Courses
The following biomedical engineering courses are also available for graduate credit.
BME 860. Preparation for Qualifying Examination
Variable credits
BME 850. Laboratory Rotation in Biomedical Engineering
3 or 4 credits
Offered fall, spring and summer for students doing laboratory rotations on the UMMS campus. (Prerequisite: Ph.D. student in biomedical engineering.)
Biomedical Sciences II (6 credits)
- Quarter III: Cell Biology (3 credits)
- Quarter IV: Systems (3 credits)
Biomedical Sciences I (6 credits)
- Quarter I: Biochemistry (3 credits)
- Quarter II: Molecular Biology and Genetics (3 credits)
Biomedical Science Core (I and II)
Provides students with an integral foundation in the sciences basic to medicine, emphasizing contemporary topics in biological chemistry, transfer of genetic information, cellular architecture and regulation, and multicellular systems and processes. Students may take all or part of the core, in either quarter or semester format.
BME 4828. Biomaterial - Tissue Interactions
This course examines the principles of materials science and cell biology underlying the design of medical devices, artificial organs, and scaffolds for tissue engineering. Molecular and cellular interactions with biomaterials are analyzed in terms of cellular processes such as matrix synthesis, degradation, and contraction. Principles of wound healing and tissue remodeling are used to study biological responses to implanted materials and devices. Case studies will be analyzed to compare tissue responses to intact, bioresorbable and bioerodible biomaterials. Additionally, this course will examine criteria for restoring physiological function of tissue and organs, and investigate strategies to design implants and prostheses based on control of biomaterial-tissue interactions. (Prerequisites: BME 2604, BB 2550 or equivalent, ES 2001 or equivalent, PH 1120 or PH 1121.)
BME/ME 4814. Biomedical Materials
This course discusses various aspects pertaining to the selection, processing, testing (in vitro and in vivo) and performance of biomedical materials. The biocompatibility and surgical applicability of metallic, polymeric and ceramic implants and prosthetic devices are discussed. The physico-chemical interactions between the implant material and the physiological environment will be described. The use of biomaterials in maxillofacial, orthopedic, dental, ophthalmic and neuromuscular applications is presented.(Recommended background: BB 3101 or equivalent introduction to human anatomy, ES 2001 or equivalent introduction to materials science and engineering.)
BME/ME 4606. Biofluids
This course emphasizes the applications of fluid mechanics to biological problems. The course concentrates primarily on the human circulatory and respiratory systems. Topics covered include: blood flow in the heart, arteries and veins, and microcirculation and air flow in the lungs and airways. Mass transfer across the walls of these systems is also presented. (Prerequisite: A background in continuum mechanics [ME 3501] and fluid mechanics equivalent to ME 3602 is assumed.) This course will be offered in 2012-13, and in alternating years thereafter.
BME/ME 4504. Biomechanics
This course emphasizes the applications of mechanics to describe the material properties of living tissues. It is concerned with the description and measurements of these properties as related to their physiological functions. Emphasis on the interrelationship between biomechanics and physiology in medicine, surgery, body injury and prosthesis. Topics covered include review of basic mechanics, stress, strain, constitutive equations and the field equations encountered in fluids, viscoelastic behavior and models of material behavior. The measurement and characterization of properties of tendons, skin, muscles and bone. Biomechanics as related to body injury and the design of prosthetic devices. (Recommended background: Differential and integral calculus, ordinary differential equations, familiarity with the concepts of mechanics, including continuum mechanics [ES 2501, ES 2502, ME 3501, MA 2051].) This course will be offered in 2011-12, and in alternating years thereafter.
BME 4201. Biomedical Imaging
This course is a practical introduction to biomedical image processing using examples from various branches of medical imaging. Topics include: point operations, filtering in the image and Fourier domains, image reconstruction in computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, and data analysis using image segmentation. Review of linear-systems theory and the relevant principles of physics. Coursework uses examples from microscopy, computed tomography, X-ray radiography, and magnetic resonance imaging. A working knowledge of undergraduate signal analysis, and linear algebra is desirable. Facility with a high-level programming language is recommended. This course will be offered in 2012-13, and in alternating years thereafter.
BME 4023. Biomedical Instrumentation Design
This course builds on the fundamental knowledge of bioinstrumentation and biosensors presented in BME 3011. Lectures and hands-on laboratory experiments cover the principles of designing, building and testing analog instruments to measure biological events. Design laboratories will include biopotential amplifiers and biosensor/ bioinstrumentation systems for the measurement of physiological parameters. (Prerequisites: BME 2204 and BME 3011.) This course will be offered in 2011-12, and in alternating years thereafter.
BME 699. Ph.D. Dissertation
BME 598. Directed Research
BME 596. Research Seminar
Presentations on current biomedical engineering research.
BME 595. Special Topics in Biomedical Engineering
Topics in biomedical engineering. Presentations and discussions of the current literature in an area of biomedical engineering. See the SUPPLEMENT section of the on-line catalog at for descriptions of courses to be offered in this academic year.
BME 591. Graduate Seminar
Topics in biomedical engineering are presented both by authorities in the field and graduate students in the program. Provides a forum for the communication of current research and an opportunity for graduate students to prepare and deliver oral presentations. Students may meet the attendance requirement for this course in several ways, including attendance at weekly biomedical engineering seminars on the WPI campus, attendance at similar seminar courses at other universities or biotech firms, attendance at appropriate conferences, meetings or symposia, or in any other way deemed appropriate by the course instructor.
