Math & Physics
Introductory Medical Physics

PHYS 1301 – Intro to Physics in Modern Medicine

Course Syllabus

Spring 2010

Description: Modern medical applications of physics are studied. This course introduces the technologies important to modern medicine and the basic physical principles which underlie them.

General Education Goals & Competencies: The following General Education goals and competencies are addressed:

1. To think creatively: Can develop a unique, original approach to solving a problem.

2. To communicate effectively in writing: Can correctly attribute a source and document the source using the appropriate editorial style.

3. To better understand the natural world: Can analyze the natural world and human efforts to achieve progress through involvement with it.

4. To use mathematics to better understand applied situations: Can use tools such as graphs, statistics, logarithms, etc. to analyze relevant data and/or test hypotheses.

Assessment will include homework assignments, regular exams, and a final writing assignment.

Objectives: Each student will (1) develop a conceptual understanding of the basic principles of physics in modern medicine; (2) understand the modern medical applications of physics in use at hospitals, clinics, laboratories, and physician’s offices in the region; and (3) develop a flexible, logical problem solving methodology applicable, not only to this course, but to the greater academic and career challenges ahead.

Scope: The course begins with a study of fiber optics, endoscopes, and lasers in medicine with medical applications in colon cancer screening, laparoscopic surgery including arthroscopic knee surgery, laser eye surgery and dermatological laser surgery, photodynamic therapy, and virtual reality applications in medicine. The course continues with ultrasound imaging with emphasis on obstetrical and cardiovascular ultrasound diagnostic tools. Diagnostic x-rays and computed tomography (CT) scans are explored including mammography and osteoporosis screening. Radionuclide scans, radiation therapy, and radiation safety are investigated including positron emission tomography (PET) scans and radiation treatment for cancer. The last phase of the course introduces magnetic resonance imaging and MRI brain scans in neuroscience.

Instructor: Dr. Buxton L. Johnson, Sr.

Present lectures that compliment the book and reinforce learning objectives; ensure that all components of the course are coordinated and sequenced according to the syllabus; provide help sessions and additional instruction as requested (only simple examples and problems will normally be worked in class); ensure testing and subsequent grading is equitable and consistent; and guide students in the preparation of the investigative report on the modern medical applications of physics.

Students: You

Study assigned sections prior to class; read and attempt to work through assigned problems prior to deadline; develop and maintain a medical physics reference sheet (one side of an 8.5” x 11” paper for each exam); seek addition help early--use instructor’s office hours or make appointments--use Plus Center tutors; participate in study groups within the guidelines of Kentucky Wesleyan’s rules on plagiarism; visit online tutoring sites; and test yourself before the exam!

Graded Events

Class

Regular quizzes will be given during class using the Turning Point student response system. In addition, regular weekly homework assignments will be assigned. Furthermore, three 75-minute exams will be administered. These exams will cover class material, class quizzes, and homework assignments.

Investigative Report

Each student will prepare a 10-to-12 page double-spaced investigative report on the modern medical applications of physics in use at the hospitals, clinics, laboratories, and physician’s offices in the region. The report should focus on the use of at least two technologies covered in this course. The report must document at least five sources to include interviews with medical personnel (physicians, nurses, technicians, scientists, etc.), web site information, publications (journals, magazines, booklets, etc.), and video documentaries. The written investigative report will be due during the final exam period.

