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Course

Engineering in Medical Imaging 2: Ionizing Techniques 2023FS

Ended Dec 15, 2023
4.5 CEUs

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Full course description

Course Overview:
This is the second course in a 2-semester investigation into the engineering of medical imaging modalities. These courses will provide the student with a functional understanding of some of the most common applications of engineering in medical imaging. This course will include discussions of the underlying physics, device operation, image formation, and clinical applications of medical images including in-depth discussions on x-ray imaging including projection x-ray, mammography, fluoroscopy, and computed tomography (CT), nuclear medicine (radiopharmaceuticals, scintigraphy, SPECT, PET), and radiation therapy (photon and particle). This course focuses specifically on ionizing radiation and thus will also contain discussion of radiobiology. To appropriately understand these modalities requires a solid grasp of fundamental concepts taught within undergraduate level physics, mathematics, and engineering courses. This is an upper-level undergraduate/graduate course specifically targeted toward students with interest in careers in biomedical engineering, clinical technology, and medicine. Thus, a large portion of lecture will be dedicated to both theoretical development and applications in research and medicine. Of course, the ultimate goal of this course (and hopefully every course you take in higher education) is to develop the student to be a critical thinker!

 
Course Objectives:
By the end of the course, students will be able to…
  • Calculate the parameters relating to ionizing radiation waves, atomic and nuclear structure, light matter interactions, and radioactivity.
  • Quantify and analyze ionizing radiation on cells including calculations of dose and kerma.
  • Explain x-ray production and the underlying operation of an x-ray tube and x-ray detectors.
  • Discuss methods for production of radiopharmaceuticals and radiotracers for use in diagnostic nuclear medicine.
  • Calculate statistical parameters related to radioactivity detection in medicine.
  • Explain the processes of medical image production by:
  • X-ray (projection, mammography, fluoroscopy, CT),
  • Nuclear medicine (scintigraphy, SPECT, PET),
  • Radiation Therapy (IMRT, proton, heavy ion)

 
Topics:
• Math Review
• Interactions of EM waves with Matter
• Radiobiology
• X-ray production
• Projection X-ray 
• X-ray Computed Tomography (CT)
• Radiopharmaceuticals
• Nuclear Medicine (scintigraphy, SPECT, PET)
• Radiation Therapy

 
Instructor(s):
Robert Thomen, PhD

 
Length:
8 Week

 
Department: 
Biomedical, Biological and Chemical Engineering, MU College of Engineering

 
Credit:
Non-Credit, 4.5 continuing education units

 
Audience:
Non-traditional students | Adult Learners

 
University of Missouri Extension complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If you have a disability and need accommodations in connection with participation in an educational program or you need materials in an alternate format, please notify your instructor as soon as possible so that necessary arrangements can be made.
 
Please direct payment questions and refund requests to MU Extension Customer Support. Access MU Extension’s Course Cancellation and Refund Policy for details.