BME 582. Principles of In Vivo Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging
This course emphasizes the applications of Fourier transform nuclear magnetic resonance (FTNMR) imaging in medicine and biology. Course topics include review of the basic physical concepts of NMR (including the Bloch equations), theoretical and experimental aspects of FTNMR, theory of relaxation and relaxation mechanisms in FTNMR, instrumentation for FTNMR, basic NMR imaging techniques. (Prerequisites: Differential and integral calculus, ordinary differential equations.)
BME 581. Medical Imaging Systems
Overview of the physics of medical image analysis. Topics covered include X-Ray tubes, fluoroscopic screens, image intensifiers; nuclear medicine; ultrasound; computer tomography; nuclear magnetic resonance imaging. Image quality of each modality is described mathematically, using linear systems theory (Fourier transforms, convolutions). (Prerequisite: Signal analysis course BME/ECE 4011 or equivalent.)
BME 562. Laboratory Animal Surgery
A study of anesthesia, surgical techniques and postoperative care in small laboratory animals. Anatomy and physiology of species used included as needed. Class limited to 15 students. Approximately 15 surgical exercises are performed by each student. (Prerequisite: Graduate standing. Admission of undergraduate students requires the permission of the department head and the instructor.)
BME 560. Physiology for Engineers
An introduction to fundamental principles in cell biology and physiology designed to provide the necessary background for advanced work in biomedical engineering. Quantitative methods of engineering and the physical sciences are stressed. Topics include cell biology, DNA technology and the physiology of major organ systems.
BME/ME 558. Biofluids and Biotransport
The emphasis of this course is on modeling fluid flow within the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems, and the transport processes that take place in these systems. Applications include artificial heart valves, atherosclerosis, arterial impedance matching, clinical diagnosis, respiration, aerosol and particle deposition. Depending upon class interest, additional topics may include reproductive fluids, animal propulsion in air and water, and viscoelastic testing. (Prerequisite: A first course in biofluids equivalent to BME/ME 4606.)
BME/ME/MTE 554. Composites with Biomedical and Materials Applications
Introduction to fiber/particulate-reinforced, engineered and biologic materials. This course focuses on the elastic description and application of materials that are made up of a combination of submaterials, i.e., composites. Emphasis will be placed on the development of constitutive equations that define the mechanical behavior of a number of applications, including: biomaterial, tissue and materials science. (Prerequisites: Understanding of stress analysis and basic continuum mechanics.)
BME/ME 552. Tissue Mechanics
This biomechanics course focuses on advanced techniques for the characterization of the structure and function of hard and soft tissues and their relationship to physiological processes. Applications include tissue injury, wound healing, the effect of pathological conditions upon tissue properties, and design of medical devices and prostheses. (Prerequisite: An understanding of basic continuum mechanics.)
BME/ME 550. Tissue Engineering
This biomaterials course focuses on the selection, processing, testing and performance of materials used in biomedical applications with special emphasis upon tissue engineering. Topics include material selection and processing, mechanisms and kinetics of material degradation, cell-material interactions and interfaces; effect of construct architecture on tissue growth; and transport through engineered tissues. Examples of engineering tissues for replacing cartilage, bone, tendons, ligaments, skin and liver will be presented. (Prerequisites: A first course in biomaterials equivalent to BME/ME 4814 and a basic understanding of cell biology and physiology. Admission of undergraduate students requires the permission of the instructor.)
BME 532. Medical Device Regulation
This course provides an overview of regulations that guide the medical devices industry. Primary focus is on the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) and its associated regulations. The course covers the FD&C Act, including definitions, prohibited acts, penalties and general authority. The course also covers regulations, including establishment registration, premarket approval (PMA) and current good manufacturing practices. Requirements of other federal agencies (NRC, FCC, EPA) will also be discussed.
BME 531. Biomaterials in the Design of Medical Devices
Biomaterials are an integral part of medical devices, implants, controlled drug delivery systems, and tissue engineered constructs. Extensive research efforts have been expended on understanding how biologic systems interact with biomaterials. Meanwhile, controversy has revolved around biomaterials and their availability as a result of the backlash to the huge liability resulting from controversies related to material and processing shortcomings of medical devices. This course specifically addresses the unique role of biomaterials in medical device design and the use of emerging biomaterials technology in medical devices. The need to understand design requirements of medical devices based on safety and efficacy will be addressed. Unexpected device failure can occur if testing fails to account for synergistic interactions from chronic loading, aqueous environments, and biologic interactions. Testing methodologies are readily available to assess accelerated effects of loading in physiologic-like environments. This combined with subchronic effects of animal implants is a potential tool in assessing durability. It is difficult to predict the chronic effects of the total biologic environment. The ultimate determination of safety comes not only from following the details of regulations, but with an understanding of potential failure modes and designs that lowers the risk of these failures. This course will evaluate biomaterials and their properties as related to the design and reliability of medical devices.
BME 523. Biomedical Instrumentation
Origins and characteristics of bioelectric signals, recording electrodes, biopotential amplifiers, basic sensors, chemical, pressure, sound, and flow transducers, noninvasive monitoring techniques and electrical safety. (Prerequisites: Circuits and electronics, control engineering or equivalent.)
