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Learning BME page. All you need to know about NP BME (FAQs)
Q1. What is Biomedical Engineering (BME) really like?
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Biomedical Engineering is the application of science to healthcare. It creates new knowledge and uses every existing body of knowledge in the sciences to find practical solutions in helping clinicians diagnose and treat their patient better.
BME therefore is a quest for better techniques, for development of newer devices (including huge multi-million dollar machines) and for finding more efficient systems for doctors to use.
To be effective, the biomedical engineer must successfully combine the complex field of engineering with an equally complex field of the human body and medical treatment. This course is challenging and is suitable for a person with an inquisitive and inventive mind. |
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Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) generates cross sectional images of soft tissue without surgical operations. |
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BME is really an exciting field, growing rapidly and accelerated by a lot of research money (both public and private) being pumped in. Numerous breakthroughs and inventions are being generated, typified for instance the approvals for new devices given by Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) of the United States. |
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A stent prevents the blood vessel from
collapsing and disrupting the flow of blood
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To keep pace with this tremendous growth, International conferences attracting attendances ranging from several hundred to a few thousands are being organised regularly by universities and biomedical engineering societies (e.g. IEEE-EMBS, IFMBE) throughout the world. In a typical year, there will be a number of such conferences for researchers to attend, to get updated and to network with each other. |
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Ngee Ann Polytechnic is also actively involved in organising a few of these conferences both at the international level and the local level.
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Local Scientific Meeting 2007
International Conference 2007
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Q2. What is the difference between Biomedical Science and Biomedical Engineering?
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There are many differences. Probably the best way to sense the broad difference is to contrast them in the following manner:
Biomedical Engineering is essentially engineering applied to healthcare at different stages - from drugs to physical treatment, from the cellular level to the complete human organism. The end results lead to newer techniques, better medical devices, and more efficient systems.
Biomedical Science is essentially science applied to healthcare - studying the biochemistry, mechanisms and pathways at cellular levels to macroscopic studies of complete human organism. The end results lead to better understanding and more effective treatments against pathological disorders (diseases).
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Q3. Is NP's BME Diploma courses focussed on Medical Instrumentation?
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Our course is truly multidisciplinary and broader than just medical instrumentation. It rides on the our Government's emphasis and Singapore's economic growth in the Medical Technology and Healthcare Services Sectors. To ensure this broad coverage of different BME disciplines are well taught, Ngee Ann's BME diploma course is taught by three divisions/schools:
• Electronic and Computer Engineering Division
- conducts a broad range of engineering, bioinstrumentation, biosignal processing modules;
• Mechanical Engineering Division
- Biomechanics, materials, implants, rehabilitation engineering;
• School of Life Sciences and Chemical Technology
- Cell and molecular Biology, anatomy & physiology.
Take a look at our curriculum for more details. Ngee Ann's BME course also attracts the best students among the polytechnics - a testimony of the quality of the course that we offer!
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Q4. Why does NP also offer a course on Biomedical Engineering?
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Actually NP is the leader. Ngee Ann is the first polytechnic to offer a Biomedical Engineering Diploma. Being the pioneer we first had to do a market survey, gather industry feedback and then develop an appropriate curriculum that matches the needs of our healthcare industry. A consultant was engaged to oversee the process. And a committee of industrial personnel involved in this field was formed to help formulate the curriculum. This helps to ensure that our graduates will have the flexibility to join the workforce or go for further studies. Take a look at our further studies webpage, which lists the different universities that have already accredited our diploma course. Depending on the course students can be exempted for up to 2 years of undergraduate study. |
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Q5. Do I need Biology to offer BME as my choice of study?
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Having studied biology is an advantage. But if you did not, we have a module, Physiological Systems, that helps you develop the necessary biology knowledge to cope with the course demands.
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Q6. Do I need Physics to offer as my choice of study?
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Having studied physics is an advantage since BME is essentially still an engineering course. Nevertheless, our module on Biophysics will help you develop the necessary physics knowledge to cope with the course demands.
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Q7. What will I do after I graduate?
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The BME Diploma course is well sought after. Academically capable students join our course and are likely to gravitate to higher studies. But for those who, through circumstances or by choice, choose to work rather than further studies, there are a number of interesting work avenues:
Hospitals and Medical Centres: Every hospital has a biomedical engineering department either indigenous or contracted through a service organisation. Graduates joining this industry have a very important responsibility in making sure that all equipment are working to specification. If not they must be re-calibrated, repaired or retired. Newer equipment are frequently being purchased. So selection, acquiring, commissioning, training and assisting end-users (e.g. nurses) to use the equipment properly are part of the BME engineer's roles.
Medical Equipment Suppliers: Although a graduate joining this industry is involved in a smaller range of equipment (as compared to hospital industry) he/she will deal with a large variety of customers in a range of environments. Medical Equipment Suppliers/Vendors are usually regionalised or internationalised. Thus graduates can expect to have opportunities to frequently fly to different countries to service or to commission newly supplied equipment. If the vendor deals with complex equipment, there will be opportunities to be trained overseas in the facilities of the equipment manufacturer.
Research Organisations: With Singapore's emphasis on making the Life Sciences to become the fourth pillar of economic, funds are readily available to support promising research. Universities, Research Institutes, Polytechnics, and even Private organisations are tapping the large pool of fund to pay for the salaries of researchers. If your inclination is research, this is one field where there is ready money to tap from and fund interesting and promising investigations.
Manufacturing Sector: Singapore's Economic Development Board (EDB) is ensuring that manufacturing will remain a key sector of Singapore's economy. Medical technology companies are being successful lured to invest substantial investments manufacturing, with accompanying supporting research. Ensuring designs and manufacturing processes comply with Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) is essential for these companies to obtain the clearance from authorities to sell their manufactured products.
Technopreneurship: Being a promising hot area for technology and market growth, venture capitalists, even down to angels and high net-worth individuals are readily investing into promising product ideas. A research team working on a good idea with promising results would readily find money to commercialise their research work.
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Q8. Is it fun?
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Our students enjoy the course, run the BME Club and organise lots of activities for themselves and with the academic staff.
   
More.. What our students have to say, BBQs, Outings, Youth expeditions, In the labs, On Campus, With academic staff, Christmas, Talks by experts, ...
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