Comprehensive Syllabus for the Nepal Engineering Council Registration Examination in Biomedical Engineering

Human Biology Fundamentals

  • Introduction to the Human Body: Includes an understanding of body design at the structural-functional level, covering cells, tissues, and the organization of the body.
  • Cellular Study and Regulation:
    • Control and regulation of body functions.
    • In-depth study of the structure and function of diverse cell types and tissues.
    • Molecular cell biology interpretation regarding the development of body organs and systems.
  • Biomolecules: Exhaustive coverage of the four main classes:
    • Proteins.
    • Carbohydrates.
    • Lipids.
    • Nucleic Acids.
  • Cell Dynamics:
    • Processes of cell growth and division.
    • Apoptosis (programmed cell death).
    • Oncogenic transformation (cancerous development).
  • Cell Physiology:
    • Cell-to-cell transport mechanisms.
    • Cell signaling pathways.
  • Immunology:
    • Types of immunity.
    • Concepts of antigens and antibodies.
    • Antigen-antibody reactions.
  • Blood and Molecular Biology:
    • Composition of blood: Erythrocytes (RBCs), leukocytes (WBCs), and platelets.
    • Detailed functions of blood components.
    • Hematopoiesis and hematopoietic stem cells.
    • Hemostasis and clotting factors.
    • Coagulation cascades: Extrinsic, intrinsic, and common pathways.
    • Genetic foundations: DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis.
    • Techniques utilized in genetic engineering.
  • Nervous System and Sensory Organs:
    • Microanatomy and arrangement of nerve cells (neurons).
    • Types of neurons, their connections, and impulse generation.
    • Basics of Neuromuscular transmission.
    • Structural details of the Central Nervous System (CNS).
    • Sensory anatomy: Structural details and physiology of the human ear and the human eye.
  • Cardiovascular and Respiratory Systems:
    • Anatomy of the heart and blood vessels.
    • Coronary circulation: Blood flow to and from the heart.
    • Cardiac cycle, cardiac output, and blood pressure.
    • Conduction system of the heart.
    • Respiratory anatomy: Upper respiratory tract and lungs (topography).
    • Pleura and pleural cavity.
    • Mechanism of breathing: Types, control of respiration, and gas transfer/diffusion.
    • Ventilation metrics: Understanding lung volumes.
  • Urinary System:
    • Metabolic functions and topography of the kidneys.
    • Microanatomy of the kidney.
    • Structure-function relationships of the ureter, bladder, and urethra.
    • Neural and physiological control of bladder function.
  • Biomechanics:
    • Human joints: Classification and analysis of forces in the elbow, shoulder, hip, knee, spine, ankle, and wrist.
    • Hard tissue mechanics: Bone growth, development, fracture mechanics; mechanical properties of cortical and cancellous bone.
    • Soft tissue mechanics: Properties of muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
    • Biofluid mechanics: Fundamental principles of blood rheology.

Biomaterials and Tissue Interactions

  • Foundations of Biomaterials:
    • Introduction to biocompatibility.
    • Classes of materials used in medical applications.
    • Methods of surface characterization.
  • Metals and Natural Materials:
    • Chemistry and mechanical properties of metals in medicine.
    • Natural materials: Collagen (structure and physical/chemical modifications).
    • Proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans.
  • Polymers, Ceramics, and Composites:
    • Medical-grade polymers.
    • Structure, chemistry, and properties of ceramics and glasses.
    • Types of bioceramics and composite materials.
  • Thin Films and Coatings:
    • Principles and methods for surface modification to enhance biological interaction.
    • Production of plasma environments: High energy and high temperature treatments.
  • Biologically Functional Materials:
    • Biologically active molecules and their solid supports.
    • Immobilization techniques and applications.
  • Tissue-Device Interaction:
    • Inflammation, wound healing, and foreign body response.
    • Interaction between endothelial cells, extracellular matrix (ECM), and biomaterials.
    • Blood-biomaterial interactions and bacterial interactions with surfaces.

