Biomedical Engineering Interview Questions and Answers

Biomedical engineers may go in hospitals, universities, industry and laboratories. They enjoy a variety of possible duties, including the planning and development of artificial organs, modeling of physical processes, development of blood sensors and alternative physical sensors, design of therapeutic ways and devices for injury recovery, development and refinement of imaging techniques and instrumentation, development of advanced detection systems, testing of product performance, and best lab design.

Biomedical engineers generally do the following:

• Design biomedical instrumentation and devices, like artificial internal organs, replacements for body parts, and machines for designation medical issues.
• Install, maintain, repair, or offer technical support for biomedical instrumentation.
• Evaluate the protection, efficiency, of biomedical instrumentation.
• Train clinicians and other personnel on the correct use of biomedical instrumentation.
• Research the engineering aspects of the biological systems of humans and animals with life scientists, chemists, and medical scientists.
• Prepare procedures, write technical reports, publish research papers, and Develop recommendations based on their analysis findings.
• Present research findings to scientists, non-scientist executives, clinicians, hospital management, engineers, alternative colleagues, and the public.

Biomedical engineers design instruments, devices, and software used in healthcare, develop new procedures using information from several technical sources, and conduct research required to solve clinical issues. they regularly work in research and development or quality assurance.

Biomedical Engineers have developed many important techniques and equipment’s are Hip joint replacement, Magnetic resonance imaging, Heart pacemakers, Arthroscopic instrumentation for diagnostic and surgical purposes, Heart and lung machines, Angioplasty, Bioengineered skin, time release drug delivery, artificial joints, Kidney dialysis, etc.

Biomaterials involves the development of natural living tissue and artificial materials to be used within the flesh. alternative of materials with applicable properties is important to style of practical organs, bones and alternative implantable materials, which can embrace alloys, ceramics, polymers and composites.

It applies the principles of mechanics to understand and simulate medical problems and systems like fluid transport and range of motion. Prosthetic organs like artificial hearts, joints, and kidneys are examples of devices developed by biomechanical engineers.

It involves the use of engineering principles and methods such as computers, in developing devices for diagnosis and treatment of disease.

These isotopic traces technique is used to understand chemical reaction and interactions in biochemistry and chemistry. In this technique, one or more atoms of the molecule of interest is substituted for an atom of the same chemical element, but that element belongs to different isotope. It can be used to detect the difference in number of neutrons separately from the other atoms of the same element. The atom has the same number of protons. it will behave in almost exactly the same way chemically as other atoms in the compound, and with few exceptions will not interfered with the reaction under investigation.

Biological neuron is also called as spiking neuron model. This model is mathematical description of the properties of the nerve cell or neuron. This model is formulated to predict and describe the biological processes. This is different from artificial neuron because, artificial neuron is based on computational effectiveness. Artificial neuron is based on the synaptic weight for calculating the neuron output.

These microarrays are matrix in the form of arrays, where DNA oligonucleotides of DNA sequences are spotted. They can be used for gene expression profiling, single nucleotide polymorphism detection, detection of alternative splicing and for various other purposes. Microarrays have the capability to perform hybridization of coda with the help of probes. A microarray chip is capable to perform a large set of genetic related experiments concurrently.

Frameshift mutation is the type of mutation in which DNA sequence is changed due to additional and deletion of nucleotides. These mutation changes the code for amino acids. These is also called framing error or reading frame shift. This mutation will cause the reading of the codons after the mutation to code for different amino acids. No, this mutation is not similar to single nucleotide polymorphism. In single nucleotide polymorphism nucleotide is replaced, rather than deleted or inserted.

Myoelectric control uses the signals from a residual limb for the movement of the prosthetics. Myoelectric control technologies obtain signals from the skin on the limbs.

Systems Physiology focuses on understanding at the microscopic and the submicroscopic levels how systems within living organisms function, from pharmaceutical medicine response to metabolic systems and disease response, voluntary limb movements to skin healing and the auditory physiology. This specialty involves experimentation and their modeling using the mathematical formulations.

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder. Epilepsy occurs due to abnormal signals in the human brain. These abnormal signals cause seizures and unconsciousness.

Wave patterns seen in an EEG scan are delta state of sleep, theta drowsiness, alpha – relaxation, beta active thinking and gamma. Alpha also contains the mu-rhythm.

Cloning is a method of duplicating a DNA or a part of the DNA. Therapeutic cloning is also called somatic cell nuclear transfer is a process where an embryo is utilized. The embryo contains stem cells, which can be used in regeneration applications. Embryonic stem cells have the capability of renewing and are pluripotent that is it can transform or grow into more than 220 types of cells of the human body.

It is caused in central nervous system, when blood circulation is separated from the brain extra cellular fluid. This phenomenon occurs along all capillaries. It consists of tight junctions around the capillaries that do not exist in normal circulation. Cells of the barrier actively transport metabolic products such as glucose across the barrier with specific proteins. This barrier also consists of astrocytic end feet and also includes a thick basement membrane.

