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!

 

• 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)