BI3MI2: Medical Imaging

Module code: BI3MI2

Module provider: School of Biological Sciences

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Professor Ying Zheng, email: ying.zheng@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Sillas Hadjiloucas, email: s.hadjiloucas@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

In this module, you will gain an understanding of the techniques and processes for creating visual representations of the interior of the body for clinical analysis and medical intervention. The module covers the fundamentals, operation, design and application of the most commonly used medical imaging systems, including MRI, CT and ultrasound imaging. Relevant image processing techniques will be covered, with emphasis on those based around functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with a focus on how to use Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM). The module consists of lectures and practical sessions, during which you will learn to view, process and analyse human fMRI data. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Explain the principles, operation and application of medical imaging modalities, together with their capabilities and limitations. 
2. Design medical imaging systems for a given application. 
3. Use and explain image processing tools to process/analyse biomedical images 
4. Apply the methodologies involved in an intelligent manner and gain an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the methods. 

Module content

Principles and operation of: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), x-ray imaging, Computed Tomography (CT), Ultrasound Imaging, Planar Scintigraphy, Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), and Positron Emission Tomography (PET). Image processing techniques for medical imaging modalities: Pre-processing of the imaging data; the general linear model and how it is used for modelling fMRI data; design efficiency for fMRI experiments; estimating haemodynamic impulse response functions; the principles and applications of principal component analysis. Image processing techniques including spatial filtering, edge detection and image segmentation. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will be delivered through a combination of lectures, practical assignments, and revision tutorials. 

Study hours

At least 40 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Students will be given oral feedback if they write a lab report on the first practical session, as feedforward towards submission of the lab report summative assessment later in the semester. 

General oral feedback, help and advice will be given during the timetabled lab sessions. 

Reassessment

Additional costs