The full form of the BMI is Body Mass Index. BMI is a comparison of a person’s height and weight. It is a person’s weight divided by the square of the height. Its SI unit is kg/sq.m.

It combines electronic data processing, analysis and display with understanding of physical phenomena to identify and characterise health problems such as tumors, malformations. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound and other techniques are commonly used.

These are those organisms which feeds on other organism for their food. Pathogens can be transported through many different routes, including airborne, direct or indirect contact, sexual contact, through blood, breast milk, or other body fluids, and through the fecal-oral route. Pathogens can be used to suppress pest population. Different types of pathogens are viral pathogens, bacterial pathogens, fungal pathogens.

The full form of MRI is Magnetic Resonance Imaging. MRI is a medical imaging technique that gives a detailed structure of internal organs, especially soft tissues. MRI uses a strong magnetic field, generates images and models of the specified organ.

It focuses on enhancing the independence, capabilities and quality of life of individuals with physical impairments. This specialty may involve development of customised solutions to address highly specific needs of individuals.

In a gram staining protocol, gram positive bacteria are stained dark blue or violet. Crystal violet stain can be retained by the gram-positive bacteria because of the high amount of peptidoglycan in the cell wall. Gram-positive cell walls typically lack the outer membrane found in Gram-negative bacteria. In gram staining protocol, gram negative bacteria do not retain crystal violet dye. Gram negative bacteria have pathogenic capability. Gram negative bacteria have cytoplasmic membrane which is not present in gram positive bacteria.

ELISA stands for enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. It is a wet lab type analytical biochemistry assay. It can detect presence of a substance in a liquid or wet sample by using one subtype of heterogeneous, solid-phase enzyme immunoassay.Elisa is also used as a diagnostic tool in medicine and plant pathology. Quality check operations can also be performed in various industries with the help of ELISA.

It is a brain disease caused due to tau protein misfolding. It is an incurable disease and can be diagnosed in a PET or MRI scan. Alzheimer’s is related more with aging, where the disease is detected in human more than 65 years of age. The symptoms are memory losses, stress, confusion and also aggression. Diagnosis is mostly done by behavior related tests.

It is the technique of genetic fingerprinting. In this technique, DNA sequence can be used for identification of an individual. The main application of DNA fingerprinting is forensics. The main principle behind DNA fingerprinting is Polymerase Chain Reaction. These techniques is also popularly known as DNA profiling.

The commonly used technologies in medical imaging are Electron microscopy, Computer Tomography, radiography, thermography, nuclear medicine, fluoroscopy, ultrasound, Positron Emission Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Prosthetic limb is an artificial device which can be used to replace a missing body part. It is based on the principle of biomechatronic. It can be used to replace body part missing from birth, due to injury or due to defect. The main drawback of prosthetic limb is its cost. Moreover, prosthetic limbs have to be replaced every 3-4 year due to the wear and tear. If the limb has fit tissues then the sockets in the limb have to be replaced in every month.

These types of arrays where DNA oligonucleotides of DNA sequences are spotted as a matrix. Microarrays are used in gene expression profiling, single nucleotide polymorphism detection, detection of alternative splicing etc. Microarrays perform hybridization of cDNA using probes. A microarray chip has the capability to perform a large set of genetic related experiments simultaneously.

Gram staining method is used to identify bacterial species into two communities that is gram positive and gram negative. This method is based on the chemical and physical properties of their cell walls. It can be used to detect the peptidoglycan, which is present in a thick layer in Gram positive bacteria. Purple/blue colour refers to the gram-positive bacteria. Red colour stain refers to the gram-negative bacteria. This method is very popularly used in the identification of bacterial organism.

Clones refer to the producing genetically identical individuals. Forbidden clones refer to clones of those cells which had immunological reactivity with self antigens. Embryonic life is eliminated from these types of clones. Such type of clones are called ‘forbidden clones’.

Immunoglobulins are popularly known as antibody. These are large Y-shaped protein produced by B-cells that is used by immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects such as bacteria and viruses. Immunoglobulins are “Y” shaped structure which is having two tips and each tip of immunoglobulins contains a paratope.

Immunoglobulins are typically made of basic structural units-each with two large heavy chains and two small light chains. The general structure of all antibodies is very similar, a small region at the tip of the protein is extremely variable.

Retrovirus: It is a RNA virus which can be duplicated in a host cell using the reverse transcriptase enzyme. Retrovirus can produce DNA from its RNA genome. The produced DNA is then incorporated into the host’s genome by an integrase enzyme. The RNA virus thereafter replicates as part of the host cell’s DNA. These are enveloped viruses that belong to the viral family Retroviridae.

Provirus: It is a virus genome which can integrate into DNA of host cell. In inactive viral infections the virus will not replicate itself but through replication of its host cell. This state can last over many host cell generations.

Introns: It refers to any nucleotide sequence within a gene which is removed by RNA splicing to generate the final mature RNA product of a gene. The term intron refers to both the DNA sequence within a gene, and the corresponding sequence in RNA transcripts. Introns are found in the genes of most organisms and many viruses.

