Application of process synthesis methodology to biomedical engineering for the development of artificial organs

Chemical engineers are frequently involved in providing specialist skills in the field of Process Design. Although this typically involves developing new chemical engineering processes, engineering methodology has been applied to solving problems in various other disciplines such as Biomedical Engineering. Traditionally, new processes have been developed in a sequential manner, wherein an opportunity is identified, laboratory investigation follows, and results forwarded to the engineers for process flow sheet or equipment design, as required. An alternative, iterative approach to process synthesis is discussed in terms of its application to the development of artificial organs. This approach has found wide applicability across many disciplines, and has proven to be more time, cost and energy efficient.