Implantable Devices and Tissue Engineering

  • Cardiovascular Implants:
    • Heart valves: Mechanical and bioprosthetic varieties.
    • Vascular grafts: Artificial and biological types.
    • Stents, catheters, and cannulas.
    • Pacemakers and Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) filters.
    • Intra-aortic balloon pumps (IABP) and Ventricular Assist Devices (VAD).
  • Orthopaedic Implants:
    • Specific biomaterials for orthopaedics.
    • Total Hip Replacement (THR) and Total Knee Replacement (TKR).
  • Urology Implants:
    • Urology-specific materials.
    • Urethral catheters and urology stents.
  • Plastic Surgery and Ophthalmic Implants:
    • Materials for plastic surgery: Gels, fillers, and breast implants.
    • Skin implants for burns and craniomaxillofacial reconstruction.
    • Types and materials for ophthalmic surgery implants.
  • Tissue Engineering:
    • General introduction and basic procedures involved in tissue engineering.

Medical Imaging Systems

  • X-ray Equipment:
    • Physics of X-ray production.
    • Tubes: Stationary and rotating anode designs.
    • Control equipment, indicators, filters, and grids.
    • Biological effects of X-ray radiation.
  • Computed Tomography (CT):
    • Basic principles and system components.
    • Generations of CT scanners.
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI):
    • Fundamental concepts and parameters.
    • Image formation principles.
    • Contrast-enhanced MRI and clinical applications.
  • Ultrasonography (USG):
    • Physics of ultrasound and construction of transducers.
    • Ultrasonic beam properties.
    • Imaging modes and Doppler Ultrasound.
    • Clinical applications and biological effects.
  • Digital Imaging and Radioisotopes:
    • Digital radiography: CR, DR, and PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System).
    • Radioisotope imaging: SPECT and PET.
    • Types of radioactivity and radionuclides.

Biomedical Instrumentation I: Signals and Monitoring

  • Instrumentation Fundamentals:
    • Sources of biomedical signals.
    • Performance metrics: Accuracy, precision, and statistical measurements.
    • Intelligent instrumentation and design constraints.
  • Signals and Electrodes:
    • Bioelectric potentials: Resting potential and Action potential.
    • Propagation of action potentials and biological signal types.
    • Electrodes: Bio-potential, microelectrodes, and skin surface electrodes.
  • Physiological Transducers:
    • Classification (Active vs. Passive).
    • Displacement, position, motion, pressure, and photoelectric transducers.
  • Biomedical Recorders:
    • Electrocardiograph (ECG).
    • Electroencephalograph (EEG).
    • Electromyograph (EMG).
  • Patient Monitoring Systems:
    • Cardiac monitors and bedside/central monitoring systems.
    • Measurement of heart rate, pulse, blood pressure, temperature, and respiration rate.
    • Arrhythmia and ambulatory monitoring: QRS detection techniques and exercise stress testing.
    • Fetal monitoring: Cardiotocograph, labor activity monitoring, and fetal heart rate recording.
    • Pulse oximetry and blood flowmeters (Electromagnetic/Ultrasonic).
  • Measurement Techniques and Lab Equipment:
    • Cardiac output: Indicator dilution, Dye dilution, Thermal dilution, Impedance technique, and Ultrasound.
    • Pulmonary function: Spirometry and volume measurement.
    • Clinical Lab: Biochemistry analyzers, colorimeters, electrolyte analyzers, ELISA reader/washer, and blood cell counters (Coulter counters).
    • Biosafety: Microscopic study, centrifuges, biosafety cabinets, and autoclaves.
  • Audiometers:
    • Pure tone and speech audiometry.
    • Bekesy audiometer systems.

Biomedical Instrumentation II: Therapeutic Devices and Safety

  • Cardiac Support:
    • External pacemakers.
    • Defibrillators: DC Defibrillator and Pacer-Cardioverter-Defibrillator (PCD).
  • Surgical Instruments:
    • Surgical Diathermy: Monopolar and Bi-polar machine principles.
    • Safety in electro-surgical units.
    • Lasers: Principles and types including Pulsed Ruby, Nd-YAG, Helium-Neon, Argon, CO2CO_2, and Semiconductor lasers.
  • Therapy and Life Support:
    • Physiotherapy: High-frequency heat therapy, short-wave/microwave diathermy, and ultrasonic therapy.
    • Electrotherapy: Pain relief through electrical stimulation and electrodiagnostic apparatus.
    • Renal support: Hemodialysis machines, artificial kidneys, dialyzers, and membranes.
    • Lithotripsy: Conventional and modern systems, and extra-corporeal shock-wave therapy (ESWT).
    • Anesthesia and Ventilation: Electronic components of anesthesia machines, artificial ventilators (positive/negative pressure), and various ventilator modes.
    • Drug Delivery: Components and closed-loop control in infusion and syringe pumps.
  • Patient Safety:
    • Electric shock hazards and leakage currents.
    • Usage of electrical safety analyzers.

