Medical Imaging Signals and Systems

The course Medical Imaging Signals and Systems covers the principles of advanced medical imaging modalities. Particularly, students will study the physics, acquisition techniques and signal processing underlying conventional X-ray, Computerized Tomography (CT), Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), Positron Emission Tomography (PET), Ultrasound (US) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

Course Content:

Introductory lecture with the history of medical imaging and its importance for modern medicine and biomedical research.

Conventional X-ray, CT, SPECT and PET imaging (40% of content):

• Basic principles of planar X-ray imaging and scintigraphy (short);

• Advanced methods for image acquisition using CT, SPECT and PET;

• Mathematical techniques for image reconstruction, including filtered backprojection and iterative approaches;

• Issues of image quality, especially related to resolution, signal to noise ratio, and quantitative imaging.

MR imaging (40% of content):

• Physical principles of nuclear magnetic resonance;

• Spatial encoding with gradient fields and k-space Fourier reconstruction;

• Relaxation-driven image contrast (T₁, T₂, T₂*);

• Spin-echo, Gradient-echo and other rapid pulse-sequence designs;

• Accelerated and quantitative MRI techniques, including parallel imaging and parametric tissue mapping.

Introduction into Ultrasound imaging (20% of content):

• Physical and mathematical principles of ultrasound imaging;

• Medical echography systems,data processing for image formation, and its quality parameters;

• Advanced US imaging techniques such as  Doppler flow imaging, harmonic imaging, and superresolved microvascular imaging with contrast agents.

The course will end with a mini-symposium on specialized imaging techniques. Therefore, recently developed medical imaging methods will be studied, going beyond the theory of the lectures. Students working in pairs will write a short essay on a selected technique and present it to the group.