The University of New South Wales

Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering

BIOM9027

Medical Imaging

Session 2, 2010
Introduction 3
Course staff 3
Course information 3
Assessment 5
Academic honesty and plagiarism 7
Course schedule 8
Resources 12
Administrative matters 12
Introduction
Medical imaging technology has played a pivotal role in the development of modern
medicine. Medical imaging was born with the discovery of X-rays by Röntgen in
1895. During the early part of the 20th century, the development of modern physics
led to both harmful and beneficial applications that have had profound influences on
society. This marriage between physics, engineering and medicine led to development
of X-ray imaging, nuclear isotope imaging, magnetic resonance imaging and
ultrasound. The fields of ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging are undergoing
rapid change. Therefore it is important for biomedical engineering students to be
receptive to these advancing technological areas because it is likely that they will gain
employment in these or related areas.

Course staff
COURSE CONVENOR:
Dr Robert Nordon (r.nordon@unsw.edu.au)

OTHER LECTURERS:
Dr Michael Braun (michael.braun@uts.edu.au)
Dr Joseph Paul (paul@unsw.edu.au)
Dr Stefan Eberl (stefan@cs.usyd.edu.au)

Course information
Units of credit: 6
The University expects that you will devote 10-11 hours per week to this course. In
addition to the 3 hours in class, you should spend 7-8 hours reading and working on
problems and assignments.

Presumed knowledge and skills

Course Prerequisites
Biological Signal Analysis (BIOM9621) or equivalent
Mathematics
It is expected that you have an understanding of the Fourier transform and the
sampling theorem.

How this course relates to other courses

This course is an introduction to medical imaging by x-ray, ultrasound, nuclear
isotype and magnetic resonance imaging, so its fundamental principles are based on
an understanding of physics. Whilst it is not necessary to have taken an undergraduate
course in physics , the course links with any course in signal analysis such as
biological signal analysis (BIOM9621).

Aims
To develop an understanding of the principles of medical imaging technologies from
an engineering perspective.

Expected learning outcomes

On completion of this subject, students should be able to:
• demonstrate an understanding of the physical basis of medical imaging
• apply mathematical and computational tools for image formation
• provide technical explanations for imaging artifacts
• critically evaluate medical imaging technologies from a technical and safety
perspective
• communicate effectively with medical professions working in the field of medical
imaging

Teaching Strategy
This six-unit credit course is a series of 12 x 3 hour lecture/tutorials that cover the
three main medical imaging modalities: X-ray, Ultrasound, Nuclear Medicine and
Magnetic Resonance imaging. The course includes two outside lecturers who have
specialized in magnetic reasonance imaging (Dr Michael Braun, University of
Technology, Sydney) and Nuclear Medical Imaging (Dr Stefan Eberl, Hospital
Physicist, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital).
The course caters for both undergraduate and post-graduate students drawn from
diverse backgrounds, so we endeavor to provide introductory lectures and tutorials for
the relevant fields of signal analysis (Weeks 1-3). Assignments, which constitute 50%
of the assessment, provide students with the opportunity to interact with lecturers at a
problem solving level.

Suggested approach to learning

All of the learning material will be provided via Blackboard prior to lectures, however
most of the slide or note material will require additional explanatory comment by the
student when attending the lecture. Some of the physical and mathematical concepts
are advanced, so its important for students to take an active approach to learning. It is
strongly recommended that students ask as many questions as possible, to clarify their
understanding, and to attend all lectures.
Most of the students comment that their understanding was significantly enhanced by
the assignments. The last lecture for a modality will include time for revision. After
marking, answers will be posted on Blackboard, prior to the last lecture. We strongly
recommended that students discuss their answers and difficult concepts with the
lecturer. It is in the student’s interest to work through assignments on their own, so
that they will be able to answer similar questions in the final exam.
Whilst students do not need to memorise complicated formulae for the final exam
(these will be provided as a list on the exam paper), it is strongly recommended that
they have a sound understanding of the meaning of each physical quantity, its units
and how to apply formulae to solve problems. Always check your units when solving
problems! We also recommend that you prepare a list of formulae for revision prior to
the exam. Some of the image reconstruction techniques are best understood using
geometry and algebra.

Assessment
Assignments (50%)
There will be four assignments, one for each modality. The students will have 2
weeks to complete each assignment, and they should receive their marked assignment
before the last lecture for that modality (see timetable).

Final examination (50%)

The final exam consists of four sections, one for each imaging modality. These are
short answer questions that require some calculation and have a very similar format to
the assignment questions. Only University approved calculators are allowed into
exams.
Generally all complicated formulae and physical constants will be provided on the
exam paper, though the definitions of symbols will not be provided. You should also
check with each lecturer which formulae they would like you to memorize!

2009 class: Student feedback (CATEI)

Popular aspects of the course were the hospital visit, interesting course content, and
the wide range of imaging modalities covered by the course.computer labs and the
assignments. Areas for improvement include more a mathematical treatment of the
subject material, more practical exercises, and more tutorial based teaching and
learning.

