Medical Physics is an optional but important course which is taught in the third year in the Faculty of Applied Sciences. This course is offered to students in both Biology and Physical Sciences streams. The objective of the course is to provide knowledge and skills to apply physics principles to the diagnostic and treatment of human disease (medicine).
Course Capsule: Introduction to Medical Physics: What is medical physics, A physicist’s approach to medical physics, History of medical physics. Review of atomic and nuclear physics: Atomic structure, Band theory, EM spectrum and relativity idea, Radioactivity, Production of radioactive materials, Various attenuation coefficients, Interaction processes and their practical consequences, X-rays: X-ray tubes and generators, X-ray production and properties, Imaging with X-rays and film processing, X-ray imaging modalities (General radiography, Mammography fluoroscopy and computed tomography), Image quality influence factors, methods of optimizing quality and image system capabilities. Introduction to nuclear imaging: gamma camera, Basics of radiotherapy: Teletherapy machines, simple treatment planning, dosimetry principles and detectors. Radiobiology: Basics of radiobiology, radiation protection. Physical basis of light: Visible light, IR, UV and Laser, Interaction of light with biological systems, transillumination and endoscopy. Lasers: Principles of laser production, types of commercially available lasers and their features, biological effects caused by lasers, Laser instrumentation, Clinical applications of lasers and laser hazards. UV radiation: Production of UV radiation, Interaction with human body, Biological effects of UV radiation. Ultrasound: Basic physics behind diagnostic ultrasound/ultrasound wave, Properties of ultrasound (US), Generation and reception of US, Imaging with US and scanning methods, types of US scanners (A-mode, B-mode, M-mode) and their features, Doppler effect and Doppler ultrasound, Artifacts of US imaging, Typical applications of US in diagnostic radiology and biological effects. Electromagnetic waves and their applications: Properties of light, medical applications of visible light. Fiber optics: Theory and medical applications. Nuclear magnetic resonance: Nuclear magnetic resonance, Nuclear magnetic resonance pulse sequences, relaxation processes and their measurement, Nuclear magnetic image acquisition and reconstruction, MRI Instrumentation, MRI safety.