Syllabus
Fall
Instructor Name: Dr. J. Fred Harmon
Instructor Contact Information
Email: Joseph.Harmon@colostate.edu
Phone: (970) 297-4063
Office Hours: MRB Room 326: T & TH (10:00 - 11:00 AM)
VTH Room 152: M & F (10:00 - 11:00 AM)
Other times available by Appointment
Guest Instructor(s): Dr. Sue Kraft, Dr. Richard Park, Dr. Phillip Steyn, Dr. Robert Wrigley
Course Description
Didactic lecture style covering the physics of radiography, fluoroscopy, computerized tomography,
ultrasound, nuclear medicine and magnetic resonance imaging
Course Objectives
Objectives for this course include:
Learning the physical processes of ionizing and non-ionizing image formation
Understanding how the various imaging modalities are used in a clinical setting
Learning how key imaging parameters are varied to reduce patient exposure while optimizing image quality
Learning methods to utilize the imaging modalities safely
Providing a comprehensive review of imaging physics for radiology and radiation oncology
residents preparing for their specialty board examinations professional practice
Textbook
Textbook: J. T. Bushberg, et.al. The Essential Physics of Medical Imaging, 2nd Ed (Required)
In addition to the required primary textbook, lecture material will be obtained from the following
sources. Students are not expected to purchase these references which include:
T. S. Curry, et.al. Christensen's Physics of Diagnostic Radiology, 4th Ed
A. B. Wolbarst, Physics of Radiology, 2nd Ed
A.G. Haus, The Basics of Film Processing in Medical Imaging
H. E. Johns, J. R. Cunningham, The Physics of Radiology, 4th Ed
F. W. Kremkau, Diagnostic Ultrasound Principles and Instruments, 7th Ed
Current journal articles
Class Schedule
Subject to revision.
Lesson |
Date |
Topic |
Bushberg Reading |
Instructor |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Basics of X-Ray Imaging |
Harmon |
||||
1 |
8/20 | Introduction to Medical Imaging | 1 | Harmon |
|
2 |
8/22 | Review of Atomic Physics | 2 | Harmon |
|
3 |
8/24 | X-ray Unit Generators | 5.4-5.6, 5.8 | Harmon |
|
4 |
8/27 | Production of X-Rays | 3.1, 5.1-5.3, 5.7, 5.9 | Harmon |
|
5 |
8/29 | X-ray Interactions & Attenuation | 3.2-3.5 | Harmon |
|
6 |
8/31 | Filtration, Collimation & Grids | 5.3, 6.1, 6.2, 6.8 | Harmon |
|
7 & 8 |
9/5 | Screen/Film Image Receptors & Film Processing | 6.3-6.6, 7 | Harmon |
|
9 |
9/7 | Optimizing Screen-Film Image Contrast & Resolution | 6.7, 10.1-10.6 |
Harmon |
|
Bock II: X-Ray Imaging Applications |
|||||
10 |
9/10 | Fluoroscopy | 9 | Harmon |
|
11 |
9/12 | Digital Image Representation | 4.1, 4.2, 10.5 | Harmon |
|
12 |
9/14 | Digital Image Storage, Distribution & Display | 4.6, 11.8-11.10, 17.2 | Harmon |
|
13 |
9/17 | Computed Radiography | 11.1 | Wrigley |
|
14 |
9/19 | Digital Radiography & Fluoroscopy | 11.2-11.7 | Harmon |
|
15 |
9/21 | Clinical Examples: Planar Analog & Digital Imaging | Wrigley |
||
16 & 17 |
9/24 | Computed Tomography Image Formation & Image Properties | 13.1 - 13.9 | Harmon |
|
18 |
9/26 | X-ray Quality Assurance Testing | Harmon |
||
19 |
9/28 | X-ray Imaging Radiation Safety (shielding) | 23.4 | Harmon |
|
20 |
10/1 | Clinical Examples: CT Imaging X-ray | Park |
||
21 |
10/3 | Exam 1 | Harmon |
||
Block III: Nuclear Imaging |
|||||
22 & 23 |
10/8 | Radioactivity |
18 | Harmon |
|
| Radionuclide Production & Radiopharmaceuticals | 19 | ||||
24 |
10/10 | Radiation Detection Techniques | 20.1 - 20.6 | Harmon |
|
25 |
10/15 | Planar Imaging | 21 | Harmon |
|
26 |
10/17 | SPECT & PET Imaging | 22 | Harmon |
|
27 |
10/19 | Radioisotope Radiation Safety | 23.4 - 23.5 | Harmon |
|
28 |
10/22 | Clinical Examples: Gamma Ray Imaging | Steyn |
||
Block IV: Ultrasound Imaging |
|||||
29 |
10/24 | Production of Ultrasound | 16.3, 16.5 | Harmon |
|
30 |
10/26 | US Interaction with Matter | 16.1, 16.2, 16.4, 16.11 | Harmon |
|
31 & 32 |
10/29 | US Imaging I : Beam Properties | 16.4 | Harmon |
|
| US Imaging II : Desplay Modes | 16.5 - 16.7 | ||||
33 |
10/31 | US Imaging III : Doppler | 16.9 | Harmon |
|
| 34 | 11/2 | US Image Quality and QA | 16.8, 16.10 | Harmon |
|
| 35 | 11/5 | Clinical Examples : US Imaging | Wrigley |
||
| 36 | 11/7 | Exam 2 | |||
Block V: Magnetic Resonance Imaging |
|||||
| 37 | 11/12 | MRI Scanner Design & MRI Safety | 15.7, 15.8 | Harmon |
|
| 38 | 11/14 | The NMR Signal | 14.1, 14.2 | Harmon |
|
| 39 | 11/16 | Basic Pulse Sequences | 14.3 - 14.6 | Harmon |
|
| 40 | 11/26 | MR Image Formation |
|
Harmon |
|
| 41 | 11/28 | MRI Contrast Agents & Artifacts |
|
Harmon |
|
| 42 | 11/30 | Fast, Flow & Functional Imaging |
|
Harmon |
|
| 43 | 12/3 | MR Image Quality and QA |
|
Harmon |
|
| 44 | 12/5 | Clinical Examples: MR Imaging | Kraft |
||
| 45 | 12/7 | Review: Practice Raphex Exam | Harmon |
Instructional methodology:This class is a combination of lecture, discussion and computer-aided learning.
Mode of delivery: Classroom instruction.
Method of evaluation:
Class room participation, class assignments and impromptu quizzes (including practice Raphex exam) will make up 15% of the course grade. The midterm tests and final examination will be a written format comprised of multiple choice, true/false and written paragraph type questions/problems. There will be 2 midterm tests and a final examination, as listed in the course outline.
A combination of the classroom participation grade (15%), the 2 midterm tests (25% each) and the
final exam (35%) will comprise the overall course grade. The final examination will be partially
cumulative in nature.
F below 60%
D = 60 - 69%
C = 70 - 79%
B = 80 - 89%
A = 90 - 100%
Cheating will not be tolerated. The first time you are caught cheating you will get a ZERO for the task (exam, quiz, plagiarism on a paper or any other task). Integrity is the cornerstone of all higher education and any infraction, however slight, is not excusable for any reason. If another is found to be complicit in cheating, they too will receive a zero. If you are discovered to be cheating a second time you will receive a failing grade for the class. The Course Director will make the determination if a student has been cheating.
Mailing Address
Environmental & Radiological Health Sciences
1681 Campus Delivery
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 80523
Phone: (970) 491-7038
Fax: (970) 491-2940
Email: ERHSDepartment