Course changes made for 2010 class

We have relocated the class to the new computer lab in the GSBME. This will allow
us to collocate the medical imaging tutorial and lecture. We will make use of the
Simulink image processing and acquisition toolbox for the first time, the goal being to
integrate theory and practice using computer simulations.
Table 1

Marked
Assignment Assignment assignment
Week Date Lecturers Subjects covered
release date due date returned to
students

Introduction medical imaging, X-ray production and

Dr R Nordon
1 21-Jul-10 interaction with tissues, Radon transform
X ray imaging, Fourier transform, Line integrals and Central 21-Jul-10 10-Aug-10 20-Aug-10
Dr R Nordon
2 28-Jul-10 Slice Theorem
CT image reconstruction, inverse radon transform, sampling
Dr R Nordon
3 4-Aug-10 errors
Dr Joseph Paul Ultrasound (physical principle)
4 11-Aug-10 11-Aug-10 31-Aug-10 10-Sep-10
5 18-Aug-10 Dr Joseph Paul Ultrasound (hardware)

Dr Stefan Eberl Nuclear medicine: physics, radiopharmaceuticals, detectors

6 25-Aug-10 25-Aug-10 14-Sep-10 24-Sep-10
7 1-Sep-10 Dr Stefan Eberl Nuclear medicine: digital imaging and data processing

8-Sep-10
Magnetic resonance: principles of nuclear magnetic
Dr Michael Braun
8 15-Sep-10 resonance 15-Sep-10 5-Oct-10 15-Oct-10
9 22-Sep-10 Dr Michael Braun Magnetic resonance: from spins to images, rapid imaging

10 29-Sep-10 Dr Stefan Eberl Nuclear medicine: digital imaging and data processing
11 6-Oct-10 Dr Joseph Paul Ultrasound Doppler
Magnetic resonance: image characteristics, special This material will be in final exam
Dr Michael Braun
12 13-Oct-10 techniques, hardware, safety /Revision
13 20-Oct-10 Dr Daniel Moses Visit to POWH radiology department/revision
Academic honesty and plagiarism
Please see the plagiarism policy of the Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering.
All assignments submitted in hardcopy form must be accompanied by a signed
GSBmE cover sheet (available from the above web page).

What is Plagiarism?
Plagiarism is the presentation of the thoughts or work of another as one’s own.*
Examples include:

• direct duplication of the thoughts or work of another, including by copying

material, ideas or concepts from a book, article, report or other written document
(whether published or unpublished), composition, artwork, design, drawing,
circuitry, computer program or software, web site, Internet, other electronic
resource, or another person’s assignment without appropriate acknowledgement;
• paraphrasing another person’s work with very minor changes keeping the
meaning, form and/or progression of ideas of the original;
• piecing together sections of the work of others into a new whole;
• presenting an assessment item as independent work when it has been produced in
whole or part in collusion with other people, for example, another student or a
tutor; and
• claiming credit for a proportion a work contributed to a group assessment item
that is greater than that actually contributed.†

For the purposes of this policy, submitting an assessment item that has already been
submitted for academic credit elsewhere may be considered plagiarism.

Knowingly permitting your work to be copied by another student may also be

considered to be plagiarism.

Note that an assessment item produced in oral, not written, form, or involving live
presentation, may similarly contain plagiarised material.

The inclusion of the thoughts or work of another with attribution appropriate to the
academic discipline does not amount to plagiarism.

The Learning Centre website is main repository for resources for staff and students on
plagiarism and academic honesty. These resources can be located via:

www.lc.unsw.edu.au/plagiarism
The Learning Centre also provides substantial educational written materials,
workshops, and tutorials to aid students, for example, in:

• correct referencing practices;

• paraphrasing, summarising, essay writing, and time management;
• appropriate use of, and attribution for, a range of materials including text, images,
formulae and concepts.

Individual assistance is available on request from The Learning Centre.

Students are also reminded that careful time management is an important part of study
and one of the identified causes of plagiarism is poor time management. Students
should allow sufficient time for research, drafting, and the proper referencing of
sources in preparing all assessment items.

* Based on that proposed to the University of Newcastle by the St James Ethics

Centre. Used with kind permission from the University of Newcastle
† Adapted with kind permission from the University of Melbourne.

Course schedule
TIME: 6.00 – 9.00pm Wednesday

PLACE: Computer Labs, Level 5, Samuels Building

Lecture Synopsis
Week 1 Interaction of X-rays with tissue
Lecturer: Dr Robert Nordon

The lecture will cover the quantum nature of x-rays and the
interaction of x-ray photons with tissues. The student will be
introduced to the concepts of linear attenuation and x-ray
projection sets. The computer lab will cover an introduction
to Matlab and the Radon transform.
Week 2 Plain X-ray imaging, sampling and noise
Lecturer: Dr Robert Nordon

This lecture will outline the physical basis of x-ray

production and detection. This will include a brief summary
 of plain x-ray imaging hardware: x-ray tubes and image
receptors. The geometry of x-ray projection artefacts will be
covered. The student will be introduced to the use of the
Fourier transform to analyse image bandwidth and the effects
of undersampling and noise. The computer lab will reinforce
these concepts with application of the Fourier transform to
images.

