positron tracks in tissue	PET/CT scans with with F-18 (left) and Ga-68 (center, right) tracers

UW General Catalog Course Description: This course focuses on x-ray and nuclear imaging methods and their applications in medicine. Specifically, the course will cover the sources, detectors and applications in for medical imaging, including the fundamental concept of an imaging equation, the inverse problem of image formation, and image SNR. This is the third course (after PHYS 575 and 576) in the Applied Radiation Physics sequence.

Prerequisites / Recommended preparation: At least undergraduate freshman-level physics or chemistry, and some advanced coursework typical of engineering or science majors; calculus, algebra and trigonometry, and preferably PHYS 575 and 576.

Open to:
(a) Students matriculated in the UW Physics Evening MS Degree Program.
(b) Graduate non-matriculated students or Certificate student. Please contact UW Professional and Continuing Education
(c) Full or part time UW graduate students, from any college or campus.
(d) Advanced undergraduate science majors, * with instructor's permission *

Learning goals: Students will be introduced to the specific imaging methods of x-ray, gamma-ray, CT, SPECT, PET, and PET/CT imaging. By the end of the course students will have gained familiarity with the context and physics of medical imaging systems that use ionizing radiation i.e. x-rays and gamma rays.

Textbooks: There is no required textbook for this course. Reference articles and materials will be posted on the course website. The length and number of articles will be limited to ensure students have time to thoroughly read and understand the material.

Method of instruction: This course will combine lectures with a seminar-discussion format. Students may attend any session online via Adobe Connect. Attendance in person is recommended but not required. An optional field trip to a medical imaging clinic is planned, but not yet confirmed.

Additional instructors: William Hunter, PhD; Robert Miyaoka, PhD

Class assignments and grading: Midterm exam: Final paper and class presentation. Class participation in seminars and discussions.

Schedule (tentative):

lecture	date	instructor	topic	CLASS Recordings
1	March 29	PK	Overview: Imaging equation, inverse problem	Lecture 1
2	April 5	PK	2D-LSI imaging systems, X-ray physics: formation and interaction	Lecture 2
3	April 12	WH	X-ray detection and imaging systems	Lecture 3
4	April 19	WH	X-ray computed tomography (CT) systems	Lecture 4
5	April 26	WH	X-ray CT part 2. Contrast Agents	Lecture 5
6	May 3	PK	Image reconstruction	Lecture 6
7	May 10	n/a	Image Quality and Radiation Dosimetry	n/a
8	May 17	PK	Gamma cameras: components and systems	Lecture 8
9	May 24	PK	Tomography in molecular imaging: SPECT scanners	Lecture 9
10	May 31	WH	Positron emission tomography (PET) and hybrid PET/CT scanners	Lecture 10

Additional Class Materials:

The Role of Biomedical Imaging in Future Healthcare Scenarios
A report by David S. Lester, Director Pfizer Human Health Technologies, 2006

Weissleder and Nahrendorf “Advancing biomedical imaging"
P Natl Acad Sci Usa, vol. 112, no. 47, pp. 14424–14428, Nov. 2015.

Radiation risks of medical imaging: separating fact from fantasy
Hendee and O'Connor. Radiology (2012) vol. 264 (2) pp. 312-21

Innovations in Treatment Cardiovascular Disease Part 2
Online UWTV lecture on CT for cardiac studies April 22, 2008 by Dr William P Shuman