Fly High, Fly Right: Three Things Every Aspiring Pilot Should Know

Becoming a pilot is an enjoyable experience. The challenges involved make for a truly rewarding career. That being said, it is still a serious endeavor that must be given due consideration prior to its undertaking. There are many things that every beginner pilot should know; although most experienced pilots agree on these three: 

It’s an investment: Pilot training is expensive. Flight schools are a never-ending course because of the rapid development of technologies. Pilots have to constantly log flying hours and ensure that they are properly trained in the new mechanics. Furthermore, those who are thinking of pursuing a career in aviation should understand that the big salaries come only once they are employed by major airlines. 

It’s a passion: Not everyone has the correct temperament to be a great pilot. This is understandable. The physical strains, along with the mental and financial responsibilities of training, can deter a lot of people. Only those with a passion for flying, along with a great amount of persistence and diligence, eventually make the grade and receive their license. 

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It’s never-ending: As previously mentioned, pilot training requires a lot of research and education. Aviation guidelines are constantly changing and airline manufacturers are continuously improving their designs. It is important that pilots keep themselves updated on these technologies as well as understand the practical issues involved such as weather management and private plane landing. 

For the most part, being a pilot involves a strength of will and understanding of one’s personality. It is extremely important that aspiring pilots understand the amount of investment needed to go through training and actualize the dream. However, when one does what one loves, these sacrifices are hardly difficult to accept. 

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Akash Monpara is a private pilot who has logged more than 150 flying hours throughout the Eastern United States and Colorado. To learn more about his career as a private pilot, like this Facebook page.

Hot wheels: New transportation options for individuals with spina bifida

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Each year, there are approximately 1,500 babies in the United States that are born with spina bifida. Spina bifida is a neural tube defect that causes different levels of paralysis or weakness in the muscles of a person’s hips, legs, and back. Many of those who were diagnosed with the condition are not able to walk, run, or move like most people.

  

Those with spina bifida also deserve a chance to experience the world by being mobile. Thanks to members of the Skeleton of Hope team, part of Booz Allen Hamilton’s Summer Games Internship Program, people with spina bifida and other mobility problems will experience a better way to move around. 

The team was challenged to design a mode of transportation for those with lower-body paralysis, paraplegics, and spina bifida. They are currently developing an innovative and inexpensive product that will enable patients with mobility problems to move freely. Unlike using the traditional wheelchair, this apparatus will let patients move hands-free, with less dependence on their caregivers. 

With the help of engineers, researchers, and health professionals, the team was able to integrate great features for this new technology. The ride offers pressure and balance sensors and stability features.

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Akash Monpara is a biomedical engineering student from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. He is part of the Skeleton of Hope team from Booz Allen Hamilton’s Summer Games Internship Program. Learn more about his academic achievements and other activities by visiting this page.

Mapping Out The Future Of Biomedical Imaging

In the past century, astounding contributions to the biomedical imaging field have continuously improved the ability to look inside the human body non-invasively. 

X-rays were the only means to do it initially. But other energy forms, which include ultrasound and electromagnetic fields, have evolved imaging from being used only for patient care to the studies of biological structure and function. 

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Low-quality images are also a thing of the past. New technology has provided high-definition and three-dimensional images, and in some instances, videos. These have shaped how diagnosis and treatment are being performed. 

Considering the proximity of imaging technology to the practical limits of spatial resolution in all modalities, improving image quality is no longer the major driver of innovation in imaging. 

What physicists are striving to achieve now is a reduction in radiation dosage to minimize the patient’s exposure to its harmful effects. The medical field had already come a long way from the early limitations of X-ray when radiation exposure was much higher than it was today. Still, it is a legitimate concern. 

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Efficiency of resource utilization is also an objective of technical innovation. A significant reduction in cost is seen to make it more accessible to more people. 

Additionally, the scarcest of resources – time – needs to be saved by speeding up the scan or imaging time to provide results as early as possible. This will benefit not only patients but also the physicians and medical workers.

Akash Monpara is currently a student in John Hopkins University, majoring in biomedical engineering. Connect with this Google+ account to read more about the industry.

