Overview
The aim of the module in Medical Physics is to provide a primer into this important physics specialisation. The range of subjects covered is intended to give a balanced introduction to Medical Physics, with emphasis on the core principles of medical imaging, radiation therapy and radiation safety. A small number of lectures is also allocated to the growing field of optical techniques. The module involves several contributions from the Department of Medical Physics at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital.
SYLLABUS:
Radiation protection (radiology, generic); Radiation hazards and dosimetry, radiation protection science and standards, doses and risks in radiology; Radiology; (Fundamental radiological science, general radiology, fluoroscopy and special procedures); Mammography (Imaging techniques and applications to health screening); Computed Tomography (Principles, system design and physical assessment); Diagnostic ultrasound (Pulse echo principles, ultrasound imaging, Doppler techniques); Tissue optics (Absorption, scattering of light in the tissue); The eye (The eye as an optical instrument); Confocal Microscopy (Principles and resolutions); Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and applications; Nuclear Medicine (Radionuclide production, radiochemistry, imaging techniques, radiation detectors); In vitro techniques (Radiation counting techniques and applications); Positron Emission Tomography (Principles, imaging and clinical applications); Radiation therapies (Fundamentals of beam therapy, brachytherapy, and 131I thyroid therapy); Radiation Protection (unsealed sources); Dose from in-vivo radionuclides, contamination, safety considerations.
Details
This module appears in the following module collections.
Contact hours
Lectures (30 hours); workshop sessions (3 hours).
This module is expected to occupy 150 total study hours, including the contact hours above.
Availability
This is not available as a wild module.
Method of assessment
Written (unseen) examination - 2 hours: 70%; Class tests: 30%.
Indicative reading
Physics for medical imaging, R.F. Farr and P.J. Allisy-Roberts; with contributions from J. Weir, London: Saunders, 1998 (repr. 2006), ID: 705044; R 895;
Hendee, William R., Medical imaging physics, William R. Hendee, E. Russell Ritenour, 4th ed., New York : Wiley-Liss, 2002, ID: 633023, q RC 78.7.D53;
Physics in nuclear medicine, Simon R. Cherry, James A. Sorenson, Michael E. Phelps., 3rd ed, Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders, c2003, ID 690435, R 895;
A practical approach to medical image processing [with cd-rom] / Elizabeth Berry, New York; London: Taylor & Francis, 2008, Series in medical physics and biomedical engineering, ID 723882, R 857.O6;
Confocal microscopy, edited by T. Wilson, London : Academic Press, 1990. ID 8092, QH 224;
Handbook of biological confocal microscopy/edited by James B. Pawley, New York; London : Plenum Press, 1990, Based on papers given at the Confocal Microscopy Workshop held at the Electron Microscopy Society of America Meeting, August 8-9, 1989, in San Antonio, Texas, ID 308784, qQH 224;
Handbook of optical coherence tomography, edited by Brett E. Bouma, Guillermo J. Tearney, New York : Marcel Dekker, 2002, ID 649237, R 857.O6;
Optical coherence tomography, technology and applications, Wolfgang Drexler, James G. Fujimoto, (eds.), Berlin; London: Springer, c2008, Biological and medical physics, biomedical engineering, ID 737786, E-Book
See the library reading list for this module (Canterbury)
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding of physical laws and principles, and their applications in medical physics.
Knowledge and understanding of ionising radiations, with special reference to adverse health effects, to principles relating to radiation dose, and to measures necessary to protect people from the effects of ionising radiations.
Knowledge of medical imaging principles, techniques and applications using X-rays, radionuclides, ultrasound and optical radiation.
Knowledge of therapeutic principles using unsealed sources of radiation in vivo and external radiation sources.
An ability to identify relevant principles and laws when dealing with problems involving measurements or tasks medical physics, with the ability to make assumptions or approximations in order to obtain solutions.
An ability to solve problems in medical physics using appropriate mathematical tools.
An ability to use mathematical techniques and analysis to model physical behaviour.
An ability to present and interpret information graphically within a medical physics context.
An ability to make use of appropriate texts, research-based materials or other learning resources as part of managing their own learning.
Problem-solving skills, in the context of both problems with well-defined solutions and open-ended problems of applications of physics laws to health sciences, an ability to formulate problems in precise terms and to identify key issues, and the confidence to try different approaches in order to make progress on challenging problems. Numeracy is subsumed within this area.
Analytical skills – associated with the need to pay attention to detail, to construct logical arguments and to use technical language correctly and to develop an ability to manipulate precise and intricate ideas, to construct logical arguments and to use technical language correctly.
Notes
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Credit level 5. Intermediate level module usually taken in Stage 2 of an undergraduate degree.
- ECTS credits are recognised throughout the EU and allow you to transfer credit easily from one university to another.
- The named convenor is the convenor for the current academic session.
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