Module overview
Applications of physics to medicine will be of particular interest to those contemplating a career in this field. The course is taught primarily by staff from the School of Physics and Astronomy, but brings in staff from Southampton General Hospital who are experts in the specific fields covered to provide more 'hands-on' experience of the techniques. The course includes several visits to the General Hospital to see something of medical physics and radiotherapy in practice.
Linked modules
Pre-requisites: PHYS1013 and PHYS1011 and PHYS1015 AND PHYS1022
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Illustrate how non-ionising radiation can be used to image the body
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- Define medical imaging techniques specified in the syllabus below and know where they are applied in clinical practice
- Express the units and terms used in radiological protection and the sources of and approximate level of exposure of the UK population
- Describe how ionising radiation interacts with matter, how it affects living organisms and how it is used as a therapeutic technique
Disciplinary Specific Learning Outcomes
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Solve simple mathematical problems based on any part of the syllabus
Syllabus
The course content is organised into 3 main sections, within which theoretical background will be introduced, and the applications discussed. These main sections will be supplemented by introductory and summary/revision materials.
Section 0 - Introduction and Course Overview
Section 1 - Effects and Applications of Ionising Radiation
- Generation of radiation
- Interaction of charged particles with matter
- Interaction of high energy photons with matter
- Radiation depth of interaction, range, attenuation curves
- Dose, Radiation safety, shielding,
- Application - health physics and radiation protection
- Dose from common risk factors
- Biological effects and cell damage models
- Application - Radiotherapy methods
- Application - Radiotherapy planning
Section 2 - Imaging with Ionising Radiation
- Imaging concepts (pixels, voxels) and quality metrics (resolution, contrast)
- Image processing (spatial frequency information, filtering, edge detection)
- Concepts for detection of radiation (semiconductor detectors, scintillators)
- Gamma cameras and PET detectors
- Tomographic reconstructions (basic concept, maths, and reconstruction techniques)
- Application - Radiology - Planar imaging and CT
- Application - Nuclear medicine - Planar imaging, SPECT and PET
Section 3 - Imaging with Non-ionising Radiation
- Theory of ultrasound, sound wave propagation, reflection
- Ultrasound transducers
- Doppler ultrasound
- Application - Ultrasound applications and practical issues
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Application - MRI image formation
Section 4 - Conclusions and revision lecture(s)
Learning and Teaching
Type | Hours |
---|---|
Preparation for scheduled sessions | 10.5 |
Lecture | 21 |
Completion of assessment task | 2 |
Fieldwork | 4 |
Revision | 10 |
Wider reading or practice | 92 |
Follow-up work | 10.5 |
Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
Textbooks
S.A.Kane. Introduction to Physics in Modern Medicine.
John Lilley (2001). Nuclear Physics: Principles and Applications. John Wiley & Sons.
Assessment
Assessment strategy
Formal assessment is 100% by exam. Both problem sheets and quizzes are optional, and are provided to allow students to assess their progress through the course modules.
Visits to SGH are in the evening (to allow full access to busy clinical areas), appropriate dates will be discussed with the class.
Formative
This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.
Problem Sheets
- Assessment Type: Formative
- Feedback: Model answers will be provided 2 weeks after problem sheets are available.
- Final Assessment: No
- Group Work: No
- Percentage contribution: 50%
Quizzes
- Assessment Type: Formative
- Feedback: Quizzes provide immediate feedback on progress on each component of the course.
- Final Assessment: No
- Group Work: No
- Percentage contribution: 50%
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Examination | 100% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Examination | 100% |
Repeat
An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Examination | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External