# What classification of science and or research is this? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 14, 2003, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-classification-of-science-and-or-research-is-this/218857 "2003-12-14T00:23:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Epimetheus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-classification-of-science-and-or-research-is-this/218857/1 "2003-12-14T00:23:32Z")
What classification of science does the research of implants and such fall into? I have tried doing searches on cybernetics, but I never run across anything interesting. I have seen an article on a tooth that recieves radio transmissions from the UK, and of course news of the VeriChip, and the cochlear implant, not to mention pictures of Dental implants. (don’t go to the next site if you get sick easy) [http://www.health.ufl.edu/jax/dentistry/DentalImplantNews.htm](http://www.health.ufl.edu/jax/dentistry/DentalImplantNews.htm) Looking for the latest technology on artifical limbs, implants and computer/human interfaces fascinates me, anybody know what classification this falls under, hopefull some keyword that allows me to research it further. ---
**Author:** ![kellner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c2a13f/32.png) [@kellner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kellner)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-classification-of-science-and-or-research-is-this/218857/2 "2003-12-14T00:48:08Z")
Perhaps some of the projects of [this institute](http://www.ibmt.fhg.de/index_e.html) are close to what you are looking for. At least some things might be a starting point for further searches. ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-classification-of-science-and-or-research-is-this/218857/3 "2003-12-14T04:32:10Z")
Those types of things are just generally known as medical implants or bionics. A search under either of those terms should turn up loads of information. ---
**Author:** ![raygirvan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ac91a4/32.png) [@raygirvan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raygirvan)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-classification-of-science-and-or-research-is-this/218857/4 "2003-12-14T04:37:03Z")
Yes, definitely [bionics](http://online.sfsu.edu/~swilson/emerging/artre332.bionics.html). ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-classification-of-science-and-or-research-is-this/218857/5 "2003-12-14T06:34:11Z")
It’s not science, it’s engineering – specifically, biomedical engineering. ---
**Author:** ![Trigonal\_Planar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-classification-of-science-and-or-research-is-this/218857/6 "2003-12-14T07:06:15Z")
Also try biophysics or biomechanics. ---
**Author:** ![emacknight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ec8ea/32.png) [@emacknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacknight)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-classification-of-science-and-or-research-is-this/218857/7 "2003-12-14T07:51:18Z")
It really depends on the nature of the implant and the nature of the research. Biomedical Engineering tends to be a blanket term to cover it all. Biomaterials focuses obviously on the material used, as well as the reactions that material has with the body. Biomechanics isn’t normally applied to this field, but I do have a friend that studies the strength vs shape properties of bone screws (used for example with sever break of the femur) and he considers it biomechanics, but usually that term is for the movement of the human body. Hope that helps. If you’re curious check out the [University of Toronto’s Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering.](http://www.utoronto.ca/IBBME) ---
**Author:** ![Epimetheus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-classification-of-science-and-or-research-is-this/218857/8 "2003-12-14T14:17:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Nametag \* > \*\*It’s not science, it’s engineering – specifically, biomedical engineering. \*\* Engineering isn’t a science? Thats a new one. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2003, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-classification-of-science-and-or-research-is-this/218857/9 "2003-12-15T03:16:30Z")
_Mad!_