Semestre4

This course is designed for second-year Biomedical Engineering students (L2) in the Department of Science and Technology. It provides a fundamental understanding of medical imaging techniques, their physical principles, and their applications in clinical practice and biomedical research.
Medical imaging refers to the acquisition and visualization of internal structures of the human body using various physical principles. These techniques are essential for diagnosing diseases, guiding treatments, and advancing biomedical research.
Medical imaging can be classified into two main categories:

Transmission Imaging: An external beam penetrates the body, and the interaction between radiation and tissues produces an image. Examples include:
X-ray Radiography: Based on the differential absorption of X-rays by tissues.
Computed Tomography (CT scan): Uses X-ray beams and computational reconstruction for cross-sectional imaging.
Ultrasound Imaging (Sonography): Utilizes high-frequency sound waves reflected by tissues to generate images.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Exploits nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to create detailed images of soft tissues.
Emission Imaging: A radioactive tracer is administered to the patient, and the emitted radiation is detected to form an image. Examples include:
Scintigraphy: Uses gamma-emitting isotopes to assess organ function.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET): Detects positron emissions from radiotracers to study metabolic and biochemical processes.
Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT): Captures gamma rays emitted by radiopharmaceuticals for functional imaging.
Each of these imaging modalities corresponds to specific physical principles covered in this course:
X-ray and CT scans rely on X-ray absorption (Chapter 1).
Ultrasound imaging is based on wave reflection and transmission (Chapter 2).
MRI exploits nuclear magnetism and resonance effects (Chapter 3).
Nuclear medicine techniques (SPECT, PET, scintigraphy) use radioactive tracers and emission detection (Chapter 4).
By the end of this course, students will understand the fundamental principles of each imaging technique, their advantages, limitations, and clinical applications.