Biomedical engineering: Principles and challenges

Objective: The use of engineering methods in the study of phenomena and systems of interest in medicine and biology has become very popular in last three decades, and much progress has been made as a result of these efforts. The aim of this article is to identify very large fields that cover such multidisciplinary approach and to suggest procedures for more successful outcomes. Methods: We have reviewed and assessed a variety of engineering modeling procedures, in a different levels of behavior (micro and macroscopic standpoint). In that sense we have used examples that are as simple as possible, just to interpret, the difference between the predictive and the explanatory powers of choose models, as well as the uses of analogy in their formation. Results: Biomedical engineering is a truly multidisciplinary, indeed not interdisciplinary, area that brings together medical researches, different kinds of engineers, and applied mathematicians, whose extensive differences in expertise and background make collaboration difficult. Conclusion: The lack of common way of understanding among medical researches and engineers what an engineering model is, partially if it in mathematical form and what it can do is identified as the main source of the future progress to improve the situation.