Medical imaging

Duration

33h Th, 12h Pr, 8h Labo., 1d FW

Number of credits

Lecturer

Christophe Phillips

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

Medical imaging refers to the techniques and processes used to create images of the human body (or parts thereof) for clinical purposes or medical science (including the study of normal anatomy and function), in non-invasive way as much as possible.

The main 4 families of imaging techniques will be covered:

• X-ray imaging, i.e. radiography and computed tomogrpahy
• nuclear medicine imaging, i.e. scintigraphy, SPECT and PET
• magentic resonnance imaging; and
• ultra-sound imaging.

• the physics principles involved;
• the source and detection of the signals;
• the interaction of the signal with biological tissues;
• where necessary, the image reconstruction from the signal recorded;
• the limitations and artefacts usually encountered;
• the potential risks, for the patient and/or medical staff.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

The course aims at presenting the main medical imaging techniques from an engineering point of view. The student will thus learn the technical aspects of these imaging techniques:

• physical: where do the signal used come from ?
• systems: what apparatus can be used to measure those signals ?
• signal processing: how to build an image from the recorded signal(s) ?
• practical: what do these images mean?

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

• Signal processing: sampling, filtering, Fourier transform.
• Notions of modern physics

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

• Some very specific topics are presented by external speakers: radio-protection, medical IT, etc.
• Problem solving, individually or in groups.
• Practical sessions at the Cyclotron Research Centre: acquisition, reconstruction and processing of PET and MR images.
• Visits of specific departments at the university hospital and/or research centre(s): nuclear medecine and radiotherapy at least.
• if possible, visit of Siemens Healthineers HQ, CT and MR factories in Erlangen (Germany).
• Attendance at the festival "ImagéSanté" (http://www.imagesante.org/) if it is organised during the academic year.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face course


Additional information:

If the circumstances allow it, the course is taught ex cathedra at the Montefiore Institure (B28). Check Celcat for the details.

If the course is taught online, we will use the Teams system from ULiege. Connexion link will then be sent by email to all the students.

The course is taught in English.

Recommended or required readings

Reference book: Medical Imaging Signals and Systems (544 pages) by Jerry L. Prince, Jonathan Links. Prentice Hall (second edition, March 28, 2014). ISBN-10 0132145189

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam ( open-ended questions )

Written work / report


Additional information:

Written (in person) exam.

The questions will focus on the technical and practical aspects of the different imaging techniques. This includes the physical principles involved, the operation of the device (source and sensor), properties of the signals, image reconstruction, advantages and limitations of the technique. There will be at least one question on each of the 4 major imaging families: X-ray, nuclear, MRI and ultra-sound. The content includes the material presented by Mr Phillips and the notions of radiation protection, presented by Mrs Pirlet, but not the presentations of speakers from outside ULiège.

The project score will count for 1/5 of the final score.

Work placement(s)

In the field of neuro-imaging, internships can be organised in research laboratories:

• in Liège, at the GIGA - CRC in vivo imaging. Acquistion and processing of PET and MR images;
• abroad, UK, Canada, USA,... Check with the professor in charge of the course.

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

The slides are made available, via the MyULg site, prior to the courses.

Contacts

Christophe Phillips

Association of one or more MOOCs

Items online