Nyeli Kratz will host the Hack Chat on Wednesday, February 7 at noon Pacific.
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Although medical doctors and engineers generally work in completely different domains, there's a fair amount of overlap between the disciplines. At the end of the day, they both solve problems, and while doctors clearly focus on the biological aspects of disease, there just might come a point where the problem has to be addressed with engineering principles. From the intricate design of an artificial hip to the electrical interface between an amputee's nervous system and a prosthetic limb, biomedical engineers can make a tremendous contribution to positive patient outcomes.
Nyeli Kratz, a recent biomedical engineering grad, has worked on quite a few engineering solutions to diseases. Many of her projects, like this stand-up mobility aid or a wheelchair attachment that lets a tetraplegic father interact with his newborn child, seem aimed at making it easier for patients to interact with the world. She'll stop by the Hack Chat to talk about these projects in particular as well as what the engineer brings to the table when it's time to design hardware that heals.
### Biomedical Engineering and Nyeli Kratz's Contributions
Medical doctors and engineers often overlap in problem-solving, especially in biomedical engineering. While doctors focus on biological issues, engineers bring technical solutions to medical problems.
#### Role of Biomedical Engineers
Biomedical engineers design medical devices and systems to improve patient outcomes, such as:
- **Artificial Hip Joints:** Restoring mobility.
- **Prosthetic Limbs:** Providing functionality to amputees through nervous system interfaces.
#### Nyeli Kratz's Work
Nyeli Kratz, a recent biomedical engineering graduate, has developed innovative solutions, including:
- **Stand-Up Mobility Aid:** Helping individuals stand up independently.
- **Wheelchair Attachment:** Enabling tetraplegic fathers to interact with their newborns.
#### Upcoming Hack Chat
Nyeli will discuss her projects and the role of engineers in medical device design, focusing on hardware that aids healing and patient interaction.