MEDICAL IMAGING - 2021/2

Module Overview

The course will follow the historical development of the main medical imaging techniques.

The first part will consider, from a theoretical perspective, the fundamentals of X-ray image formation both in the planar modality and in the Computed Tomography modality. Elements of image processing and image reconstruction will be addressed.

The second will look at the physical principles and methods of Nuclear Medicine.

The third will look at the principles underlying the application of diagnostic ultrasound in medicine.

The fourth will consider Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), one of the most important techniques of medical imaging used in hospitals today.

In parallel to the related theoretical classes, laboratory experiments will be carried out on X-ray imaging and ultrasound.

Module provider

Mathematics & Physics

Module Leader

PANI Silvia (Physics)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

Module cap (Maximum number of students): 40

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None.

Module content

Indicative content includes:

LECTURES:

Introduction to Medical Imaging: modalities and applications; basic elements of image quality assessment.

Mathematics of Imaging: Fourier transform and convolution.

X-ray Projection Imaging Systems: origins of contrast in X-ray imaging; the effect of source and detector on image quality; Nyquist’s sampling theorem; medical X-ray system design and applications

Introduction to X-ray Computed Tomography: the evolution of transmission X-ray CT imaging systems; image reconstruction from projections; Radon Transform; filtering in the frequency domain and in the space domain; applications.

Introduction to Nuclear Medicine: basic principles; production of isotopes for Nuclear Medicine; the gamma camera; emission tomographies: SPECT and PET.

Introduction to Ultrasound: basic principles; interaction of ultrasound with matter; reflection coefficients; practical ultrasound imaging (time gain compensation, beam steering, Doppler imaging); applications.

Introduction to MRI: spin quantisation and magnetic moment; radiofrquency excitation and free induction decay; Fourier transform relationship; complex representation of the magnetisation vector, T1 , T2, T2* the Bloch equations; gradients and the idea of a “positional spectrum”; frequency and phase encoding; MRI sequences; applications.

 

LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS:

X-ray imaging: Planar versus Computed Tomography imaging; Parameters affecting image quality and detail visibility; Receiver Operating Characteristic curves.

Ultrasound Imaging: Group project involving one of the following topic: use of clinical scanners on test objects; measurement of flow using Doppler effect; characterisation of transducers; characterisation of materials in terms of their ultrasound transmission and reflection properties.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Alternative assessment: If a student is unable to attend the ultrasound laboratory sessions an alternative individual experiment will be arranged for them.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of the importance of different parameters on image quality for various modalities, their knowledge of the functioning of the components of the imaging systems for each modality, and their capability for interpreting their result in the context of the underpinning theory and of the limitations of the instrumentation used.

They will be also provided with the opportunity to demonstrate their capability for communicating their results and observations in a scientific report and in a presentation.

 

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• 
  A report (maximum 2000 words), to be submitted typically in Week 7, on one experiment on X-ray imaging.
  


• 
  A group presentation, to be given to the class in Week 9 or 10, on the group project on Ultrasonics.
  


• 
  A written examination of 2h duration with a section of short compulsory questions, and a section of longer questions with a choice of 2 out of 3.
  
   
  
  Formative assessment
  
  Non-marked problems will be provided on a regular basis for discussion during tutorials; mock exam papers will be provided for students to attempt individually and the opportunity to get feedback on such papers will be offered.
  
   
  
  Feedback
  
  During each laboratory session, students will be given questions to be answered before the session and to be reflected back on at the end and verbal feedback will be given on those during the session.
  

Module aims

• Provide the student with the theoretical skills necessary to understand the physics and also essential aspects of signal processing underpinning the formation of diagnostic imaging systems; to provide an understanding of the elementary aspects of X-ray planar and CT imaging, Nuclear Medicine, Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Ultrasound.
• Give the students experience of handling imaging instrumentation and of analysing imaging data.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

Give the students an understanding of the physical principles and practical constraints for the main clinically established medical imaging applications, with particular emphasis on the factors affecting image quality.

 

The learning and teaching methods include:

• 
  25 hours lectures and tutorials (1, 2-hour lecture per week; one, 1-hour tutorial in the Semester and one, two-hour tutorial at the end of Semester)
  


• 
  18 hours of laboratory classes (6 sessions)
  

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: PHY3045

Other information

The module is open to FHEQ Level 6 students on all Physics programmes and on the Biomedical Engineering MEng. 

THe maximum number of students on the module is set to 40, with priority given to Physics students.

This module has a capped number and may not be available to ERASMUS and other international exchange students. Please check with the International Engagement Office email: ieo.incoming@surrey.ac.uk

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2021/2 academic year.