Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical Sciences II
(6 credits)
Quarter III: Cell Biology (3 credits)
Quarter IV: Systems (3 credits)
BME 523. Biomedical Instrumentation
Origins and characteristics of bioelectric signals, recording electrodes, biopotential amplifiers, basic sensors, chemical, pressure, sound, and flow transducers, noninvasive monitoring techniques and electrical safety. (Prerequisites: Circuits and electronics, control engineering or equivalent.)
BME 525. Microprocessor-Based Biomedical Instrumentation
This course provides hands-on laboratory experience with common biomedical transducers and instrumentation used in physiological and clinical evaluation. Lectures and laboratory experiments cover electronic circuit design and construction, analog/digital signal acquisition and processing, and microprocessor-based biomedical instrumentation. The basic principles of hardware and software designs for interfacing biomedical sensors to microprocessors are emphasized. (Prerequisite: Analog and digital electronics.)
Review of control theory with applications to biological control systems. Development of mathematical models of selected biological control systems and the application of computer techniques in the simulation of these systems. (Prerequisite: Control engineering)
BME/ME 550. Tissue Engineering
This biomaterials course focuses on the selection, processing, testing and performance of materials used in biomedical applications with special emphasis upon tissue engineering. Topics include material selection and processing, mechanisms and kinetics of material degradation, cell-material interactions and interfaces; effect of construct architecture on tissue growth; and transport through engineered tissues. Examples of engineering tissues for replacing cartilage, bone, tendons, ligaments, skin and liver will be presented. (Prerequisites: A first course in biomaterials equivalent to BME/ME 4814 and a basic understanding of cell biology and physiology. Admission of undergraduate students requires the permission of the instructor.)
This biomechanics course focuses on advanced techniques for the characterization of the structure and function of hard and soft tissues and their relationship to physiological processes. Applications include tissue injury, wound healing, the effect of pathological conditions upon tissue properties, and design of medical devices and prostheses. (Prerequisite: An understanding of basic continuum mechanics.)
BME/ME/MTE 554. Composites with Biomedical and Materials Applications
Introduction to fiber/particulate-reinforced, engineered and biologic materials. This course focuses on the elastic description and application of materials that are made up of a combination of submaterials, i.e., composites. Emphasis will be placed on the development of constitutive equations that define the mechanical behavior of a number of applications, including: biomaterial, tissue and materials science. (Prerequisites: Understanding of stress analysis and basic continuum mechanics)
BME/ME 558. Biofluids and Biotransport
The emphasis of this course is on modeling fluid flow within the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems, and the transport processes that take place in these systems. Applications include artificial heart valves, atherosclerosis, arterial impedance matching, clinical diagnosis, respiration, aerosol and particle deposition. Depending upon class interest, additional topics may include reproductive fluids, animal propulsion in air and water, and viscoelastic testing. (Prerequisite: A first course in biofluids equivalent to BME/ME 4606.)
BME 560. Physiology for Engineers
An introduction to fundamental principles in cell biology and physiology designed to provide the necessary background for advanced work in biomedical engineering. Quantitative methods of engineering and the physical sciences are stressed. Topics include cell biology, DNA technology and the physiology of major organ systems.
NOTE: This course can be used to satisfy a life science requirement in the biomedical engineering program. It cannot be used to satisfy a biomedical engineering course requirement.
BME 562. Laboratory Animal Surgery
A study of anesthesia, surgical techniques and postoperative care in small laboratory animals. Anatomy and physiology of species used included as needed. Class limited to 15 students. Approximately 15 surgical exercises are performed by each student. (Prerequisite: Graduate standing. Admission of undergraduate students requires the permission of the department head and the instructor.)
NOTE: This course can be used to satisfy a life science requirement in the biomedical engineering program. It cannot be used to satisfy a biomedical engineering course requirement.
BME 570. Engineering in the Clinical Environment
Examines the responsibilities and functions of the biomedical engineer in the health care complex in the solution of the technical and engineering problems associated with patient care. Topics include equipment management, monitoring systems, electrical safety, prosthetics, technical education for medical personnel, hospital systems engineering and administrative functions.
