Engineering Innovations in Healthcare – Key Concepts

A set of 100 question-and-answer flashcards covering healthcare systems, biomedical engineering, medical technologies, digital health, ethics, and innovation pathways to aid exam preparation.

What is a healthcare system?

An organized framework of institutions, resources, and people designed to deliver healthcare services and meet the health needs of a population.

Name the four key components of a healthcare system.

Providers, patients, payers, and regulators.

How is the Beveridge Model of healthcare primarily funded?

Through taxation with government-provided services.

Which country’s National Health Service (NHS) is a classic example of the Beveridge Model?

The United Kingdom.

In the Bismarck Model, who finances sickness funds?

Employers and employees via payroll deductions.

Which country is the prime example of a National Health Insurance Model?

Canada.

Where is the out-of-pocket healthcare model most common?

In many low-income or developing countries.

List the four central goals of any healthcare system.

Access, quality, efficiency, and equity.

Which major challenge focuses on controlling rising expenditures while keeping quality high?

Cost management.

Which demographic trend poses significant resource challenges for healthcare systems?

An aging population.

Define telemedicine.

The use of telecommunications technology to deliver clinical services remotely.

What are Electronic Health Records (EHRs)?

Digital versions of patients’ medical charts that improve data sharing and coordination of care.

Give two examples of medical devices engineered to diagnose or treat diseases.

MRI machines and pacemakers.

What is the main aim of tissue engineering?

To repair or replace damaged tissues and organs using bioengineered materials and cells.

State one primary function of telehealth platforms.

They enable remote consultations between clinicians and patients.

What do wearable health devices such as smartwatches monitor?

Real-time physiological data like heart rate, steps, or oxygen saturation.

How do surgical robots benefit surgeons?

They enhance precision and allow minimally invasive procedures.

What is the goal of targeted drug-delivery systems?

To transport medication directly to specific body sites, improving therapeutic outcomes.

Name two core duties of public-health engineers.

Designing clean water systems and managing waste disposal.

How does nanotechnology aid diagnostics?

By using nanoscale materials for early disease detection and targeted therapies.

Give one example of rehabilitation engineering technology.

Mobility aids such as powered exoskeletons.

What does health-systems engineering seek to optimize?

Processes, patient flow, and resource use within healthcare facilities.

Who made key improvements to the compound microscope in the 17th century?

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek and Robert Hooke.

Why was the microscope revolutionary for medicine?

It enabled visualization of cells and microorganisms, transforming pathology and biology.

Who invented the stethoscope in 1816?

René Laennec.

Who discovered X-rays in 1895?

Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen.

Who invented the electrocardiogram (ECG) in 1903?

Willem Einthoven.

Who discovered penicillin in 1928 and why is it important?

Alexander Fleming; it marked the start of the antibiotic era, saving millions from bacterial infections.

Who performed the first successful organ transplant in 1954?

Dr. Joseph Murray.

Who invented the implantable cardiac pacemaker in 1958?

Wilson Greatbatch.

Which technology enabled minimally invasive surgery to flourish in the 1980s?

Laparoscopy.

In what year was the Human Genome Project completed?

2003.

What breakthrough vaccine platform was proven in 2020?

mRNA vaccines for COVID-19.

In what year was CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing introduced?

2012.

What does personalized medicine aim to do?

Tailor medical treatment to an individual’s genetic and physiological profile.

During COVID-19, how did Cleveland Clinic’s virtual visits change from 2019 to 2020?

They rose from about 37,000 to over 1.2 million.

What is the primary role of India’s Primary Health Centres (PHCs)?

To serve as first-contact points delivering basic healthcare in rural areas.

What are tertiary-care hospitals?

Facilities offering specialized, advanced treatments such as medical colleges and super-specialty centers.

Name one core principle of Ayurveda.

Holistic balance among body, mind, and spirit using natural therapies.

What is the aim of the Ayushman Bharat scheme?

To provide health-insurance coverage to economically vulnerable Indian families.

Define biomedical engineering.

The application of engineering principles to medicine and biology to improve healthcare.

List three major sub-disciplines within biomedical engineering.

Biomaterials, medical imaging, and biomechanics.

Give an example of a diagnostic medical device.

A CT scanner.

Give an example of a therapeutic medical device.

An insulin pump.

Give an example of a monitoring medical device.

A Holter ECG monitor.

What physical principle underlies MRI imaging?

Alignment of hydrogen nuclei in a magnetic field and detection of emitted radio-frequency signals.

State one key advantage of CT scans over conventional X-rays.

They provide detailed cross-sectional 3-D images for better visualization of internal structures.

Why is ultrasound considered safer than X-ray or CT imaging?

It uses non-ionizing sound waves instead of ionizing radiation.

What is a lab-on-a-chip (LOC)?

A microfluidic device that integrates multiple laboratory functions onto a single micro-scale chip.

What is a major benefit of LOC technology?

Portability and rapid analysis with minimal reagents.

Give two common wearable biosensors.

Heart-rate monitors and accelerometers.

Define health informatics.

