ABSTRACT
As discussed in the introduction to this Handbook, biomedical engineers apply the concepts, knowledge, and techniques of virtually all engineering disciplines to solve specic problems in the biosphere, that is, the realm of biology and medicine. When biomedical engineers work within a hospital or clinic, they are more appropriately called clinical engineers. But what exactly is the denition of the term clinical engineer? For the purposes of this handbook, a clinical engineer is dened as an engineer who has graduated from an accredited academic program in engineering or who is licensed as a professional engineer or engineer-in-training and is engaged in the application of scientic and technological knowledge developed through engineering education and subsequent professional experience within the healthcare environment in support of clinical activities. Furthermore, clinical environment means that portion of the healthcare system in which patient care is delivered, and clinical activities include direct patient care, research, teaching, and public service activities intended to enhance patient care.
