Best biomedical engineering books according to redditors

A guide like this would be priceless. Is any of it written yet? I think that your biggest challenge will be packaging that knowledge into a package that is approachable and easy to follow.

Stanford put together a reference like you're proposing for medical device development that helped me a lot in my first medical device project (http://www.amazon.com/Biodesign-Process-Innovating-Medical-Technologies/dp/0521517427/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394453046&sr=8-1&keywords=biodesign). Unfortunately no one outside of academia has ever heard of it.

In terms of what I'd pay for something like this, I'll answer your question in the same way that I ask from your side of the table. Less than $10 would feel cheap. Greater than $40 would be too much. Probably a good value between $20 and $30. Given that people would need these various pieces of advice over many months, have you thought of a monthly access fee?

Dacron I am sorry to hear that but there is more to it. Exciting changes have happened in the last 2 years regarding biotechnology but following the trend of exponential tech this will only get better. Like everything else in this world, a title is not enough. Biotechnology is just one variable in the equation of an exciting outcome. You need CREATIVITY + PERSISTENCE and a well defined goal of what you want to achieve. Someone with biotech background can innovate on new therapies for diabetes, htn, hld, heart failure. ETC. I started reading a book on biodesign. Please recommend this to your friend and hopefully he can see the true potential of biotech. http://www.amazon.com/Biodesign-Process-Innovating-Medical-Technologies/dp/0521517427 If he feels down and is a redditor, tell him to contact me, maybe I can help him get his inspiration back.

https://www.amazon.com/Horizons-Clinical-Nanomedicine-Varvara-Karagkiozaki-ebook/dp/B00OKUG4B0 Realy its a bit of a dry read but facinating look at the current state and potential future without any sci fi storytelling.

By modifying synaptic strength. Synapses are the points of connection between neurons.

I'll go all technical first, then explain the process in more common terms.

There is a famous dictum in neuroscience: neurons that fire together, wire together. This means that the synaptic efficiency between cells is increased when they tend to fire at the same time. This means that there will be a change so that the ability of cell A to make cell B fire will enhance. What's the nature of this change?

Glutamate is the brain's most common excitatory neurotransmitter. "Excitatory" in this case means that it increases the likelihood of an action potential going off in the receiving cell. Glutamate is released across the synapse and binds to glutamate receptors on the neighbouring cell. Let's look at two of them: AMPA and NMDA.

AMPA receptors are simple. Glutamate binds to them, they open ion channels that change the internal chemistry so that the likelihood of an action potential increases. Action potentials are all-or-nothing events. Cells either fire (1) or don't (0). So it's binary and rather neat.

NMDA receptors are similar to AMPA receptors, but they are different in that they require AMPA receptors to have been activated first before they are themselves activated. The membrane needs to be depolarized (brought closer to action potential threshold). This is because the ion channels opened by NMDA receptor activation are blocked by magnesium ions when the membrane is not sufficiently depolarized.

When NMDA receptors are activated, their associated ion channels lets in Ca^(2+) (calcium ions). This influx of Ca^(2+) leads to the activation of kinases (CAMKII, PKA, PKC, MAPK) and phosphotases. In the short run, this leads to the addition or subtraction of the number of AMPA receptors on the postsynaptic membrane. More AMPA = greater synaptic strength. Less AMPA = weaker synaptic strength. In the long run, there's a growth of dendritic spines.

All of the above is covered in great detail in introductory neuroscience textbooks. I recommend Kandel (highly detailed) or Purves (simple).

An important element in the process of synaptic plasticity is the Arc protein. Remarkably, Arc works like a virus. It encases mRNA in capsids and allows for interneuronal communication. Recently, it was found that one of its major roles is to strike a balance. When one synapse is strengthening, others are weakened. So there's a Darwinistic struggle involved even at this level.

So information is stored in synaptic connections. How is it used?

The information comes in the pattern of action potentials over time. This is called the spike train. Remember how I said action potentials are binary events? This means a spike train can look something like this: 00010111100100. This is clearly a neural code. It's entirely possible to decode it. For instance, you can listen in to a population of head-direction cells in the anterior thalamus of a rat while also recording its actual head movement. When you find neurons that respond to head direction (they spike more frequently when the head is oriented in a certain direction), you can later use the activity of these cells to know the rat's head direction at any time. If you also record the activity of speed cells, you can also trace the exact trajectory of the rat. This means that you can actually download neural data and accurately interpret it.

