Biomedical engineering has existed in a very simple form for many years; as early as The 1500-s, articulated limbs were being made. Initially most products were wooden, then metal was used, with replacements for hands being metal hooks (we have al heard of the dreaded Captain Hook) or leather-covered non-functional hands. However it was not until World War I (WWI) that biomedical engineering started to grow.

After WWI, the manufacture of prosthetic limbs expanded, with the development of quality artificial legs, using metal and rubber in construction. After WWII the field grew dramatically to incorporate prosthetic hands; some were still hooks while others closely resembled a hand. There was now greater use of some plastics, a new material. Following this there was a move to make prosthetics far less intrusive, and this was achieved with further improvements in polymer technology. The reliability of joints was also improved. Artificial limbs have developed further to include myoelectric limbs which use electric signals from nerves to operate an electro- mechanical hand or elbow.

Biomedical engineering also covers the replacement of internal body joints; the first artificial hip joint was fitted in 1960. This consisted of a metal ball fitted into a plastic socket, providing the user with a reliable hip joint. Newer joints now allow bone to grow onto the joint thus removing the need for nail or screw attachment. In 1961 the first artificial heart valve was fitted; it was a stainless steel cage with a plastic ball in it. Prior to this only pig heart valves were available. Although it caused damage to the blood, it was this option or perhaps death for the user, and its design remained for many years. Newer valves are titanium with a flap opening and closing. 

In 1978 the first human was fitted with a cochlear implant (a bionic ear) and in 1982 the design was commercialised. The implant allows a deaf person to hear. The cochlear implant has been further developed to a more sophisticated, non-intrusive and reliable system. Over 20,000 people have been fitted with the bionic ear and over 10,000 of these people are children. The cochlear implant has truly been an Australian success story; Dr Graeme Clark is an inspirational man who has lead the development team.

The artificial heart was developed over years, only to receive exceedingly bad publicity in the 1980's, but it is ready to return with vast improvements. There are also artificial hearts that merely assist a weak heart while a person waits for a transplant, an example being the left ventricle assist device (LVAD). The VentrAssist LAD blood pump developed by Australian Ventracor used a hydrodynamically suspended, magnetically driven impeller to minimise bloody damage. Unfortunately Ventracor went into liquidation in 2009.

The effect that biomedical engineering has on people is immense. For example, prior to 1960 a failed heart valve meant certain death, while a failed hip joint meant the person was probably confined to a wheelchair.

Continual developments in biomedical engineering are opening up new options. The development of the cochlear ear implant has enabled people to hear again. This offers immense benefits to such people in areas like communicating with other humans, safety in the workplace and entertainment. Advances being made in the development of an artificial eye will have profound benefits to anyone who has gone blind. Sight is a very important sense to humans so to be able to restore that is of immeasurable value.

The importance of the development of the TAH has already been discussed. With heart-related illness being such a large killer, the development of a reliable TAH will be a monumental step, especially in societies that neglect sensible prevention of heart disease, i.e. exercise and correct eating.

Biomedical engineering is also responsible for the precision design of equipment used in surgical procedures and medical surveillance and imagery. The development of heart monitors, various scanners [computer axial tomography (CAT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nuclear cameras] and reliable surgical equipment is of paramount importance to the medical world, which serves most people at some time or another.