The Instrumentation of Modern Diagnostic Imaging Systems Course Syllabus (Fall 1994)

(A). Course Description:

It consists of two parts: (1) The underlying concepts, physics, and instrumentation of several modern medical imaging modalities, such as computerized tomography (CT), single-photon and positron emission tomography (SPECT and PET), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Ultrasound imaging (UI), and some optical imaging probes. The instrumental hardware design; the theories of information detection, propagation and optimization; and the physical principles will be described. (2) Image formation of these medical diagnostic modalities, such as reconstruction of the spatial map of the acquired information and quantification of metabolism and tissue parameters from the detected information. The involved probability theory, linear analysis, Monte Carlo modeling, image quality analysis, and optimization theory will be detailed.

Electromagnetic Theory (ESE520), Probability and Statistics (ESE503, ESE 531), Image Processing (ESE558), and a familiarity with Linear Algebra.

(1) Mathematical Background - Review of linear algebra; Ill-posedness and ill-conditioning; Fredholm integral and invertibility; Nonlinear programming; Linear and nonlinear filters and effects on noise; Random processes, probability distributions, and statistical modeling.

(2) General Physics - Photon generation and detection; Attenuation and scatter of photons; Reflection, refraction, absorption, diffraction of waves; Radio frequency magnetic fields and coils; Magnetic spin, precession, and resonance; Free induction decay, relaxation, and spin echo.

(3) Image Science of Diagnosic Instrumentation - System response characteristics and modulation transfer function (MTF); Spatial, temporal, and energy resolution; Sensitivity, uniformity, detectibility, and information density; Intrinsic, external, integral, and differential parameters; Sampling Theory, Nyquist frequency and aliasing.

(4) CT - X-ray tubes, collimators, and detectors; Data acquisition, image formation and reconstruction; Radon transform and projection theorem; Image quality analysis (polychromatic energy, beam hardening, partial volume effect, noise characteristics, low and high contrast resolution, sensitivity, linearity, sampling, and MTF); Current research area (3D CT data acquisition, helical mode, and fast image reconstruction; Limited angles of views and truncated projections).

(5) SPECT and PET - Detector and collimator systems (parallel, fan, cone, and electronic coincidence collimations); Photon generation, attenuation, and detection; Attenuated Radon transform, Fredholm integral, projection matrix, ill-posedness, and invertibility; Compensation for attenuation, scatter, and distance-dependent detector response; Statistical modeling and noise filtering; Sampling theorem, image formation and reconstruction; Current research area (Time-of-flight information, multiple coincidence tomography, and collimatorless imaging).

(6) MRI - Static magnetic field, superconductor, and RF coils; Magnetization, Larmor relationship, and Bloch equations; T1 and T2 relaxations; Pulse sequences, gradients, spatial encoding and decoding; Projection imaging and Fourier transform reconstruction; Phase encoding, spin warp, and gradient echo imaging; Current research area (Fast 3D imaging techniques, Magnetization transfer contrast, functional imaging).

(7) UI - Transducers and pulsed electrical energy; Reflection, reflraction, diffraction, absorption, and scatter of waves; Signal processing, image formation and interpretation; Image display modes (A-, B- M-modes and B Scan); Doppler effect; Current research area (Ultrasound tomography - image of speed distribution and refractive index distribution).

(8) Optical Imaging Probes - Fiberoptical endoscope, fluoroscope, and Ultrasonic endoscope; Structure designs and performance characteristics; Mechanical and electronic scan modes; Current research area (Hardware designs with a biopsy channel, image processing and display).

(1) S. Webb, "The Physics of Medical Imaging", Institue of Physics Publishing, Bristol and Philadelphia, 1988

(2) Thomas S. Curry III, James E. Dowdey, and Robert C. Murry Jr., "Christensen's Introduction to the Physics of Diagnostic Radiology", Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia, 1984

(1) P. Mansfield and P. Morris, "NMR Imaging in BioMedicine", Academic Press, New York, 1982

(2) James A. Sorenson and Michael E. Phelps, "The Physics in Nuclear Medicine", Grune & Stratton Inc., Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Publisher, New York, 1987

(3) Felix W. Wehrli, Derek Shaw and J. Bruce Kneeland, "BioMedical Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Principles, Methodology, and Applications", VCH Publishers, Inc., New York, 1988

(4) Walter Welkowitz and Sid Deutsch, "BioMedical Instruments: Theory and Design", Academic Press, New York, 1976

(5) J. Gambarelli, G. Guerinel, L. Chevrot and M. Mattei, "Computerized Axial Tomography".

(6) P. Powers, "Acoustical Imaging".