12176 (v.2) Medical Physics 132

Area:

Department of Applied Physics

Credits:

12.5

Contact Hours:

3.0

Lecture:

1 x 2 Hours Weekly

Laboratory:

1 x 1 Hours Weekly

Prerequisite(s):

12174 (v.2) Medical Physics 131 or any previous version

Syllabus:

Radioactivity and Nuclear Medicine - the atom, radioactivity, nuclear stability, radioactive decay, alpha decay, other modes of radioactive decay, interaction of particles with matter, radiation health, protection, nuclear imaging, static nuclear imaging, Position Emission Tomography. Ultrasound - properties of radiation, wave characteristics, pressure waves, sound transmission, generation and reception of ultrasound, ultrasound beam characteristics, principles of imaging, real time ultrasound, image artifacts, doppler ultrasound, biological effects of ultrasound.

Unit Outcomes:

On successful completion of this unit students will be able to describe the various modes of radioactive decay, explain the mean of the half life and the radioactive decay constant and cary out calculations involving these constants and describe the interaction of particles with matter and the terms used, including range, specific ionisation and linear transfer. They will be able to explain the effective means of radiation protection for the various types of nuclear radiation, describe the construction and explain the principles of operation of the gamma camera, explain the principles of planar static imaging and positron emission tomography and explain the process of sound transmission. They will have the knowledge to describe the process of diffraction and carry out calculations for the case of diffraction due to a narroe wlit, explain the principles of the piezoelectric transducer and the construction of the ultrasound probe as used in medical imaging, explain the principles of ultrasound imaging, both static and real time, and explain the Doppler effect and its application to ultrasound.

Text and references listed above are for your information only and current as of September 30, 2003. Please check with the unit coordinator for up-to-date information.

Unit References:

No prescribed references.

Unit Texts:

Bushberg, J., et al, 1994, 'The Essentials of Medical Imaging', Williams and Wilkins. Medical Physics 132 Laboratory Manual, Curtin Publications.

Unit Assessment Breakdown:

Laboratory Reports 15%. Test 10%. Assignments 10%. Final Examination 65%.

Year	Location	Period	Internal	Area External	Central External
2004	Bentley Campus	Semester 2	Y