This is covered in Principles of Neural Coding.

It's usually difficult to understand something when technical terms are used; they often get in the way. So let's try to understand this using everyday terms.

Information is carried in the flow of energy through the brain. Information is stored by making it a little more difficult or a little easier for energy to flow down a certain path. Take associations, for instance. By repeatedly associating two different things, you are strengthening neural pathways between the two. If you don't use them, they will grow weaker with time.

I recently read Regenesis: How Synthetic Biology Will Reinvent Nature and Ourselves which was pretty good.

And then there's Synthetic Biology: A Primer which would appear to be exactly what you're looking for. ;) Bit expensive though.

I'm in first year doing DI in Scotland, we've been on placement since November. Don't be nervous, speak up and ask questions. You'll quickly learn which members of staff will let you do as much as you're comfortable with, while others will pretty much just carry on with their job until you ask/offer to do something. If you get to choose which room you're working in, try and get in a room with someone who's been helpful before, you'll learn more.

Every radiographer does things slightly differently, and different departments will have different 'standard views' from the ones you learned in uni. Learn what they want and do it their way, not the way you were taught in uni. DON'T argue that 'well this is the way we were taught to do it'!

Be as helpful as possible. Clean up / wipe down surfaces, process cassettes (if you're using them), offer to go get patients changed, etc. Don't stand around looking bored, if you don't know something, ask about it, genuine curiosity will be rewarded.

Remember your TLD and anatomical markers - I found this book really useful for carrying around (fits perfectly in NHS tunic pockets). Sometimes the radiographers will even ask to borrow it, so brownie points for you.

Good luck on your placement!

Merrill and Bontrager tend to be recommended by Americans, most of us Brits go for Clark's Positioning in Radiography.

Not read the 13th edition of the big boy book myself (basically everywhere has 12th edition, and I am not paying for a new one lol), but the only thing I disagree with in the first edition (since updated to 2nd edition) of the [little baby handbook for students and such] (https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Books/Clarks-Handbook-Radiographers-Companion-Essential/1498726992/ref=pd_sim_14_5?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=R5H91P80E0SZ5ZKVP0QH) was the ankle section, they describe a correct mortice view, but then the demonstrated image has their centring... somewhat high... :v

The main other book I consider a "must have" is Accident and Emergency Radiology, but as an ortho resident, you are likely past that (it is basic image interpretation, suitable for a junior doc or the average band 5/6 radiographer), though you might consider giving it a flick through anyway, it's not a long read, and is a very good quality book.

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Edit: Interesting thing about Clark's - go back a few versions from the 12th edition and they were inexplicably using nude patients in a solid half of the demonstration images, flicking between covered and uncovered for seemingly no reason. God knows why. In any of the modern ones, they are all wearing swimsuits, at least!

I've personally referenced Human Biomaterials Applications numerous times. There are lots of biomaterial reference books. I haven't read many, but I know this one has been handy.


The biomedical engineering handbook is a great resource, as is the 2nd part-Medical devices and systems. These two of the 3 part volume would be the core. The 3rd part (electrical) may be less than essential for someone more biomechanically focused.


Another good reference is the Clinical Engineering Handbook. Not sure if your sister is going to go the direction of Clinical Engineering, but there's tons of relevant information that any engineer would be well served to know, since their products will (hopefully) end up in the clinic.

The classic text is J.D. Murray's Mathematical Biology, but the last time I looked at it, it was a little long in the tooth. Maybe the second volume picks up a bit. No matter, look at it if you want to get a clear understanding of the background and classic problems.

There is a great deal of focus on computational molecular biology lately (networks, DNA computation, molecular programming, etc). Some of the people on the forefront of these fields include Niles Pierce, Erik Winfree and Drew Endy. Check out their papers and you'll get answers to many of your questions. On Winfree's page there is a whole list of collaborators which will keep you busy for a while.

The applied math degree will help, but if you really want to do well you'll need to learn a ton of biology. And I mean really learn it, there is nothing worse than a mathematician coming in and doing some cheap models of a biological system and claim that he has found a novel result when in fact it has no bearing on the underlying biology.

