Introduction to Biological Imaging

The course gives the fundamental engineering background on methods of image formation with focus on image reconstruction approaches (tomography). It presents the hardware, physical principles and algorithmic implementations of mainstream imaging approaches such as microscopy and Magnetic Resonance Imaging and of emerging imaging methods such as optical and opto-acoustic imaging poised to shape the biological and medical paradigm. Examples from real life biological and medical applications are showcased. The course includes hands-on practical exercises using Matlab, reading of state-of-the-art research papers and a field trip to an imaging facility.

to gain a fundamental knowledge in biomedical imaging which includes the following areas:
- physical and hardware components of all major imaging techniques
- wave propagation in tissues for non-diffracted and diffracted sources
- principles of forward modelling and inversion / image reconstruction
- own inversion programming in Matlab
- Application regimes of anatomical, functional and molecular imaging
- emerging, next generation imaging technologies

knowledge in linear algebra, Fourier-transforms, computer-based numerical solutions, Matlab and electronics
(corresponding courses: Mathematics 1 & 4, Signaldarstellungen, Schaltungstechnik 1 as well as the project course Matlab)

The course is a mixture of presentations of several scientific topics by the lecturer and staff members as well as practical exercises (especially programming with standard-software), where the learned theory is applied and further expanded. Another component is literature work, where the students make themselves familiar with current research topics through papers and are to practise their preparation / summary for a presentation. Also planned is the visit of a research institution for a further practical demonstration.

- EDV-based presentation of topics by lecturers and students
- ""paper"" publications
- the students solve exercises on mostly provided computers with suitable software (Matlab)

recommended:
- Ntziachristos V., Leroy-Willig A, Tavitian B (Hrsg.): Textbook of in-vivo Imaging in Vertebrates
- Kak A, Slaney M: Principles of Computerized Tomography

The exam consists of a 90 minutes exam ( to be taken without auxiliary tools). The exam will recapitulate the contents of the lecture and further requires the students to make a translation of the acquired knowledge to their own filed of study. The answers need to be given in own words as well as by ticking given multiple choice questions.