Electronic Devices, Circuits, and Machines

  • Device Models and Integrated Circuits:
    • DC and AC models for diodes, JFETs, bipolar transistors, and MOS transistors.
  • Amplifiers and Oscillators:
    • Classification: Untuned and tuned power amplifiers.
    • Operational Amplifier (Op-amp) circuits and differential amplifiers.
    • Op-amp based relaxation oscillators.
    • Filter circuits and CMOS inverter relaxation oscillators.
  • AC Circuits:
    • Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction.
    • Series and parallel circuits: R−LR-L, R−CR-C, and R−L−CR-L-C.
    • Resonance in AC circuits.
    • Star/Delta transformations.
    • Three-phase AC systems: Representations, j-operator usage, line/phase voltages and currents, and power measurement.
  • Power Supplies:
    • Half-wave and full-wave rectifiers.
    • Filtering: Capacitive, LC, RC, and Active filters.
    • Voltage regulation: Zener diodes, bandgap references, and constant current diodes.
    • Voltage-Frequency converters.
  • Circuit Analysis:
    • Ohm’s Law: Applications and limitations.
    • Circuit elements and voltage/current sources.
    • Kirchhoff’s Laws (KCLKCL and KVLKVL).
    • Network theorems: Superposition, Thevenin’s, and Norton’s.
    • Matrix methods for analysis.
  • Magnetic Circuits and Machines:
    • Hysteresis and eddy current losses.
    • Transformers, DC motors, and Generators.

Digital Electronics and Signal Processing

  • Logic and Boolean Algebra:
    • Basic gates: NOT, OR, AND.
    • Derived gates: NOR, NAND, EX-OR, EX-NOR.
    • Universal gates and De-Morgan’s laws.
    • Simplification of logic functions using Boolean algebra and K-Maps (up to 4 variables).
  • Combinational and Sequential Logic:
    • Adders and Subtractors: Half and Full types.
    • Encoders, Multiplexers, and De-multiplexers.
    • Flip flops: SR, D, JK, T, and Master-Slave configurations.
    • Shift Registers: SISOSISO, SIPOSIPO, PISOPISO, and PIPOPIPO.
  • Memory and Programmable Logic:
    • Static and Dynamic memory.
    • Memory types: RAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM.
    • Programmable Logic: PAL and PLA.
  • Interfacing and Filtering:
    • Asynchronous interface: ASCII code, baud rate, start/stop/parity bits.
    • Synchronous interface and communication standards.
    • Filters: Low Pass Filter (LPF), High Pass Filter (HPF), Band Pass Filter (BPF), and Band Stop Filter (BSF/Notch filter).

Control and Communication Systems

  • System Modeling:
    • Differential equations and transfer functions.
    • Matrix notation for modeling.
  • Mechanical Components:
    • Mass, spring, and damper systems.
  • Linearized Approximations:
    • Frequency domain characterization.
    • Bode amplitude and phase plots.
    • Effects of gain and time constants.
    • PID Controllers.
  • Communication Theory:
    • Sources: Transmitters, channels, and receivers.
    • Modulation: Amplitude Modulation (AM), Frequency Modulation (FM), and Phase Modulation (PM).
    • Analysis of distortion, noise, and interference.
  • Sampling Theory:
    • Nyquist sampling theory for analog signals.
    • Spectrum of sampled signals.
    • Sampling theorem for band-limited signals.

Project Planning, Design, and Implementation

  • Engineering Drawing:
    • Standard sheets, dimensions, and scales.
    • Line diagrams, orthographic projections, isometric views, pictorial views, and sectional drawings.
  • Engineering Economics:
    • Project cash flow, discount rates, and time value of money.
    • Methodologies: Discounted Payback Period, Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), and Minimum Acceptable Rate of Return (MARR).
    • Depreciation and taxation systems specifically in Nepal.
  • Planning and Management:
    • Project life cycle and planning process.
    • Scheduling techniques: Bar charts, CPM, and PERT.
    • Resource leveling and smoothing.
    • Information systems and risk management.
    • Project financing, tender processes, and contract management.
  • Professional Practice:
    • Environmental and societal impact.
    • Professional ethics and regulatory environments.
    • Occupational health and safety.
    • Roles and responsibilities of the Nepal Engineers Association (NEA).
  • Regulatory Body:
    • Nepal Engineering Council (Acts and Regulations).