I have James D Murray's Mathematical Biology which is quite good (although I must confess I haven't read all of it) but perhaps out of the scope of what you'd be looking for.

I've looked up the recommended reading in a mathematics module for a biology degree at my university and they recommend Paul Monk's Maths for Chemistry: A chemist's toolkit of calculations so perhaps that might be useful for you (although it seems from the title it would be more geared towards chemists, yet that's what they reccomend).

Closest thing I could find: this book on this website. Hope it helps. The book's a bit pricey, might have some luck on the pirate bay or something.

Good luck! EMC is a bitch that us electronics developers have to deal with on a daily basis.

Is there a book you'd recommend that can give an overview of various techniques, but without lab protocol lists: i.e. "1.) Add 10mL of X", or a ton of equations. I'm not afraid of technical stuff as long as it's not too crazy. I've read 'The Cell' for instance - so I have general information on microbiology.

Something with chapter headings like: "Gene Insertion Techniques" or "Protein Sequencing Techniques" where the chapter would give you a broad overview of many techniques, why they matter and when to use these them.

These were some I was thinking of:

• Synthetic Biology: A Primer
  
• Biotechnology for Beginners
  
  Would love to get your take!

Are you looking for an anatomical textbook style on broad understanding of the heart, or something a little more in depth? For instance, I have this handbook, which on Amazon is expensive but you can find it elsewhere. It's a good resource, but it isn't exactly exciting. It's pretty broad in my opinion but includes a lot of research and good references.

The professor for my undergraduate "Transport Phenomena in Living Systems" wrote the book for our class. Not sure what you are hoping to apply this knowledge towards but you may find it a very useful resource. It was well-written book as I remember it.

Biotransport: Principles and Applications - Roselli, Diller

My Professor (Diller) is the former chairman of the ME and BME department an expert on heat transfer. In fact he was the expert witness on that multi-million McDonald's coffee burn case

I would recommend checking out later sections of this book http://www.amazon.com/Mathematical-Biology-Introduction-Interdisciplinary-Mathematics/dp/0387952233 (I can PM you a pdf if you want it). It goes into protein-protein bonding and protein-small molecule reactions in glorious mathematical sparseness, succinctly covers molecular biology/bioinformatic screens, and of course covers everyone's favorite intro PDE- the predator prey model; even after taking upper level undergraduate biochem/molecular biology courses seeing it all put so succinctly was a real treasure. Some of the math is relatively advanced for a developmental math course, but given that all of your biology/chemistry majors should have covered this material before (sans math in most cases) it shouldn't be too hard for them to jump into.

You can ask Aubrey de Grey [email protected] , hovewer, would you like to work in molecular nanotechnology? Make CAD program for designing nanomachines for medicine?

https://www.amazon.com/Nanomedical-Device-Systems-Design-Possibilities/dp/0849374987

Thanks for your input!

Yeah I totally understand about medical moving slowly, the regulatory process surrounding it seems like a science in and of itself.

Apparently engineering in the medical industry also pays the best on average than most conventional engineering industries? It could be because they tend to work in capital cities, or maybe because medical professions are generally pretty highly paid, and some of that recognition rubs off onto the engineers (I’d take advantage of that gravy train for as much as I could!)

Thats interesting regarding low disruption, but understandable when looking at barriers to entry. I just started reading this book Biodesign , a massive book but lays out literally everything about the medical device industry and how to innovate within it. Thoroughly recommended.

I haven't read any of those authors' books but I only read books that describes processes or books that have actions items to apply to your life. I used to read books that only made me feel good and I wouldn't learn or improve on anything.

For example, I have a book that details a process to innovate the healthcare field. This process has been developed by Stanford for 13+ years through research and consultation of high-level executives, physicians, other healthcare professionals, large companies, small companies across the world. Stanford has been teaching this process for almost 13 years as well. This book is my bible. I'm going to use this process for developing my own startup.

My point is, this kind of book is much more valuable to me than the ones that make you feel good or just motivate you.

