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The general theme of MEDICON 2013 is'Research and Development of Technology for Sustainable Healthcare'. This decade is being characterized by the appearance and use of emergent technologies under development. This situation has produced a tremendous impact on Medicine and Biology from which it is expected an unparalleled evolution in these disciplines towards novel concept and practices. The consequence will be a significant improvement in health care and well-fare, i.e. the shift from a reactive medicine to a preventive medicine. This shift implies that the citizen will play an important role in the healthcare delivery process, what requires a comprehensive and personalized assistance. In this context, society will meet emerging media, incorporated to all objects, capable of providing a seamless, adaptive, anticipatory, unobtrusive and pervasive assistance. The challenge will be to remove current barriers related to the lack of knowledge required to produce new opportunities for all the society, while new paradigms are created for this inclusive society to be socially and economically sustainable, and respectful with the environment. In this way, these proceedings focus on the convergence of biomedical engineering topics ranging from formalized theory through experimental science and technological development to practical clinical applications.

The primary objective of this book is to compile the latest research topics on biomedical therapy, bioeffects and modeling techniques that utilize vibration and acoustics. This book includes three parts. The first part is dedicated to therapy, which is comprised of five chapters: two chapters on the respiratory system, one chapter on the nervous system and two on cell culture. The second part in two chapters explores the bioeffects of vibration and acoustics on human body parts including the effect of occupational vibration exposure on different parts of the body. The third part demonstrates how the concepts of vibration and acoustics are implemented through modeling of various biological and biomedical systems and elements. It consists of two sections. In three chapters, the first section of part three focuses on the respiratory system and vocal cords, while section two, also in three chapters, focuses on the MRI system and biosensors. Readers will find this text a valuable asset in keeping them abreast of the latest techniques in these area. It will appeal not only to fellow researchers, but also to clinicians, practitioners, lecturers and students in this exciting and vital field of study.