Biomechanics
Biomechanical engineering is one of the main converged fields of study that applies the mechanical theory used mainly in mechanical engineering into a living structure, understanding and analyzing the principle through engineering. The field of biomechanics can be largely divided into basic research that study the mechanical properties in a living organism or cell, and applied research which is based on this basic research.
Basic research of biomechanical engineering includes a very wide range of medical research. It greatly contributes and provides many ideas to various fields of biomedical engineering, such as research about mechanical properties of each tissue in a living organism, research about hydrodynamic properties in cardiovascular system and respiratory system, research about material properties of bioimplants and its interaction with living tissues, research about various control mechanisms involved in biometabolism and movement, biomimetics research based on various analyses, and so on.
Biomechanics is using mechanical engineering solutions not only in basic research as above but also in solving problems attending to designing and manufacturing many medical equipment used in humans such as various artificial organs. It has especially become an essential study in the field of rehabilitation medicine for developing the many test equipment and treatment devices. Based on this, biomechanics will be combined with robot technology and many studies of supplementing or replacing the damaged function of the organism is expected to become active.
Biomimetics which is recently being focused as an important field of biomechanics can also be seen as a representative of this field. There has been many attempts in the past to mimic and apply the merits of various organisms that have repeated evolution over a long time, but based on recent diverse technologies of mechanical engineering that have made rapid progress, all sorts of research is being carried out which has not been possible in the past. Such examples include robots climbing walls by mimicking lizard’s nano cilia, swimming suits mimicking shark skin, superhydrophobic surfaces that cleans itself, etc. Dream technologies that were not possible before, or those that were needed but not available are becoming reality from dreams as bioengineering and mechanical engineering are being combined.
The field of biomechanical engineering which is a new combined field of study meets bioengineering based on the theory of previously developed mechanical engineering, having limitless growth potential as a field to contribute to not only medicine and engineering but also to the overall modern society.