Exons: It can be referred to a sequence in DNA or its RNA transcript. In broad sense. An exon is a nucleic acid sequence that is represented in the mature form of an RNA molecule.

It is the process of delivery of blood to a capillary bed in the biological tissue. Tests of adequate perfusion are a part of the patient assessment process performed by medical or emergency personnel. The most common methods include evaluating skin color, temperature, condition and capillary refill. Perfusion can be of two types over perfusion and under perfusion.

Types of perfusion is classified according to the average level of perfusion across all tissues in an individual body, tissues like the heart are considered over perfused and receive more blood than would be expected to meet the metabolic needs of the tissue.

It refers to the event in DNA genetic recombination. This event occurs at high frequencies during meiotic division but which also occurs in somatic cells. Through this process we can transfer DNA information from one DNA helix to another DNA helix, whose sequence is altered. Gene mutation can also be accomplished through this process. IT may lead to non-Mendelian inheritance. These phenomena have often been recorded in fungal crosses.

The full form of LMO is living modified organism. These are those organisms that have been genetically modified through the application of biotechnology. It also includes organisms that have been modified by novel recombinant DNA techniques as well as those that have been modified by mutagenesis or classical breeding and selection techniques. Importance of LMO’s is that they can eat hazardous waste.

RCCS full form is rotary cell culture system. RCCS is a device designed to grow three-dimensional cell clusters in microgravity. This device was developed by NASA to study the cell tissues of mammals-including humans-in microgravity. Tissues grown in the RCCS are larger and three-dimensional, with structural and chemical characteristics similar to normal tissue. It has no moving parts; thus, cells are less prone to damage and hence provides longer life span.

It is superior over paper chromatography because of inorganic nature of adsorbent concentrated sulfuric acid spray. The spray is then followed by heating. It may be used to develop on the chromatogram by charring. Also, amino acid mixtures require 18 hours for separation on paper. It requires 3 hrs using cellulose TLC. The advantages of TLC lie in adsorbents which don’t allow separation on paper. In TLC we have much wider choice of adsorbents depending upon sample and needs.

Clinical engineering involves development and maintenance of computer date bases, inventorying medical equipment was well add purchases of medical equipment used in hospitals. Clinical engineering may work with physicians to customize equipment to the explicit needs of the hospital of medical procedure.

Flow control also called optimized production technology. It focuses on the efficient flow of material through the production process. The philosophy of flow control focuses on bottlenecks. For example, an owner using flow control will not buy a machine capable of 1,000 units an hour if supply is only 500 units.

Examine systems and determine where lowest flow is experienced, then address that point and make sure it operates at full capacity. Flow control applies well where maximum productivity is required.

No one can know if the rapid growth of Biomedical engineering will continue at its current pace. All fields are susceptible to fluctuations in the economy. However, if we consider the explosion in scientific and medical knowledge of recent years, we can see that there are enormous opportunities to use that knowledge in the development of new medical devices and healthcare systems. The importance of healthcare in the U.S. appears to be increasing yearly and very well for the future of biomedical engineering.

Most new fields, biomedical engineering developed because of need to address complex problems that require interdisciplinary knowledge. A strong biomedical engineering program will provide students with the skills necessary to work as engineers as well as provide physiological and the biological foundations that are not included in more traditional engineering programs.

According to the National Science Foundation, biomedical engineering is the fastest growing branch of engineering in terms of student enrollment.

Role of biomedical Engineer in an Industry:

• Preparing quotations and tenders.
• Maintaining records, as an example instrumentation history.
• Setting standards their compliance.
• Maintaining the instrumentation to the simplest of its performance by organizing a planned.
• Maintenance program for all needs and planning to emergency breakdowns and repairs.
• Carry out review and repairs of the equipment/machine at company site or at the hospital site.
• Arranging for coaching programs for personnel in clinical engineering department additionally as the end users.
• Dividing and providing experience to the medical workers, administration.
• Maintaining instrumentation inventory for all existing and incoming equipment’s.
• Involvement of the hospital’s safety committee and checking safety hazards.
• Keeping record of the Spares or expendable things.

Role of Biomedical Engineer In a Hospital:

• Purchase of equipment (which includes inviting quotations or tenders for purchasing new equipment’s or machines and preparing comparison chart for the same).
• Writing specifications for all the new reequipment’s and machinery.
• Evaluating equipment and machinery on the basis of their initial cost as well as its operating cost, since many times, the high maintenance and operating cost of the equipment turns out to be much higher than initial cost.
• Inspection of incoming equipment and machinery and doing pre-acceptance checks before official acceptance and the payment.
• Maintaining records, example is equipment history.
• Setting standards and ensuring their compliance.
• Maintaining the equipment to the best of their performance by organising a planned.
• Maintenance program for all Equipment’s and attending to emergency breakdowns and repairs.
• Arranging for training programs for personal in clinical engineering department as well as the end users.
• Advising and providing expertise to the medical staff and administration.
• Active involvement in the activities of the hospitals safety committees and checking safety hazards.
• Keeping record of the Spares or consumable items.