Courses

OFFICAL COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Covers the physics associated with magnetic resonance imaging and diagnostic ultrasound, emphasizing techniques employed in medical diagnostic imaging. Major MRI topics include physics of MR, pulse sequences, hardware, imaging techniques, artifacts, and spectroscopic localization. Ultrasound topics include propagation of ultrasonic waves in biological tissues, principles of ultrasonic imaging instrumentation, design and use of currently available tools for performance evaluation of diagnostic instrumentation, and biological effects of ultrasound. At the completion of this course, students should understand the technical and scientific details of modern non-ionizing medical magnetic resonance and ultrasound devices and their use in diagnosing disease.

REQUISITES: (MATH 234, 319), (PHYSICS 202 or 208) and (PHYSICS 241 or 248) or graduate/professional standing

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of each section of the course, you should be able to:

MRI SECTION

1. Summarize the hardware and methods required to form images using nuclear magnetic resonance effects (Both Grad & Undergrad)
2. Analyze the effects of tissue properties on MRI image contrast and the influence of imaging parameters on disease visualization (Both Grad & Undergrad)
3. Evaluate the interactions between hardware and patients, including safety concerns and image artifacts (Both Grad & Undergrad)
4. Contextualize the acquired knowledge to formulate research questions to solve specific clinical needs (Graduate Only)

ULTRASOUND SECTION

1. Illustrate the process of ultrasound image formation by means of identifying key physical concepts related to the transmission, propagation, and detection of ultrasound waves used in diagnostic imaging (Both Grad & Undergrad)
2. Integrate the knowledge from Learning Objective 1 to understand different aspects that define the quality of ultrasound images and the tradeoff with acoustic energy exposure and bioeffects (Both Grad & Undergrad)
3. Monitor the presence of artifacts in ultrasound images and test the imaging performance of clinical ultrasound scanners (Both Grad & Undergrad)
4. Contextualize the acquired knowledge to formulate research questions to solve specific clinical needs (Graduate Only)

OFFICAL COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Mathematical and physical foundations of the application of acoustics in diagnostic ultrasound. Derivation of wave equations for mechanical waves in fluids and solids from a continuum mechanics perspective. Diffraction theory and methods for acoustic field calculation (analytic, angular spectrum, simulations). Review of interactions of acoustic waves with biological tissue and methods to measure their acoustic properties. In-depth discussion of methods for structural image formation including ray-line scanning, plane wave compounding, synthetic aperture, coded excitation, and spatial coherent imaging. Introduction to novel functional imaging approach, including ultrafast Doppler, molecular ultrasound, functional ultrasound, and super-resolution imaging. Application of the acquired knowledge to perform a systematic literature review of the state-of-the-art of the field for the solution of a relevant clinical problem.

REQUISITES: MED PHYS 573, MED PHYS 578. Consent of instructor if no MED PHYS 573 or MED PHYS 578.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

After this course, you will be able to:

1. 1. Provide detailed physical explanations, based on advanced mathematical grounds, of
      • The basic principles of the propagation and interactions of mechanical waves in tissues
      • Several ultrasound-based structural and functional imaging techniques
   2. Critically assess recent technological developments in medical ultrasound imaging by appraising the motivation, strengths, and limitations of published research in this area
   3. Based on a critical review of the state of the art of biomedical ultrasound, define the goal and specific aims of a research proposal focused on addressing a knowledge gap in the field and/or solving a relevant clinical problem using advanced concepts of ultrasound image acquisition, formation, and processing.