I didn't really study that too much to be honest, but based on my understanding: Since serotonin facilitates the synthesis of melatonin during sleep, I would imagine that inhibiting reuptake would affect sleep by affecting melatonin levels and most likely negatively affect your ability to achieve deep sleep and/or transition into REM sleep. But serotonin increase during periods of wake have a negative feedback to then promote sleep. So maybe abnormal serotonin levels can make you sleepy but SSRI's can make getting good sleep harder to achieve. It would probably (read: definitely) also affect the rhythm of your sleep which is just as important as the amount of sleep you get (my studies were in biological rhythms so that seems to be what I always come back to, circadian phases and such).

This was one of my course materials that may have more information if you're interested, again I didn't focus as much on abnormal/induced chemical modulation and the effects they could have:
https://www.amazon.com/Chronobioengineering-Introduction-Biological-Applications-Engineering/dp/1598296353

Basic Introduction to Bioelectromagnetics, Third Edition (2018); ISBN - 9781498780018

https://www.amazon.com/Basic-Introduction-Bioelectromagnetics-Third-Cynthia/dp/1498780016

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Handbook of Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Fields, Fourth Edition - Two Volume Set (2019); ISBN - 1138733113

https://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Biological-Effects-Electromagnetic-Fields/dp/1138733113

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Architectural Electromagnetic Shielding Handbook: A Design and Specification Guide (1992); ISBN - 0879422874

https://www.amazon.es/Architectural-Electromagnetic-Shielding-Handbook-Specification/dp/0879422874

Yea sure. It’s a multidisciplinary field at the moment so we have almost as many computer scientists, Physicists and engineers as we do molecular biologists/ geneticists.

I’d recommend ‘synthetic biology - a primer’ as a first book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Synthetic-Biology-Paul-S-Freemont/dp/1848168632/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1550177278&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=synthetic+biology+a+primer&dpPl=1&dpID=41xiiA-mjkL&ref=plSrch

Syn bio uses waterfall and agile approaches which are basically development life cycles. The waterfall approach for example proceeds as (1) system requirements, (2) design, (3) modelling, (4) synthesis, (5) assembly, (6) Transformation/implementation and (7) validation.

(2) and (3) use a lot of computer based skills such as computer assisted design (CAD) with standards such as SBOL (for 2), and computer assisted modelling (CAM) which includes the use of computer languages such as python and R (for 3). CAM also includes using markup languages such as SBML which is a good place to start with programmatic modelling.

(4), (5) and (6) are more molecular biology and genetic engineering based in terms of the practical sense. (4) Synthesis is very chemistry and physics based and there are separate companies that do this - we usually order our DNA from a synthesis company and then clone it to make loads for testing as it’s expensive . (5) is about assembling the DNA parts into modules and devices using methods such as Gibson assembly, golden gate assembly or BioBrick standards (which is an OG method developed by Tom Knight at MIT http://parts.igem.org/Assembly:Standard_assembly). (6) is about ‘installing’ the assembled DNA into the chosen cell chassis (cell fee systems are also up and coming) to install said function as a means of fulfilling the system requirements. (7) is about characterising your system to check it works and look for improvements.

There are loads of ways to apply yourself be it in the lab, on a computer or both. The book does a really good job in introducing you to the above so that you’re aware of how to do 1 through to 7 (except maybe 4). Ofc applying the skills is a whole other story (lab protocols and actually coding skills) but that comes with practise.

http://www.amazon.com/Lab-Chip-Technology-Biomolecular-Separation/dp/1904455476/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b

and

http://www.amazon.com/Lab-Chip-Technology-Fabrication-Microfluidics/dp/1904455468/ref=pd_sim_b_1

So the basis is mind control through RF and 5G is a proposed way to execute? Articles don't really go in to specifics on how it's proposed to be done. On the physical layer? Using a network of products? Etc .. ?

I read this book as some light reading way back in college ... There's some pretty good stuff in there.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/3540429891/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_ZMCKAbYHEGWVP

>Even then power doesn't tell you too much, it depends on frequency too. This is getting within a few multiples of low infrared.

Infrared spectrum is used medically as Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) for treating neuro-inflammation and muscular inflammation. Harvard Medical publishes a ~1100 page reference medical text about it: https://www.amazon.com/dp/9814669601/

Oh, and apparently, you are also a consultant vascular surgeon ;)