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Icelandic Society for Biomedical Engineering
The establishment of The Icelandic Society for Biomedical Engineering (ISBE)
has brought special attention to this field in Iceland. Prior to the foundation
of the ISBE there were a lot of loose ends. We had quite a few institutions
actively educating professionals in typical "biomedical engineering"
fields; i.e. engineering, physics, biology, medicine, nursing, physiotherapy.
The health sector is rather large in Iceland (utilising 5-10% of the national
manpower and close to 40% of the governmental budget) and was representing
typical activity and problems. In the industry biomedical producers where
emerging.
These efforts were, however, isolated and not highly co-ordinated. One of
the main goals set for the ISBE is to counter this by promoting communication
between professionals and institutions and concentrating attention on elements
they have in common.
The ISBE was founded on 25th April 1994. Since Icelanders are proud and
protective of their language, the first task was to find an Icelandic name:
Heilbrigðistæknifélag Íslands (HTFÍ). One of the
societies future tasks will also be to facilitate the translation of
international biomedical nomenclature into Icelandic. This is a major
undertaking for many professional societies in the country.
The ISBE recognises the importance of close co-operation among users,
researchers and the industry in all areas of biomedical engineering.
Consequently, related issues are frequent themes at society meetings.
At the founding meeting, various speeches were given: An example of the
development of new techniques in healthcare, the technical service needed by
users (anaesthetist) and innovation and marketing of products. Since the
founding the following 15 events, mostly symposias, have been recorded.
| Quality control of biomedical products |
The purpose and definition of quality control were discussed. The current
situation relating to quality control was presented and the role of the
government in this was discussed. Standards and coming regulations were also
included. |
| EEG |
The role of EEG was discussed in general and especially its value in sleep
studies. Signal processing, physiological effects and techniques were discussed
and the Nervus system from the company Taugagreining was demonstrated. |
| Research and marketing |
Representatives of the Export Council and Research Council spoke about
marketing and the 4th Research Framework Programme of the European Union,
respectively. |
| The CE-Mark |
At the initiative of the ISBE, people from the industry were funded by the
Health Ministry to attend a course in CE-marking in Denmark. At this meeting one
of the attendees spoke about the process of CE-marking for biomedical products. |
| Techniques in the health sector, now and in the future |
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Otto Anna from the University of Hanover spoke about the
organisation, devices and techniques, emergency situations, communications,
evaluation and education in clinical engineering. |
| Movement analysis |
The current status was given, modelling of movement was described and a
typical application in athletics was presented. Forces in a ankle –prosthesis
from the company Össur were discussed. |
| The best biomedical paper |
The ISBE promotes research by collecting money and advertising a price for
the best scientific paper in biomedical engineering, preferably using an
Icelandic product. The winner received the prize of a trip to the 10th Nordic
Baltic Conference on Biomedical Engineering. Part of the money was used to
sponsor a stand comprising Icelandic biomedical companies at the conference. |
| EFSI |
When the board of EFSI (European Federation of the Scientific Image) met in
Iceland, ISBE used the opportunity to organise a symposium about imaging in
medicine. Definition, history, standardisation, 3D models, case study: accident
prevention were all discussed. |
| Exhibition |
At the annual meeting of the Research Council, the ISBE was asked to
arrange a exhibition of Icelandic biomedical products. |
| Biomedical engineering in the fishing industry and
pisciculture |
Techniques for measuring physiological signals and freshness of fish were
discussed. |
| Hearing and speaking disabilities |
The physiology of hearing and speaking was revisited. Some common
disabilities and techniques for compensation were discussed. The wishes for the
future techniques and organisation was given by patient societies and commercial
products were demonstrated. |
| A museum visit |
The ISBE organised a visit to the medical and pharmaceutical museums at
Seltjarnarnes. |
| A course in EMC-demand for CE-mark of biomedical products |
In co-operation with other organisations ISBE promoted a course in
electromagnetic compatibility. A specialist from Jysk EMC in Denmark held a
3-day course covering both theoretical and practical aspects in EMC. |
| Application of ultrasound Doppler in obstetrics |
The ultrasound technique was revisited and a special application in
obstetrics was demonstrated. |
| Export of biomedical products |
Export in the health sector, service and products, was discussed with an
emphasis on biomedical devices. The Minister of Industry and investors were
among the speakers. |
In addition to these events ISBE has promoted co-operation between the
companies and their common investment in EMC measuring equipment. Because of
this activity the Research Council and the Industry Association have both
established a committee to investigate Iceland's opportunities in this field.
ISBE has in co-operation with the Health Ministry and the National
Standardisation Institute initiated a advisory group on standardisation in the
biomedical field.
There is a lot of information flowing towards the society in form of
advertisements for literature, conferences and activities of the IFMBE and the
other Nordic countries. This information is stored and put on the ISBE's
web-page (http://www.vortex.is/htfi ). A sufficient amount of information was
sent to the members. The web page has two missions, to help Icelanders to get
into the biomedical field and to help foreigners to understand the biomedical
activity in Iceland. It is not the fanciest page on the net but the emphasis is
on the information.
Future events are normally planned one at the time. The next meeting will be
the general assembly in January. The next event is planned in February and will
be about technology in physiotherapy and prosthesis.
The ISBE is not a wealthy society and cannot afford to invite speakers to
come and speak. But if researchers are stopping over in Iceland ISBE would be
happy to arrange meetings requiring a fair time for planning.
Baldur Thorgilsson Chairman of ISBE
Email: baldur@rsp.is
Web:
http://www.vortex.is/htfi/kynning.htm
(….only in Icelandic!)
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