PHYS 2340        UNIVERSITY of DENVER        Spring 2008

Medical Imaging Physics

3 credits

 

Davor Balzar

Department of Physics and Astronomy

Physics Building #210, 303-871-2137, balzar@du.edu

http://www.du.edu/~balzar

 

Class schedule: Tuesday and Thursday 2:00-3:30 PM Olin 205

 

Office hours: Tuesday and Thursday 3:30-4:30 PM or by appointment

 

Course objectives:

Give an overview of experimental imaging and measurement techniques used in medicine and biomedical research. The course provides a good preparation for medical, dental and bio-related graduate school or a health-related career in the sciences or engineering.

 

Course description: This is the second course required for a Medical Physics Minor, following Physics of the Body (PHYS 2300). Electrical signals in the body and their measurement; waves, sound, and its clinical uses; eyes, vision, and microscopy; x-rays, tomography, radiation therapy, lasers; magnetic resonance imaging. Prerequisites: PHYS 1113 or 1213, PHYS 2300.

 

Required textbooks:

Physics in Biology and Medicine by P. Davidovits, 3rd Ed. Elsevier.

 

Physics for Biology and Medicine, Third Edition covers topics in physics as they apply to the life sciences, specifically medicine, physiology, nursing and other applied health fields. This concise introductory paperback surveys and relates basic physics to living systems. (Reprinted from the Elsevier Web site).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Online resource:

 

The Physical Principles of Medical Imaging, by Perry Sprawls, 2nd Ed.

 

Medical images are formed from the interaction of several types of radiation with the physical properties and functions of biological tissue. The course will cover the various energies, interactions, and technologies used to create medical images and the physical characteristics that define the images. Image quality, contrast and resolution for several imaging modalities will be compared and evaluated. Image information content as a function of the imaging process will be discussed. (Reprinted from the course syllabus)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplementary reading:

Physics of the Body by J. R. Cameron, J. G. Skofronick, and R. M. Grant, 2nd Ed., Medical Physics Publishing.

 

This book is intended primarily for students who plan to make a career in some field of medicine. The authors rely on basic physics principles to promote an understanding of the function of the various organ systems of the body such as the eyes, ears, lungs, and heart. Although it was written primarily as a text for students who have some knowledge of elementary physics, it will be interesting and understandable to any person who is curious about how his/her body works. The mathematics is at the algebra level.

(Reprinted from the Medical Physics Publishing Web site)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Biological Physics (Energy, Information, Life), by Philip Nelson, Freeman, 2004.

This text is at more advanced undergraduate level, mathematically more intense.

 

Prerequisites:

  • Basic algebra-based physics
  • Elementary chemistry and biology

 

The following are some of the recommended basic physics textbooks, if some material needs to be reviewed:

  • John D. Cutnell, Kenneth W. Johnson, Physics, Wiley (algebra-based).
  • Douglas C. Giancoli, Physics: Principles with Applications, Prentice Hall (algebra-based).
  • David Halliday, Robert Resnick, and Jearl Walker, Fundamentals of Physics, Wiley (calculus-based).
  • Larry Gonick and Art Huffman, The Cartoon Guide to Physics, HarperPerennial.

 

Student evaluation:

Based on:

  • Homework (35 %)
  • Quizzes (25 %)
  • Midterm exam (15 %)
    • May 1 (tentatively)
  • Final exam (25 %)
    • May 29 2:00-3:50 (last class)

 

Late-paper and attendance policy:

2 missing papers (1 homework and 1 quiz) are allowed (grade drops afterward). Both exams must be attended or absence documented by a note from a doctor.

 

Quiz and Exam policy:

Handwritten or typed list of formulas, constant values, and other numbers are allowed. No books, photocopies, lecture notes, or powerpoint slides are allowed.

 

Important note:

Students must comply with University Honor Code (http://www.du.edu/ccs/honorcode.html). Plagiarism is a serious offense and a basis for failing the course.

 

Approximate Schedule

 

Week

Topic

1

Electrical Signals in and from the Body

EKG, EEG, EMG

2

Waves, Sound and Hearing

3

Ultrasound in Medicine

4

Eyes and Vision

5

Microscopy

6

X-rays

7

Radiology

X-ray Tomography

8

Radiation Therapy

9

Lasers

10

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

Magnetic Resonance Imaging