BME 581. Medical Imaging Systems
Overview of the physics of medical image analysis. Topics covered include X-Ray tubes, fluoroscopic screens, image intensifiers; nuclear medicine; ultrasound; computer tomography; nuclear magnetic resonance imaging. Image quality of each modality is described mathematically, using linear systems theory (Fourier transforms, convolutions). (Prerequisite: Signal analysis course ECE 3303 or equivalent.)
BME 582. Principles of In Vivo Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging
This course emphasizes the applications of Fourier transform nuclear magnetic resonance (FTNMR) imaging in medicine and biology. Course topics include review of the basic physical concepts of NMR (including the Bloch equations), theoretical and experimental aspects of FTNMR, theory of relaxation and relaxation mechanisms in FTNMR, instrumentation for FTNMR, basic NMR imaging techniques. (Prerequisites: Differential and integral calculus, ordinary differential equations.)
BME 585. Principles of In Vivo Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
This course emphasizes the applications of Fourier transform nuclear magnetic resonance (FTNMR) spectroscopy in medicine and biology. Course topics include review of the basic physical concepts of NMR, review of covalent chemical binding and its relationship to the NMR chemical shift, factors in biological systems that influence the NMR chemical shift, data acquisition and processing techniques in vivo NMR spectroscopy, and the application of NMR spectroscopy to clinical studies. (Prerequisites: BME 582, organic chemistry and biochemistry are strongly recommended.)
Topics in biomedical engineering are presented both by authorities in the field and graduate students in the program. Provides a forum for the communication of current research and an opportunity for graduate students to prepare and deliver oral presentations. Students may meet the attendance requirement for this course in several ways, including attendance at weekly biomedical engineering seminars on the WPI campus, attendance at similar seminar courses at other universities or biotech firms, attendance at appropriate conferences, meetings or symposia, or in any other way deemed appropriate by the course instructor.
BME 595. Special Topics in Biomedical Engineering
Topics in biomedical engineering. Presentations and discussions of the current literature in an area of biomedical engineering. See the supplement section of the on-line catalog for descriptions of courses to be offered in this academic year.
BME 596. Research Seminar
Presentations on current biomedical engineering research.
BME 698. Laboratory Rotation in Biomedical Engineering
Offered fall, spring and summer for students doing laboratory rotations on the WPI campus. Available for 3 or 4 credits. (Prerequisite: Ph.D. student in biomedical engineering.)
The following biomedical engineering courses are also available for graduate credit.
BME 4011. Biomedical Signal Analysis
Introduction to biomedical signal processing and analysis. Fundamental techniques to analyze and process signals that originate from biological sources: ECGs, EMGs, EEGs, blood pressure signals, etc. Course integrates physiological knowledge with the information useful for physiologic investigation and medical diagnosis and processing. Biomedical signal characterization, time domain analysis techniques (transfer functions, convolution, auto- and cross-correlation), frequency domain (Fourier analysis), continuous and discrete signals, deterministic and stochastic signal analysis methods. Analog and digital filtering. (Recommended background: ECE 2311, ECE 2312, BME 3011 or equivalent.) This course will be offered in 2006-2007, and in alternating years thereafter.
BME 4023. Biomedical Instrumentation Design I
This course builds on the fundamental knowledge of bioinstrumentation and biosensors presented in BME 3011. Lectures and hands-on laboratory experiments cover the principles of designing, building and testing analog instruments to measure biological events. Design laboratories will include biopotential amplifiers and biosensor/ bioinstrumentation systems for the measurement of physiological parameters. (Prerequisites: BME 2204 and BME 3011.) This course will be offered in 2006-2007, and in alternating years thereafter.
BME 4025. Biomedical Instrumentation Design II
This course builds on the fundamental knowledge of bioinstrumentation and biosensors presented in BME 3011. Lectures and hands-on laboratory experiments cover the principles of biosensor interfacing, low-level measurements, analog-todigital and digital-to-analog signal conversion, micro-processor- and microcontroller-based biomedical instrumentation, and programming. (Prerequisites: BME 2204 and BME 3011.) This course will be offered in 2005-2006, and in alternating years thereafter.
