Medical device engineers design medical prostheses.
Medical device engineering, also called biomedical engineering, researches and designs solutions to medical problems. Medical device engineers research new device polymers, monitor clinical trials for new medical devices, consult with manufacturers on best manufacturing practices and teach medical personnel use new medical devices. Many medical device engineers have a Masters degree in biomedical engineering with experience in electrical and mechanical engineering. This career is expected to grow 21 percent through 2016.
Research
Medical device engineers research different materials to use in manufacturing medical devices. For example, an implanted medical device such as a replacement joint must be made from a hard polymer that can stand up to wear and tear without grinding down. A medical device engineer will test different polymers to find those that will meet the requirements of the medical device. A typical medical device engineer researching polymers in 2008 made $63,170 per year.
Prosthetist
Prostheses are medical devices that replace parts of the body. A prosthetist is a medical device engineer who designs and creates prototypes of these artificial limbs. He may work with a specific patient, measuring and fitting that patient for a replacement part and advising the patient on wear and care for the prosthesis. Prosthetic training and clinical lab experience are required for this work, in addition to engineering courses. The median annual salary for a prosthetist as of 2010 is between $52,601 and $79,552. (Ref 5)
Device Field Specialist
A device field specialist educates medical personnel on best implant or use a medical device. The field specialist is typically a medical device engineer who has designed the device and the surgical tool kit to implant the device. She may also have experience monitoring clinical trials required by the FDA to approve the device. The field specialist travels to hospitals, clinics and medical foundations to provide in-service training to medical personnel. Pay varies widely for field specialists, but as of 2010, people working in the medical device field made an annual salary of $58,313 to $79,344.
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