Schedule

Ch 1 – Introduction and overview

Ch 2 – Telescopes for inner space: Fiber optics and endoscopes

Ch 3 – Lasers in medicine: Healing with light

Exam 1

Ch 4 – Seeing with sound: Diagnostic ultrasound imaging

Ch 5 – X-ray vision: Diagnostic x-rays and CT scans

Exam 2

Ch 6 – Images from radioactivity: Radionuclide scans, SPECT, and PET

Ch 7 – Radiation therapy and radiation safety in medicine

Ch 8 – Magnetic resonance imaging

Exam 3

Detailed Class Schedule
Class(C)	Topic	Study/Homework/Quiz
C1: T 1-26	Introduction Optics I	Ch 1 Ch 2, Sec 1
C2: Th 1-28	Optics II	Ch 2, Sec 2 TP Quiz#1 Due: HW#1 (Search Summary)
C3: T 2-2	Fiber Optics Applications in Medicine New/Future Directions in Medicine	Ch 2, Sec 3-4 TP Quiz#2
C4: Th 2-4	Science of Light How Lasers Work	Ch 3, Sec 1-4 TP Quiz#3 Due: HW#2 (Ch 2)
C5:T 2-9	Light Interaction with Body Tissues Laser Beams and Spatial Coherence Photocoagulation Power Density and Heat Flow Photovaporization Pulsed Lasers	Ch 3, Sec 5-10 TP Quiz#4
C6: Th 2-11	Lasers and Color Atomic Absorption Selective Absorption in Laser Surgery	Ch 3, Sec 11-13 TP Quiz#5
C7: T 2-16	Lasers in Dermatology Laser Surgery on the Eye Lasers in Dentistry Photodynamic Therapy Diffusive Optical Imaging	Ch 3, Sec 14-19 TP Quiz#6
C8: Th 2-18	Sound Waves What is Ultrasound? Ultrasound and Energy Formation of Echoes	Ch 4, Sec 1-5 TP Quiz#7 Due: HW#3 (Ch 3)
C9: T 2-23	Ultrasound Production Images from Echoes Ultrasound Scanner Design Absorption of Ultrasound by Tissue	Ch 4, Sec 6-9 TP Quiz#8
C10: Th 2-25	Exam 1 (Ch 1-3)	75-minute exam
C11: T 3-2	Image Quality and Artifacts Ultrasound Safety Obstetrical Ultrasound Imaging	Ch 4, Sec 10-12 TP Quiz#9
C12: Th 3-4	Echocardiography Doppler Effect Measuring Blood Flow, Color Flow Images 3-D and 4-D Ultrasound Portable Ultrasound	Ch 4, Sec 13-18 TP Quiz#10
C13: T 3-9	Diagnostic X-rays X-ray Interactions with Matter	Ch 5, Sec 1-3 TP Quiz#11 Due: HW#4 (Ch 4)
C14: Th 3-11	X-ray Image Formation Contrast Media	Ch 5, Sec 4-5 TP Quiz#12
3-15 to 3-19	Spring Break	Have a good break!
C15: T 3-23	Generation of X-rays X-ray Detectors	Ch 5, Sec 6-7 TP Quiz#13
C16: Th 3-25	Digital Radiography Computed Tomography (CT)	Ch 5, Sec 9-10 TP Quiz#14
C17: T 3-30	Nuclear Physics Radioactive Half-Life	Ch 6, Sec 1-3 TP Quiz#15 Due: HW#5 (Ch 5)
C18: Th 4-1	Gamma Camera Imaging Emission Tomography: SPECT/PET Studies of the Brian Hybrid Scanners	Ch 6, Sec 5-7 TP Quiz#16
C19: T 4-6	Measuring Radioactivity	Ch 7, Sec 1-2 TP Quiz#17
C20: Th 4-8	Exam 2 (Ch 4-5)	75-minute exam
C21: T 4-13	Biological Effects of Radiation Radiation Damage	Ch 7, Sec 3-4 TP Quiz#18 Due: HW#6 (Ch 6)
C22: Th 4-15	Radiation Therapy New Directions	Ch 7, Sec 5-6 TP Quiz#19
C23: T 4-20	Magnetism Nuclear Magnetism I	Ch 8, Sec 1-3 TP Quiz#20
C24: Th 4-22	Nuclear Magnetism II Contrast Mechanisms	Ch 8, Sec 3-4 TP Quiz#21 Due: HW#7 (Ch 7)
C25 T 4-27	Listening to Spin Echoes How MRI Maps the Body	Ch 8, Sec 5-6 TP Quiz#22
C26: T 4-29	MRI Safety Better Contrast Mapping Body Chemistry Function MRI	Ch 8, Sec 7-8,11-12 TP Quiz#23
C27: T 5-4	Review	Due: HW#8 (Ch 8)
C28: Th 5-6	Exam 3 (Ch 6-8)	75-minute exam
T 5-11	FINAL REPORT DUE	8:00 am to 10:00 am

ATTENDANCE – Your grade in this course is likely to be strongly influenced by your class attendance. Exam questions are designed to cover very specifically the topics as they are discussed in class. In addition, quiz questions will often appear on exams. Four absences are allowed without affecting the student's grade. Beyond this, each additional absence will result in a 20-point reduction in the final grade.

MAKEUP EXAMS – Students who are forced to miss an exam due to unavoidable circumstances (illness, death in the family, athletic tournament, etc.) must contact the instructor. The instructor will determine if the absence is to be excused in accordance with Kentucky Wesleyan regulations on excused absences. Students with an excused absence will be allowed to take a makeup exam. No more than one makeup exam will be approved for any student except in unusual and very well documented cases.

EXAM DISCREPANCIES – Students with exam discrepancies should record, specifically, those items they would like considered for re-evaluation and return their exam to the instructor before leaving the classroom. All other students can retain their exams. No consideration will be given to exam discrepancies submitted after the student has left the classroom.

LATE WORK – Only one late homework assignment will be accepted for credit. Late final reports will not be accepted for credit.

CHEATING – The first time a student is found cheating, copying, etc., a zero will be given on the compromised work. The second time will result in failure of the course.

Grading Policy

Graded Event

Points

Exams(3)

360

Class Quizzes(23)

Homework Assignments(8)

120

Investigative Report

160

Course Total

700

Final Grade Assignments are based on the percentage of course points earned according to the following schedule:

90% and above – A
80% and above – B
70% and above – C
60% and above – D
below 60% – F

Academic Accommodations

Kentucky Wesleyan College is committed to providing access to programs and services for qualified students with disabilities. If you are a student with a disability and require accommodations to participate and complete requirements for this class, notify the instructor immediately and contact Dr. Leah Hoover at the Office of Disability Services for verification of eligibility and determination of specific accommodations.

Academic Help

Several Kentucky Wesleyan offices can be helpful in aiding students.

Office of Disability Services, 23 Faculty Office Building, (270) 852-3212
Darrell Plus Center, Library Learning Center, (270) 852-3298
Academic Dean’s Office, 105 Barnard-Jones Administration Building, (270) 852-3117