagnosis, therapy and monitoring. Biomedical engineers have the scope in several fields related to medical and Healthcare.
Biomedical engineering is now evolving as an entirely different field which is itself a disciplinary course instead of an interdisciplinary course. Now it offers several interdisciplinary courses such as; Biomechanics, tissue engineering, Biomedical optics, Bioinformatics, biomaterial, Pharmaceutical engineering, neural engineering and so on.
Biomedical engineers can also go for research work, or simply be hired as biomedical equipment technicians (BMET) in any hospital, who work for routine maintenance of devices. They usually have an innovative job for solving medical issues, like the invention of artificial hearts, artificial joints, regeneration of tissues, etc.
Biomedical engineering is great scope for people Who want to go for research work in Healthcare context but do not want to perform a surgery, this disciplinary course offers the research work and even the practical knowledge about engineering principles of several other disciplinary courses of bioengineering.
Main Differences Between Bio-engineering and Biomedical engineering
- Bioengineering is a course that deals theoretically with life sciences, physical sciences, engineering principles, mathematics, and problem-solving in biology, health, medicines, and other fields, whereas, biomedical engineering is a specialized version of bioengineering.
- Bioengineering is a theory-based disciplinary course on the other hand biomedical engineering is a more practical knowledge-based course.
- Bioengineering is a vast field that covers several other interdisciplinary courses including biomedical engineering on the other hand biomedical engineering is itself a specialized course of bioengineering.
- Bioengineering does not necessarily deal with health and care, on the other hand, biomedical engineering deals with Health and Care.
- Biomedical engineering is a more preferred course as compared to bioengineering.
- Bioengineering is a broad disciplinary course that covers several other fields like agriculture, natural resources, etc., but biomedical engineering explicitly works within the boundaries of health and care.
Conclusion
Bioengineering and biomedical engineering are both part of the engineering fields. These courses offer a wide range of interdisciplinary courses.
Bioengineering is a vast field which even covers biomedical engineering with several other disciplinary and interdisciplinary courses.
Graduates from bioengineering are known as bioengineers for biomedical engineers. The demand for bioengineering or biomedical engineers is rising day by day due to improvements in technology in health and care context.
Biomedical engineering is a specialized version of bioengineering and thus, it is a more preferred course as compared to bioengineering. Both of them are considered important fields of engineering.
References
- http://www.fer.unizg.hr/_download/repository/Literatura/sken/McMahon%20-%20Muscle%20mechanics.pdf
- https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=twc-GLOtlOQC&oi=fnd&pg=PP2&dq=what+is+biomedical+engineering&ots=PJtVDkujcx&sig=xlynnfWmrAs6Q4qqQWiSE6GsRoA