Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description

Medical Physics

Main Study Course Information

Course Code
FK_009
Branch of Science
Medical Physics ; Physical sciences
ECTS
6.00
Target Audience
Medicine
LQF
Level 7
Study Type And Form
Full-Time

Study Course Implementer

Course Supervisor
Structure Unit Manager
Structural Unit
Department of Physics
Contacts

Riga, 26a Anninmuizas boulevard, Floor No.1, Rooms 147 a and b, fizika@rsu.lv, +371 67061539

About Study Course

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.

Preliminary Knowledge

High school knowledge in mathematics and physics.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

1.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

1.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).

Competences

1.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.

Assessment

Individual work

Title
% from total grade
Grade
1.

Individual 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.

Examination

Title
% from total grade
Grade
1.

Examination

-
10 points

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 and calculation tasks.

Study Course Theme Plan

FULL-TIME
Part 1
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
Off site
E-Studies platform
2

Topics

Cinematics, dynamics, oscillations and waves, surface tension, Bernoulli v-ms, viscosity.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Computer room
3

Topics

Introduction 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.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Computer room
3

Topics

Elastic 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.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Computer room
3

Topics

Harmonic 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.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Computer room
3

Topics

Mechanical waves. Sound and its physical characteristics. Logarithmic scales. Physical basics of clinical acoustic examination methods. Acoustic measurements and their application in medicine. Ultrasound and infrasound, its acquisition, properties and use in medicine. Shockwave. Doppler effect. Fluid flow. Determination of blood flow. Heart work and power. Artificial blood circulation apparatus. Ultrasonography. Practical works: Determination of fluid flow rate and Audiometer.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Computer room
3

Topics

Molecular structure of liquids. Surface properties. Capillary phenomena. Gas embolism. Practical work: Determination of surface tension coefficient of liquids.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Computer room
3

Topics

Viscosity 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 coeffient
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Computer room
3

Topics

Blood 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
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Computer room
3

Topics

Thermodynamics. 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.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Computer room
3

Topics

Transducers. Electric measurements of non-electric physical quantities. Practical work: Thermoelectric transducers.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Computer room
3

Topics

Midterm. Theoretical and practical examination of the 1st semester topics.
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
32 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Test (Semester)
Part 2
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
Off site
E-Studies platform
2

Topics

Coulomb's law, electric field, capacitor, Ohm's law and electric circuits, electromagnetic waves, laws of propagation of light, elements of atomic and nuclear physics.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Computer room
3

Topics

Electric 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.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Computer room
3

Topics

Magnetic 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.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Computer room
3

Topics

Electric 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.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Computer room
3

Topics

Electromagnetic 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.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Computer room
3

Topics

Photometric 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.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Computer room
3

Topics

Beam (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.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Computer room
3

Topics

Spontaneous 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.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Computer room
3

Topics

Types 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.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Computer room
3

Topics

Colloquium. Knowledge test on the 2nd semester topics.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Computer room
3

Topics

Seminar. Recent advances in medical physics. Current discoveries and technologies in medical physics.
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
32 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)

Bibliography

Required Reading

1.

Amador Kane, S., & Gelman, B. (2020). Introduction to physics in modern medicine. EbookcentralSuitable for English stream

2.

Davidovits, P. (2019). Physics in biology and medicine Paul Davidovits. (5th ed.). Elsevier/Academic Press.Suitable for English stream

3.

Praktiskie un laboratorijas darbi medicīniskajā un bioloģiskajā fizikā : 1. semestris / autori: Uldis Teibe, Paulis Butlers, Imants Kalniņš, Uldis Berķis, Zenta Avota, Jānis Sprieslis, Viesturs Poriņš. (2010). Rīgas Stradiņa universitāte. Fizikas katedra. (akceptējams izdevums)

4.

Praktiskie un laboratorijas darbi medicīniskajā un bioloģiskajā fizikā : 2. semestris / autori: Uldis Teibe, Paulis Butlers, Imants Kalniņš, Uldis Berķis, Zenta Avota, Jānis Sprieslis, Viesturs Poriņš. (2008). Rīgas Stradiņa universitāte. Fizikas katedra. (akceptējams izdevums)

Additional Reading

1.

Hobbie, R., & Roth, B. (2007). Intermediate physics for medicine and biology / Russell K. Hobbie, Bradley J. Roth. (5th ed.). Springer.Suitable for English stream