This course is a practical introduction to biomedical image processing using examples from various branches of medical imaging. Topics include: point operations, filtering in the image and Fourier domains, image reconstruction in computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, and data analysis using image segmentation. Review of linear-systems theory and the relevant principles of physics. Coursework uses examples from microscopy, computed tomography, X-ray radiography, and magnetic resonance imaging. A working knowledge of undergraduate signal analysis, and linear algebra is desirable. Facility with a high-level programming language is recommended. This course will be offered in 2006-2007, and in alternating years thereafter.
This course emphasizes the applications of mechanics to describe the material properties of living tissues. It is concerned with the description and measurements of these properties as related to their physiological functions. Emphasis on the interrelationship between biomechanics and physiology in medicine, surgery, body injury and prosthesis. Topics covered include review of basic mechanics, stress, strain, constitutive equations and the field equations encountered in fluids, viscoelastic behavior and models of material behavior. The measurement and characterization of properties of tendons, skin, muscles and bone. Biomechanics as related to body injury and the design of prosthetic devices. (Recommended background: Differential and integral calculus, ordinary differential equations, familiarity with the concepts of mechanics, including continuum mechanics [ES 2051, ES 2052, ME 3501, MA 2501].) This course will be offered in 2005- 2006, and in alternating years thereafter.
Review of control theory with applications to biological control systems. Analysis and modeling of physiological systems. Physiological systems identification. Formulation of mathematical models of biological systems and the application of computer techniques in the simulation of these systems. (Prerequisites: Laplace transforms, transient response, frequency response and system stability analysis.) This course will be offered in 2005- 2006, and in alternating years thereafter.
This course emphasizes the applications of fluid mechanics to biological problems. The course concentrates primarily on the human circulatory and respiratory systems. Topics covered include: blood flow in the heart, arteries and veins, and microcirculation and air flow in the lungs and airways. Mass transfer across the walls of these systems is also presented. (Prerequisite: A background in continuum mechanics [ME 3501] and fluid mechanics equivalent to ME 3602 is assumed.) This course will be offered in 2006-2007, and in alternating years thereafter.
BME/ME 4814. Biomedical Materials
This course discusses various aspects pertaining to the selection, processing, testing (in vitro and in vivo) and performance of biomedical materials. The biocompatibility and surgical applicability of metallic, polymeric and ceramic implants and prosthetic devices are discussed. The physicochemical interactions between the implant material and the physiological environment will be described. The use of biomaterials in maxillofacial, orthopedic, dental, ophthalmic and neuromuscular applications is presented.(Recommended background: BB 3130 or equivalent introduction to human anatomy, ES 2001 or equivalent introduction to materials science and engineering.)
BME 4828. Biomaterial - Tissue Interactions
This course examines the principles of materials science and cell biology underlying the design of medical devices, artificial organs, and scaffolds for tissue engineering. Molecular and cellular interactions with biomaterials are analyzed in terms of cellular processes such as matrix synthesis, degradation, and contraction. Principles of wound healing and tissue remodeling are used to study biological responses to implanted materials and devices. Case studies will be analyzed to compare tissue responses to intact, bioresorbable and bioerodible biomaterials. Additionally, this course will examine criteria for restoring physiological function of tissue and organs, and investigate strategies to design implants and prostheses based on control of biomaterial-tissue interactions. (Prerequisites: BME 2604, BB 2550 or equivalent, ES 2001 or equivalent, PH 1120 or PH 1121.)
Biomedical Science Core (I and II)
Provides students with an integral foundation in the sciences basic to medicine, emphasizing contemporary topics in biological chemistry, transfer of genetic information, cellular architecture and regulation, and multicellular systems and processes. Students may take all or part of the core, in either quarter or semester format.
Biomedical Sciences I
(6 credits)
Quarter I: Biochemistry (3 credits)
Quarter II: Molecular Biology and Genetics (3 credits)
Responsible Conduct of Science
Ethics course on the responsible conduct of science. (1 credit)
BME 850. Laboratory Rotation in Biomedical Engineering
3 or 4 credits
Offered fall, spring and summer for students doing laboratory rotations on the UMMS campus. (Prerequisite: Ph.D. student in biomedical engineering.)
BME 860. Preparation for Qualifying Examination
Variable credits
BME 900. Research in Biomedical Engineering and Medical Physics
Variable credits
Equivalent to BME 699 Ph.D. Dissertation.
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