PX3147: Digital Medical Imaging

School Cardiff School of Physics & Astronomy
Department Code PHYSX
Module Code PX3147
External Subject Code 100419
Number of Credits 10
Level L6
Language of Delivery English
Module Leader Mr Gordon Middleton
Semester Autumn Semester
Academic Year 2013/4

Outline Description of Module

To establish a firm understanding of the principles, technologies and applications of digital imaging techniques in medicine.
To give an appreciation of the practical aspects of operating digital imaging systems in the modern health service.

On completion of the module a student should be able to

Describe the important medical imaging modalities and give examples of their application.
Describe the physical principles applicable to the important medical imaging modalities.
Illustrate, using examples, the application of digital-image-processing methods to medical imaging.
Demonstrate, both mathematically and diagramatically, the principles of tomography.
Describe the main components of a range of tomographic imaging equipment.
Distinguish between tomography using X-rays and radionuclides.
Describe the image formation process in Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
Outline the principal components of a Picture Archive and Communication System (PACS).

How the module will be delivered

Lectures 22 x 1 hr, Demonstrations, Exercises.

Skills that will be practised and developed

Problem solving. Investigative skills. Mathematics. Analytical skills.

How the module will be assessed

Examination 80%. Coursework 20%. [Examination duration: 2 hours]

Assessment Breakdown

Type % Title Duration(hrs)
Exam - Autumn Semester 80 Digital Medical Imaging 2
Written Assessment 20 Digital Medical Imaging N/A

Syllabus content

Digital Medical Imaging: Introduction to modern medical imaging modalities. Production and display of digital images, contrast enhancement, histogram equalisation.
Image Processing Techniques: Image filtering, frequency space, spatial and temporal filtering. Image quantification, analysis of dynamic studies, texture analysis, feature extraction, gating techniques, parametric imaging.
Tomography: Tomographic reconstruction, radon transform, convolution theorem, forward and back projection, iterative reconstruction.
Tomographic Techniques and Instrumentation: X-ray CT: detectors, scanners, multislice and spiral systems, radiation dose.
Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET): gamma camera and dedicated systems, filter functions, attenuation correction.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): gradient fields, slice selection, pulse sequences, contrast agents, safety.
The Digital Imaging Department: Introduction to picture archive and communication systems (PACS). Computed Radiography (CR). Image registration and image fusion techniques, 3-D image display

Essential Reading and Resource List

The Physics of Medical Imaging, Webb.
Farr’s Physics for Medical Imaging, Allisy-Roberts and Williams
Introduction to Medical Electronic Applications, Jenning, Flint, Truton and Noakes.


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