The application of information technology to collect, store, and analyze healthcare data for better decision-making.

Differentiate descriptive from predictive analytics in healthcare.

Descriptive summarizes past data; predictive forecasts future events or outcomes.

What is teleconsultation?

A virtual medical visit between a patient and clinician using video or voice technology.

Define Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM).

Continuous collection and transmission of patient data from outside clinical settings to healthcare providers.

What does the term digital health encompass?

Use of digital technologies such as mHealth, telehealth, EHRs, and AI to improve healthcare delivery.

Name one key feature commonly offered by mHealth apps.

Medication reminders and adherence tracking.

Which mobile app uses machine learning to assess skin-lesion cancer risk?

SkinVision.

What clinical problem does Aidoc’s AI help manage?

Rapid detection and triage of conditions like pulmonary embolism on imaging scans.

Why are EHRs vital for coordinated care?

They make complete patient data instantly accessible to all authorized providers.

What handheld product did Butterfly Network develop?

Butterfly iQ, a smartphone-connected portable ultrasound probe.

What professional purpose does the Doximity platform serve?

Secure networking, communication, and telehealth services for physicians.

How much funding can India’s Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) provide to a start-up?

Up to ₹50 lakhs.

What does HIPAA primarily protect?

Privacy and security of patient health information in the United States.

Define informed consent in clinical practice.

A patient’s voluntary agreement to treatment after understanding its risks, benefits, and alternatives.

Why is data ownership an ethical issue in digital health?

It determines who controls, shares, and monetizes personal health information.

What is algorithmic bias in AI healthcare systems?

Systematic errors that unfairly disadvantage certain patient groups due to skewed training data.

Which CRISPR component performs the DNA cut?

The Cas9 nuclease enzyme.

State one chief advantage of AI in medical imaging diagnostics.

Enhanced speed and accuracy in detecting abnormalities.

How do robotic exoskeletons aid rehabilitation?

By providing powered assistance for relearning gait and strengthening muscles.

What is venture capital in the start-up context?

Private investment funds that back high-growth companies in exchange for equity.

Give one example of a biometric wearable sensor.

A pulse oximeter.

What two key values does a pulse oximeter measure?

Blood oxygen saturation (SpO₂) and pulse rate.

What does a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) do?

Continuously tracks interstitial glucose levels to help manage diabetes.

How does AI improve diagnostic accuracy?

By learning patterns from large datasets and reducing human error.

What is one potential healthcare use of blockchain technology?

Securing and sharing tamper-proof patient medical records.

How does 3D printing benefit prosthetics production?

It creates custom-fit, patient-specific limbs quickly and affordably.

Why are nanoparticles valuable in drug delivery?

They enable precise targeting of drugs to diseased cells, reducing side-effects.

What is the therapeutic principle of CAR-T cell therapy?

Engineering a patient’s T cells to better recognize and kill cancer cells.

How can powered exoskeletons support gait training?

By partially off-loading body weight and guiding leg movement.

Explain the concept of a virtual hospital.

A healthcare model delivering inpatient-level care at home through telemedicine and remote monitoring.

What does pharmacogenomics study?

How genetic variations affect an individual’s response to drugs.

Why is germline gene editing ethically contentious?

Because heritable genetic changes could affect future generations without their consent.

Which critical step must precede a product’s market launch in healthcare?

Regulatory approval demonstrating safety and effectiveness.

What is the purpose of post-market surveillance?

Monitoring a product’s real-world performance to detect rare issues and ensure continued safety.

Define equity as a healthcare challenge.

Ensuring fair distribution of services and outcomes across all population groups.

What is the primary role of healthcare regulators?

To set standards, enforce compliance, and protect public safety.

How does telemedicine particularly benefit rural communities?

By providing specialist consultations without requiring long-distance travel.

State one typical data-privacy challenge for mHealth apps.

Ensuring secure storage and transmission of sensitive personal health data.

What is seed funding?

Initial capital provided to a start-up to develop an idea into a viable product.

Define a business incubator in healthcare innovation.

An organization offering mentorship, workspace, and resources to early-stage health-tech start-ups.

What condition do TENS units help alleviate?

Chronic or acute pain via transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.

How does deep learning assist radiologists?

By automatically highlighting suspicious areas in medical images for review.

Give one use case of predictive analytics in hospitals.

Forecasting patient readmission risk to guide preventive care.

How can AI and machine learning enhance remote patient monitoring?

By identifying abnormal trends in real-time and sending alerts for early intervention.

Name one key imaging difference between CT and MRI.

CT excels at visualizing bone and acute bleeding; MRI excels at soft-tissue detail.

Why might an open MRI be chosen over a conventional unit?

It reduces claustrophobia and accommodates larger or anxious patients.

What is the purpose of contrast-enhanced MRI?

To highlight specific tissues or blood vessels for clearer imaging.

Who are the primary beneficiaries of India’s Employee State Insurance (ESI) scheme?

Workers in the organized sector and their dependents.

Which two main sectors share responsibility for India’s healthcare delivery?

Public (government) and private (for-profit and non-profit) sectors.