ADVANCED ULTRASOUND PHYSICS
Mathematical and physical foundations of the application of acoustics in diagnostic ultrasound. Derivation of wave equations for mechanical waves in fluids and solids from a continuum mechanics perspective. Diffraction theory and methods for acoustic field calculation (analytic, angular spectrum, simulations). Review of interactions of acoustic waves with biological tissue and methods to measure their acoustic properties. In-depth discussion of methods for structural image formation including ray-line scanning, plane wave compounding, synthetic aperture, coded excitation, and spatial coherent imaging. Introduction to novel functional imaging approach, including ultrafast Doppler, molecular ultrasound, functional ultrasound, and super-resolution imaging. Application of the acquired knowledge to perform a systematic literature review of the state-of-the-art of the field for the solution of a relevant clinical problem.
Prerequisites & course information
Requisites: B M E/MED PHYS 573 and 578 Course Designation: Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Fall 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Provide detailed physical explanations, based on advanced mathematical grounds, of (a) the basic principles of the propagation and interactions of mechanical waves in tissues, and (b) several ultrasound-based structural and functional imaging techniques Audience: Graduate 2. Critically assess recent technological developments in medical ultrasound imaging by appraising the motivation, strengths, and limitations of published research in this area Audience: Graduate 3. Based on a critical review of the state of the art of biomedical ultrasound, define the goal and specific aims of a research proposal focused on addressing a knowledge gap in the field and/or solving a relevant clinical problem using advanced concepts of ultrasound image acquisition, formation, and processing Audience: Graduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Provide detailed physical explanations, based on advanced mathematical grounds, of (a) the basic principles of the propagation and interactions of mechanical waves in tissues, and (b) several ultrasound-based structural and functional imaging techniques Audience: Graduate 2. Critically assess recent technological developments in medical ultrasound imaging by appraising the motivation, strengths, and limitations of published research in this area Audience: Graduate 3. Based on a critical review of the state of the art of biomedical ultrasound, define the goal and specific aims of a research proposal focused on addressing a knowledge gap in the field and/or solving a relevant clinical problem using advanced concepts of ultrasound image acquisition, formation, and processing Audience: Graduate
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027