Week 3 CT scanning and image reconstruction

Lecturer: Dr Robert Nordon

Outline the development of CT scanning hardware.

Introduction to image reconstruction from projection set data
(inverse Radon transform) using filtered back-projection and
iterative algorithms. Effects of sampling and noise. The
computer lab will reinforce these concepts with application of
Matlab software.

Week 4 Physical principles of US imaging and beam formation

Lecturer: Dr Joseph Paul

US transmission and attenuation, Piezoelectric effect and

transducers. Ultrasound beam.

Week 5 Scanning modalities and artefacts

Lecturer: Dr Joseph Paul

Artefacts including speckle, shadowing and enhancement,

refraction and aliasing. A-mode, B-mode and M-mode US.

Week 6 Nuclear Medicine: physics, radiopharmaceuticals, detectors

Lecturer: Dr Stefan Eberl

Basic physics of nuclear medicine - production and choice of

radiopharmaceuticals. Introduction to detection - the sodium
iodide detector. The gamma camera : design, collimation,
performance characteristics, quality control.

Week 7 Nuclear medicine: digital imaging and data processing

Lecturer: Dr Stefan Eberl
 Hardware and software requirements, display of data,
quantitative principles in clinical analysis. Single-photon-
emission computerised tomography (SPECT) - basic theory,
practical considerations, quality control, instrumentation.
Week 8 Magnetic resonance: principles of nuclear magnetic
resonance
Lecturer: Dr Michael Braun

Principles of NMR: history, applications. Nuclear spins &

magnetic moments, RF pulses, precession, NMR signal,
rotating frame, Bloch equations. NMR signals from living
bodies: spin density, T1 and T2 relaxation. Image formation:
RF pulse sequences, spatial encoding, 2D imaging pulse
sequence, encoded NMR signal and image k-space.

Week 9 Magnetic resonance: from spins to images, rapid imaging

Lecturer: Dr Michael Braun

Rapid imaging: echo-planar sequences, spiral imaging, 3D

imaging, gradient echo sequences. Image characteristics:
resolution, chemical shift, dependence of in-vivo image
contrast on intrinsic and pulse sequence parameters. Contrast
agents: paramagnetic elements.

Week 10 Nuclear medicine: SPECT and PET

Lecturer: Dr Stefan Eberl

Week 11 Continuous and pulse wave Doppler, Colour Doppler.

Revision!
Lecturer: Dr Joseph Paul

Week 12 Magnetic resonance: image characteristics, special

techniques, hardware, safety. Revision!
Lecturer: Dr Michael Braun

Other imaging techniques: MR angiography (macroscopic

proton motion), MR spectroscopy (distribution of chemical
species), diffusion imaging (microscopic proton motion),
fMR (functional MR imaging). Hardware and safety: magnet
 construction, RF coils, gradient coils, control systems, safety
of static and dynamic fields.

SPECT – advanced techniques and quantitation. Positron

emission tomography (PET) - introduction to physical
principles, instrumentation and clinical applications.

Week 13 Clinical Radiology for Engineers

Lecturer: Dr Daniel Moses
Visit to POWH clinical radiology department
Resources
RECOMMENDED TEXT: Fundamentals of Medical Imaging, ed. Paul Suetens
(publ. Cambridge University Press 2002),

Additional materials provided on Blackboard

Administrative matters
Expectations of students
UNSW and the Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering expect regular attendance
at lectures and tutorials.

It is expected that assignments will be submitted on the time specified by the lecturer
or the course convenor. Late submission may incur a penalty.

Examination procedures and advice concerning illness or

misdventure
If you believe that your performance in an assessable component has been affected by
illness or other unexpected circumstance, you should make an application for special
consideration as soon as possible after the event by visiting UNSW Student Central.
Talk to the lecturer or the course convenor also. Note that considerations are not
granted automatically.

Occupational health and safety

Like the wider community, UNSW has strict policies and expectations on
Occupational Health and Safety. They may be accessed on:
www.riskman.unsw.edu.au/ohs/ohs.shtml

Equity and diversity

Those students who have a disability that requires some adjustment in their
teaching or learning environment are encouraged to discuss their study needs
with the course convener prior to, or at the commencement of, their course, or
with the Equity Officer (Disability) in the Equity and Diversity Unit (9385 4734 or
http://www.equity.unsw.edu.au/disabil.html). Issues to be discussed may include
access to materials, signers or note-takers, the provision of services and additional
exam and assessment arrangements. Early notification is essential to enable any
necessary adjustments to be made.