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Medical Physics

Study Course Description

Course Description Statuss:Approved
Course Description Version:10.00
Study Course Accepted:30.09.2022 10:27:44
Study Course Information
Course Code:FK_009LQF level:Level 7
Credit Points:4.00ECTS:6.00
Branch of Science:Physics; Medical PhysicsTarget Audience:Medicine
Study Course Supervisor
Course Supervisor:Jevgenijs Proskurins
Study Course Implementer
Structural Unit:Department of Physics
The Head of Structural Unit:
Contacts:Riga, 26a Anninmuizas boulevard, Floor No.1, Rooms 147 a and b, fizikaatrsu[pnkts]lv, +371 67061539
Study Course Planning
Full-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)1Lecture Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Lectures2
Classes (count)12Class Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Classes24
Total Contact Hours26
Full-Time - Semester No.2
Lectures (count)1Lecture Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Lectures2
Classes (count)12Class Length (academic hours)3Total Contact Hours of Classes36
Total Contact Hours38
Study course description
Preliminary Knowledge:
High school knowledge in mathematics and physics.
Objective:
1. To promote knowledge on the main parts of general medical physics and technology. 2. To promote the formation of understanding of the importance of the laws of physics in the modeling of human body processes, the principles of medical diagnostics and treatment equipment, and the diagnosis of diseases. 3. To master different types of tasks of medical physics (e.g. biomechanics, oscillations, and waves, thermodynamics, fluid and gas physics, electromagnetism, optical systems, radiation physics, nuclear and high energy particle physics), their analysis and solution methods.
Topic Layout (Full-Time)
No.TopicType of ImplementationNumberVenue
1Introduction to Physics department and physics laboratory. Safety regulations. Applications of mathematics to medical problems. Physical measurements in biology and medicine. Simple planning of a physical experiment to study physical processes. Direct and indirect measurements. Random parameters and their statistical distribution. Function correlations. Regression analysis. Application of IT in practical work. Practical work: Simple measurements.Classes1.00auditorium
2Elastic strength and deformation. Hook's Law. Mechanical voltage. Hardness, ductility, elasticity and brittleness. Mechanical properties of biological tissues (bones, blood vessels, teeth, etc.). Solid body rotation movement. Levers and joints in the human body. Human body balance. Human mechanical work and power. Ergometry. Practical work: Determination of modulus of elasticity.Classes1.00auditorium
3Harmonic oscillations. Types of pendulum: mathematical, springs, physical. Vibration characteristics. Frequency spectrum of complex oscillations. Forced oscillations and resonance. Periodic processes in the human body. Practical work: Mechanical oscillations.Classes1.00auditorium
4Mechanical waves. Sound and its physical characteristics. Logarithmic scales. Physical basics of clinical acoustic examination methods. Acoustic measurements and their application in medicine. Acoustic methods in medical diagnostics. Practical work: Audiometer.Classes1.00auditorium
5Ultrasound and infrasound, its acquisition, properties and use in medicine. Shockwave. Doppler effect. Fluid flow. Physical issues of hemodynamics. Circulatory models. Determination of blood flow. Heart work and power. Artificial blood circulation apparatus. Ultrasonography. Practical work: Determination of fluid flow rate.Classes1.00auditorium
6Midterm examination. The test consists of multiple-choice questions (MCQs), the duration of the test is limited. The midterm exam aims to repeat all previously learned topics (for the 1st-semester students about elasticity, oscillations, audiometry, and ultrasound) and practice for the final examination.Classes1.00auditorium
7Molecular structure of liquids. Surface properties. Capillary phenomena. Gas embolism. Practical work: Determination of surface tension coefficient of liquids.Classes1.00auditorium
8Viscosity of liquids. Normal and anomalous fluids. Laminar and turbulent flow. Reynolds number. Methods for determining the viscosity of a liquid. Factors affecting blood viscosity. Practical work: Determination of the viscosity coefficient of a liquid.Classes1.00auditorium
9Blood pressure. Pressure in a closed system. Physical factors influencing pressure (temperature, vascular cross-sectional diameter and total blood volume in the body). Physical basis of clinical method of blood pressure measurement. Practical work: Blood pressure measurement.Classes1.00auditorium
10Thermodynamics. Thermodynamic characteristics. The first and second laws of thermodynamics. Entropy. Heat exchange processes in the human body. Newton's law of cooling. Heat sources and their use for medical purposes. Practical work: Examination of the law of body cooling.Classes1.00auditorium
11Seminar on additional topics of the first semester. Essay preparation. Assessment activity in the e-studies environment.Classes1.00auditorium
12Colloquium to defend the 1-st semester lab reports.Classes1.00auditorium
13Transducers. Electric measurements of non-electric physical quantities. Practical work: Thermoelectric transducers.Classes1.00auditorium
14Electric current. Electrical conductivity of electrolytes. Ion characteristics. Conductivity of biological tissues and fluids in the case of direct current, direct current effect on human body tissues. Use of direct current in medicine. Electroplating. Drug electrophoresis. Practical work: Electrophoresis. Determination of ion mobility.Classes1.00auditorium
15Magnetic field, its characteristics. Earth's magnetic field, its meaning. Magnetic properties of substances. Magnetic properties of human body tissues. Electromagnetic field and its effect on the human body. Use of magnetic field in medicine. Nuclear magnetic resonance. Magnetic resonance imaging. Practical work: Research of the Earth's magnetic field.Classes1.00auditorium
16Electric charge and electric field. Electric dipole. Physical basics of electrocardiography. Cardiac electrical potential. Einthoven theory of leads. Vector cardiogram. Principle of bioelectric signal electrodes operation. Defibrillator. Practical work: Basic principles of electrocardiogram measurement.Classes1.00auditorium
