| CODE | PHY3277 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Bioelectromagnetism | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Physics | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This unit provides a general overview of topics in bioelectromagnetism. These include biological effects, biophysical mechanisms, present medical applications and future perspectives. Both therapeutic and diagnostic techniques using electromagnetic fields are introduced in this unit. Therapeutic techniques are mainly based on thermal ablation and dielectric heating whilst diagnostic methods are based on imaging modalities. Bioelectromagnetic dosimetry, deals with the definition and measurement of the physical quantities that must be specified in evaluating interaction of electric and magnetic fields with living organisms. The essential aspects of theoretical bioelectromagnetic dosimetry are discussed in some detail for extremely low frequencies and are summarized briefly for radio-frequency fields, including microwaves. Additionally, some aspects of radiation protection elements for non-ionizing radiation are introducted together with relevant topics on radiation protection guidelines, measurements and surveillance. Study-unit Aims: The aim of this unit is to provide students with analytical methods and technical knowledge in order to understand the interaction between electromagnetic fields and biological tissues, with special emphasis on medical applications. Also, it aims to provide the foundations of the experimental approach in the context of health risk assessment and exposure standard setting. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - describe the different mechanisms of interaction of electromagnetic fields with the human tissues; - explain the frequency dependence of the interaction of electromagnetic fields with the human tissues; - describe different medical diagnosis, monitoring and therapy techniques derived from bioelectrical and bioelectromagnetic phenomena; - define the physical quantities that characterise the interaction of electric and magnetic fields with living organisms; - explain simplified models used in theoretical bioelectromagnetic dosimetry. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - articulate the fundamental theory of medical imaging and therapeutic techniques using electromagnetic fields; - distinguish between different mechanisms of interaction of electromagnetic fields with the human tissues (ranging from DC to microwaves); - calculate the Specific absorption rate using numerical analysis; - use simulation tools to model bioelectrical and bioelectromagnetic phenomena of the organism. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: - Furse, Cynthia, Douglas A. Christensen, and Carl H. Durney. Basic introduction to bioelectromagnetics. CRC press, 2009. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-Requisite Study-units: PHY1125, PHY2211, PHY1145 and PHY2145 | ||||||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Tutorial | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Lourdes Farrugia |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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