First half of fall semester

Biomedical sensors and analyses (7.5 credits)

The course addresses how physiological signals are measured and analyzed in healthcare and medical research. In particular, the following fields are covered: Signal theory, Pressure measurements, Flow measurements, Motion and force measurements, Temperature and heat flow measurements, Bioelectrical and biomagnetic measurement techniques, and Chemical measurement techniques.

Choose one of the following 2 courses:

Biofluid mechanics (7.5 credits)

Topics that will be covered are: Introduction to biofluid mechanics. Navier-Stokes equations, Euler equation and Bernoulli. Poiseuille´s law for pipe flow. Reynold´s and Womersley numbers. Relevant fluid systems in the body will be covered: Systemic circulation and blood flow; respiratory system, Cerebrospinal fluid system, lymphatics, urinary system, and the eye. Numerical methods for partial differential equations will be used to solve biofluid mechanical problems. Blood flow in arteries and veins. Compartment models. Clinical pressure and flow measurement. The course includes both theoretical and experimental bocks.

Magnetic Resonance and Ultrasound Imaging (7.5 credits)

The course starts with nuclear magnetic resonance physics, including how to manipulate and detect signal from the nuclear spins and how that can be utilized to create an imaging system – magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). After that we continue by studying the technical aspects of an MRI scanner and its main components such as the main magnet, the gradients and the RF-system. The course also includes image reconstruction and how the design of pulse sequences affect the image contrast. The most important types of MRI sequences such as gradient echo and spin echo are studied in detail, while more specialized sequences such as those used for diffusion weighted imaging, spectroscopy and flow measurements are treated more superficially. Techniques used for speeding up MRI are also studied. An introduction to ultrasound imaging is included in the course. Here we study ultrasound physics and how the imaging system is constructed. Generation of ultrasound, pulse-echo methods and Doppler techniques are also included.

Second half of fall semester

Applied medical imaging (7.5 credits)

The course deepens and broadens the students’ knowledge and skills in medical physics / biomedical engineering by conducting a project in medical imaging at Umeå university hospital. The projects are related to needs from clinical work or research projects in medical imaging (ultrasound, MRI, PET, etc). The projects are conducted by a group of students and the results are presented in a written report and by an oral presentation at a clinical department.

From prototype to product, from a CE perspective (3.5 credits)

The course gives an overview of the foundations of CE-labeling and increased knowledge about product responsibilities and product safety. The course also gives an insight in a product field with the high requirements that are stated on medical devices that are used in diagnostics and therapy in the health care. As part of the examination there are mandatory case seminars.

Safety in biomedical engineering and hazard analysis (4 credits)

This course gives you knowledge about how medical devices and electric supply should be designed to ensure the safety of patients and medical staff. The course addresses regulations and laws regarding med tech devices in areas about electrical-, gas-, and radiation safety, and gives an insight in the safety problems surrounding medical information systems and software development. Further, a practical introduction to medical hazard analysis is presented. As part of the examination there are a smaller group project and hands on experiment.