17Electromagnetic radiation spectrum. Light absorption and scattering. Optical atomic spectra. Molecular spectra. Types of luminescence. Photoluminescence and hemoluminescence. Absorption spectral analysis. Thermal radiation. Formation of optical radiation. Emission and absorption spectra of atoms and molecules. Emission spectral analysis, its applications. Heat exchange processes in the human body. Thermography. Practical work: Photoelectric colorimetry/Spectrometry.Classes1.00auditorium
18Midterm examination. The test consists of multiple-choice questions (MCQs), the duration of the test is limited. The midterm exam aims to repeat all previously learned topics (for the 2nd-semester students about transducers, electrophoresis, magnetic field, and ECG) and practice for the final examination.Classes1.00auditorium
19Beam (geometric) optics. Laws of light propagation. Optical systems. The human eye. Basic principles of optical microscopy. Optical fibers and their use in medicine. Endoscopy. Light polarization. Methods of obtaining polarized light. Optical activity of substances. Research of biological tissues in polarized light. Practical work: Light refractometry / polarimetry.Classes1.00auditorium
20Spontaneous and induced radiation of light sources. Laser structure and principle of operation. Light wave properties - interference and diffraction. Laser applications in medicine. Photobiological processes. Practical work: Determination of laser radiation characteristics.Classes1.00auditorium
21Photometric quantities of light. Lighting laws. Effects of light on the human body. Necessary and sufficient light intensity for visual organs. Biophysical foundations of human vision. Practical work: Determination of light intensity.Classes1.00auditorium
22Types of ionizing radiation. X-rays, its origin. Braking and characteristic X-rays, their spectra. X-ray interaction with a substance. Use of X-rays in medicine. Computed tomography. Radioactivity. Radioactive decay law. Effects of ionizing radiation on the human body. Dosimetry devices. Use of radioactive isotopes and neutrons in medicine. Particle accelerators and their use in medicine. Practical work: Particle counter.Classes1.00auditorium
23Seminar on scientific papers. Analysis and presentation of a scientific paper.Classes1.00auditorium
24Colloquium to defend the 2-nd semester lab reports.Classes1.00auditorium
25Introduction in medical physics. Biomechanical principles.Lectures1.00auditorium
27Electricity and magnetism.Lectures1.00auditorium
Assessment
Unaided Work:
Individual and pair work – development of practical work according to the topics of the study course, reading, analysis, and presentation of scientific publications, using the acquired knowledge. Analysis and calculations of tasks on various physical processes, human body structure parameters, technological tools, and equipment operating processes. Preparation of presentations or essays on various topics according to the study course.
Assessment Criteria:
The student's participation in practical classes, assessment in the midterm examination, completion of the individual task in the seminar, and the results of the developed practical work in the colloquium are evaluated. The final examination consists of different types of multiple-choice questions.
Final Examination (Full-Time):Exam (Written)
Final Examination (Part-Time):
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge:After successful completion of the study course requirements, students will have acquired knowledge that will allow: 1. Use medical physics terminology correctly. 2. State the importance of physics and mathematics in medicine and the processes of disease diagnostics. 3. Describe physical properties of parameters acquired in medical diagnostics and methods of acquiring. 4. Explain basic principles in diagnostics of cardiovascular diseases. 5. Explain the formation of blood transfusion and syringe from the point of physical-mathematical perspective. 6. Name and evaluate effects that the range of electromagnetic spectrum has on human health. 7. Explain the structure of medical laser, principles of function, use in medicine, and laser safety. 8. Explain the structure and operational principles of medical diagnostics equipment and the direction of further development. 9. Assess physical world effects on the human body and the protective measures of the adverse effects. 10. Explain operating principles of X-ray and computed tomography and their use in medicine.
Skills:As a result of mastering the study course students will be able: 1. to process physical measurement data. 2. to use terms used in medical physics. 3. to measure and evaluate the values of different physical processes (e.g. the values of ionizing radiation).
Competencies:As a result of the study course, students will be able to evaluate physical (both natural and technological) phenomena, their effects on the human body and justify their use in medical diagnostics and treatment.
Bibliography
No.Reference
Required Reading
1Davidovits, P. (2008). Physics in biology and medicine Paul Davidovits. (5th ed.). Elsevier/Academic Press. (akceptējams izdevums)
2Praktiskie un laboratorijas darbi medicīniskajā un bioloģiskajā fizikā : 1. semestris / autori: Uldis Teibe, Paulis Butlers, Imants Kalniņš, Uldis Berķis, Zenta Avota, Jānis Sprieslis, Viesturs Poriņš ; Rīgas Stradiņa universitāte. Fizikas katedra, 2010.
3Praktiskie un laboratorijas darbi medicīniskajā un bioloģiskajā fizikā : 2. semestris / autori: Uldis Teibe, Paulis Butlers, Imants Kalniņš, Uldis Berķis, Zenta Avota, Jānis Sprieslis, Viesturs Poriņš ; Rīgas Stradiņa universitāte. Fizikas katedra, 2008
4Ārvalstu studentiem/For international students:
5Davidovits, P. (2008). Physics in biology and medicine Paul Davidovits. (5th ed.). Elsevier/Academic Press. (akceptējams izdevums)
Additional Reading
1Amador Kane, S., & Gelman, B. (2003). Introduction to physics in modern medicine / Suzanne Amador Kane, Boris A. Gelman. (3rd ed.). CRC Press.
2Hobbie, R., & Roth, B. (2007). Intermediate physics for medicine and biology / Russell K. Hobbie, Bradley J. Roth. (5th ed.). Springer.