Biomedical Engineering Institute
The Biomedical Engineering Institute
was formed within the
Department of Bioengineering at the Pennsylvania
State University in February 1998 with a Special Opportunity
Award from the
Whitaker Foundation. The purpose of the Biomedical
Engineering Institute is to educate graduate bioengineering
students at the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in
the research and development of medical devices. Over 23
students have been enrolled in the Institute’s biomedical
engineering program since its inception. These include 13 MS,
10 PhD, and 7 post doctoral fellows.
The Biomedical Engineering Institute is
comprised of faculty from the departments of
Surgery,
Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, and
Radiology. The Institute provides a distinct program in
Bioengineering within Penn State’s graduate bioengineering
program as well as a unique academic infrastructure at the
College of Medicine campus in Hershey, PA. This infrastructure
includes office and laboratory space in the Biomedical Research
Building, teaching support, specialized courses, access to
courses between Hershey and University Park through distance
learning technology, a biomedical engineering library, housing,
and a unique opportunity to work closely with practicing
physicians and Bioengineering faculty.
The primary research focus of the Institute
is research and development of medical devices. The Hershey
Medical Center is a unique environment to promote collaboration
between engineers, clinicians, and the biomedical industry.
Bioengineering faculty working in the departments of Surgery,
Orthopedics, Radiology, and Anesthesia are focused on five
specific research areas:
- Prosthetic and Therapeutic Devices
- Diagnostics and Imaging
- Surgical Devices and Technology
- Cardiovascular Biomaterials
-
Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation
There is a long history of translational
research at Hershey that has resulted in several medical devices
developed at Penn State reaching clinical application. Two
examples are the
Arrow LionHeart™ Left Ventricular Assist System and
the
Thoratec®
Ventricular Assist Device VAD System.
Current research projects include the
following:
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