Scientific Research on Biomedical Engineering in Ukraine: Origins of Development

The formation of scientific research in the field of biotechnology in Ukraine has been studied. It is proved that almost immediately after the discovery of X-rays by Conrad Roentgen the research on its practical application began in Ukrainian research centers. The role of Professor George De-Metz in the study of the effects of these rays on various living and lifeless objects was outlined; studying the natural radioactivity of living organisms and the effect of ionizing radiation on living creatures were shown. Experimental studies with X-rays were conducted by Professor of Physics of the Kharkiv Institute of Technology Oleksandr Pogorelko. He proved the practical significance of a new phenomenon for medicine, i.e. the use of X-rays to diagnose of different diseases. Research in the field of radiography was conducted by Mykola Pylchykov, which contributed to the creation, on his initiative, of the first Ukrainian institution of X-ray studies in Odessa. The use of ultrahigh frequencies for the treatment of patients with oncology, conducted by Academician Abram Slutskin in the Department of Biophysics, Ukrainian Institute of Experimental Medicine was highlighted. This department was established in 1933 by a scientist at the suggestion of his colleague, the head of the Department of Physiology of Kharkiv University Vasyl Danylevsky. Under the guidance of Corresponding Member Semen Tetelbaum, groundbreaking researches on the use of ultrasound for diagnosis were conducted. The created device for diagnosing of kidney stones, liver, the location of the tumor in the early stages, heart disease, was differed from similar of foreign samples by greater ease of use and reliability in operation. It was found that research in the field of biomedical engineering of the second half of the XX century developed in the cooperation with representatives of the medical industry of technical institutions of higher education. The achievements of the Department of “Department of Industrial and Biomedical Electronics” of NTU “KhPI” in the direction of biomedical electronics and the discovery of a new phenomenon of piezobiosynthesis in biological tissues, contributed to the improvement of cancer diagnosis.