By Loay Al-Zube
Engineering is a broad field that encompasses a range of specialties. Two of the most popular engineering fields are mechanical engineering and biomedical engineering. Although both disciplines involve the application of engineering principles and techniques, there are some distinct differences between the two. In this blog post, we’ll explore the core differences between mechanical engineering and biomedical engineering.
What is Mechanical Engineering?
Mechanical engineering is a field of engineering that focuses on the design, development, testing, and production of machinery and mechanical components (Moving Objects). It requires a deep understanding of mathematics and physics, along with a familiarity with a variety of manufacturing processes. Mechanical engineers are responsible for designing and developing engines, vehicles, robots, and other mechanical devices that moves.
What is Biomedical Engineering?
Biomedical engineering is a field of engineering that focuses on the design and development of medical devices, instruments, and systems (That Interacts with a Biological Living System). This field combines engineering principles with medical and biological sciences to develop machines, devices, and technologies that can diagnose and treat medical conditions. Biomedical engineers are responsible for designing medical equipment, such as pacemakers, prosthetics, and drug delivery systems.
Key Differences Between Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering
The primary differences between mechanical engineering and biomedical engineering are the focus of each field. Mechanical engineering focuses on the design and development of machinery and mechanical components that moves, while biomedical engineering focuses on the design and development of medical devices and systems that interacts with a biological living system/tissue/organ/cell.
Mechanical engineers use mathematics, physics, and engineering principles to design and develop engines, vehicles, robots, and other mechanical devices. In contrast, biomedical engineers use engineering principles and medical and biological sciences to design and develop medical devices, instruments, and systems.
Another key difference is the types of jobs available. Mechanical engineers typically work in the automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing industries. Biomedical engineers typically work in the healthcare industry, designing and developing medical devices and systems.
Finally, biomedical engineers need to study cell biology, organic chemistry, anatomy and physiology, and other natural science courses to understand cell fates: mitosis, migration, differentiation, apoptosis to design solutions to control these fates.
Conclusion
Mechanical engineering and biomedical engineering are two popular engineering fields. Although both disciplines involve the application of engineering principles and techniques, there are some distinct differences between the two. Mechanical engineering focuses on the design and development of moving machinery and mechanical components, while biomedical engineering focuses on the design and development of medical devices and systems that interact with biological living systems. Mechanical engineers typically work in the automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing industries, while biomedical engineers typically work in the healthcare industry.