The Importance Of Biomedical Sensors

The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering defines sensors as "tools that detect specific biological, chemical, or physical processes that transmit or report this data." Monitoring devices have multiple and multifunctional sensors that are used for a variety of purposes, including monitoring of critical physiological parameters and clinical diagnosis.

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There are many different types of sensors, ranging from simple to sophisticated. The thermometer is one simple medical instrument that makes use of a sensor for measuring and monitoring body temperature. Home pregnancy tests also consist of sensors that detect hormones indicating pregnancy. On the other hand, medical equipment such as pulse oximeters, dialysis machines, oxygen concentrators, and blood sugar monitoring devices consist of novel and more complex sets of sensors.

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Sensors play an important role in improving healthcare practices and advancing biomedical research. Through them, researchers study diseases in detail and tailor further sophisticated technologies that will greatly benefit people with chronic illnesses and severe disabilities. Current research in biosensors explores the use of sensors as assistive devices for PWDs.

Biomedical sensors are relatively inexpensive and are used in numerous healthcare procedures. They are versatile tools that can be instrumental in lowering health costs and increasing efficiency in diagnosis and treatment. Advances in bioengineering allow the development of sophisticated sensors that can be valuable in medical care and research.

Visit this Linkedin page for more information about Akash Monpara, a biomedical engineering student at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

Developing Bioengineering Assistive Devices for PWDs

Biomedical engineering works towards innovating technological devices to ameliorate problems faced by people with disabilities. Through rehabilitation engineering, the application of science and technology that caters to the needs of PWDs, state-of-the-art assistive devices are being developed to enhance the quality of lives of PWDs.

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Assistive technology is defined by the law as any item, piece of equipment, or product used to increase or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. This includes a broad range of devices, strategies, and services aiding the accomplishment of a physical activity. Prosthetics and orthotics design and assistive technology production are just some of the direct applications of biomedical engineering.

With advances in the field of biomedical engineering, innovations in prosthetic designs are continually fostered. Few experimental prostheses have been integrated with body tissues, and these devices can respond to commands from the central nervous system. Development of these highly advanced artificial devices can closely approximate normal movement and utility. Aside from devices aiding mobility, biomedical engineers are also working on assistive devices for people with sensory impairments. Bioengineers develop auditory and tactile vision substitution systems, digital hearing aids, and electronic enunciators for people with visual or auditory impairments.

Tapping the expertise of biomedical engineers is crucial to achieve our vision of a more inclusive and PWD-friendly society.

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Akash Monpara is a biomedical engineering student at Johns Hopkins University. Learn more about this field by subscribing to this blog.

The Potential Role of Nanotechnology in Cancer Management

A team of international researchers has recently discovered that nanotechnology may actually be used in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. This suggests amazing possibilities, including a more precise way of eliminating tumors with only minimal damage to healthy cells and tissues. It also opens up opportunity for early detection and eradication of cancer cells even before they form into tumors. 

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Most of the work on cancer treatment through nanotechnology is still in progress, but scientists and medical researchers are more than determined to make these treatments a reality. Several international cancer institutes are collaborating with researchers to resolve the major difficulties in the research and development stage. Experts hope to finish this feat within the decade. 

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The main objective of the study is to make cancer detection less painful and invasive. It aims to use highly sensitive nanotechnology to diagnose cancer through blood, urine, or saliva sample from the patient. The creation of nanocrystals for the treatment of patients is also in the works. Nanocrystals help in producing better images of cancer cells that will significantly contribute to improving surgical procedures. The patient will swallow a magnetized nanocrystal with an embedded drug, and through the use of a magnetic resonance scanner, the nanocrystals can be controlled and directed to the tumor. Ultrasound is then used to break the crystal and release the drug to treat and eliminate cancer cells. This allows the drug to concentrate on the tumor instead of spreading all throughout the body and affect even healthy cells, which is a common side effect of chemotherapy. 

Akash Monpara is a student at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore finishing his degree in biomedical engineering. For more about him, visit this page.