Notifications

Formal notification of assessment tasks, grading rubrics and due dates will be posted on iLearn. Although all reasonable measures to ensure the information is accurate, the University reserves the right to make changes without notice. Each student is responsible for checking iLearn for changes and updates.

Weekly Plan

A weekly plan of lectures, assignments, tests, laboratory and workshop sessions will be posted on iLearn. Students are expected to be aware of possible minor variations.

Assignment Tasks

Assignment questions will be posted on iLearn. Assignment solutions will be posted within one to five days after the submission date. Submissions will not be accepted once the solution is posted.

All assignments must be submitted electronically through iLearn (in pdf format). Submissions are expected to be typed in a logical layout and sequence. Markers WILL NOT grade poorly organized or illegible scans or drafts. Illegible scans or drafts are assignments that are handwritten or digital photographed with for example a smartphone. The expected workload includes preparation of final copies and clear diagrams. Resubmissions will be permitted up to due date.

All assignments should be prepared individually. It is expected that students consult tutors, lecturers or other students while learning the concepts, but copying assignments from others is not accepted. Students are expected to have read and understood the academic honesty policy.

Absences

Late notices or absences from tests, workshops and laboratories will be considered under extenuating circumstances upon lodgement and approval of a formal notice of disruption of studies.

Grading

To obtain a passing grade (P/CR/D/HD) a total mark of 50% or more is required AND a mark of 50% or more is required for the final examination. The final exam is a hurdle requirement because it is the only reliable assessment of individual performance for this unit. A passing grade of 50% or more in the final examination is a condition of passing this unit. Students who make a serious attempt but fail to meet the hurdle requirement will be given one further opportunity to pass. A serious attempt is defined as achievement of a mark of 40% or greater.

Delivery of this course is through a series of 13 theoretical lectures of 2 hours each and a series of practical sessions / tutorials.

The theoretical lecture series consist of 3 modules:

1. Nuclear magnetization, NMR signal formation and relaxation
2. MRI image formation
3. Advanced MRI applications: Quantitative and functional MRI

The practical sessions involve hands-on experimentation on an NMR spectrometer, an earth filed MRI system, an NMR relaxometer and a whole body clinical MRI scanner (after hours). MRI hardware components will be build in the MRI research laboratory.

Tutorials are designed around numerical exercises on image formation and image contrast. Students will also have the ability to present and discuss a literature study (one review paper) during the tutorials.

Technology used and required

• Word processing (MS Word, Latex, ...)
• Matlab (can be downloaded from the university depositories)
• Image visualization software (3DSlicer)
• Electronics bench (research and teaching laboratories)
• Powerpoint (or alternative presentation software (e.g. SliTex))
• Library and Internet search engines

Syllabus

De Deene Y, Magnetic Resonance Imaging - From Basic Principles to Advanced Techniques (A Biomedical Engineering Perspective)

Recommended books (optional)

• Haacke E M et al, Magnetic Resonance Imaging - Physical Principles and Sequence Design
• Bernstein M A et al, Handbook of MRI Pulse Sequences
• Tofts P, Quantitative MRI of the Brain - Measuring Changes caused by Disease
• Jin J, Electromagnetic Analysis and Design in Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Levitt M H, Spin Dynamics - Basics of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance