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Selected Course Listing

Overview of the application of engineering principles to problems in living systems and healthcare delivery. Fundamental anatomy and physiology for engineers. Quantitative measurement and analysis of the structure, function and control of biological systems.

Individual research on selected problems of current significance in biomedical engineering. Variable credit; may be repeated to a maximum of six credit hours. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

Continuous and discrete signal concepts, sampling, signal transforms (Fourier, LaPlace, Z- Transforms), correlation and power spectrum, analog and digital filters, characteristics of biological signals and systems, introduction to non-linear systems, biomedical applications. Prerequisites: EE 305 or equivalent and MA 214; or consent of instructor.

This course presents an engineering-based approach to the quantitative study of the human musculoskeletal system. Principles involving static and dynamic mechanical analyses will be applied to quantify the forces and moments in human posture and movement. Study of the material and biological properties of the musculoskeletal system are included due to their unique coupling to the formulation and interpretation of biomechanical problems. Prerequisites: EM 221, EM 313; or consent of instructor.

Detailed investigation of a topic of current significance in biomedical engineering such as: biomaterials, hard or soft tissue biomechanics, rehabilitation engineering, cardiopulmonary systems analysis, biomedical imaging. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

This course is taught concurrently with BME685 Biofluid Mechanics. This course provides the students with a review of basic fluid mechanics principles and a direct, practical application of these principles to biomedical and clinical problems associated with the human circulatory system. Prerequisites: Engineering standing or consent of instructor.

Study of biological and man-made materials that perform, improve or restore natural functions. Structure and properties of connective tissues and commonly implanted metals, ceramics and polymers; biocompatibility of materials used in orthopedic, soft tissue, and cardiovascular applications. Prerequisites: Engineering standing, MSE 201, and MSE 301; or consent of instructor.

This course will serve as an introduction to cell and tissue level mechanobiology with focus on human physiological and disease processes. The primary focus is to introduce principles of cell-level mechanics in the context of the biology of living organisms, what we term mechanobiology. In effect, we treat biological processes and regulation as another variable(s) that must be accounted for when modeling the mechanical/physical behavior of human tissues. A large amount of the basic principles in this field of study arose as a result of the intense research in the cardiovascular field. We will draw many examples of mechanobiological principles as it relates to the circulatory system. Despite our cardiovascular focus, the basic principles can be applied to the whole range of mechanobiological research conducted in other applications (orthopedics, urological, pulmonary, etc.). Prerequisites: EM302 and/or CME/ME 330 (or equivalent fluid mechanics course); or consent of instructor.

This introductory course in mathematical modeling will teach students how to construct simple and elegant models of biological and physiological processes — for instance the absorption and elimination of drugs in the human body or the kinetics of tumour growth in tissue — and to analyze or predict the dynamics of these events by solving the models. Prerequisites: Proficiency in calculus as demonstrated by completing a calculus sequence (MA 113, 114, 213,214) or consent of the instructor. Some familiarity with computer programming (MATLAB in particular), which is typically acquired in any undergraduate science or engineering curriculum, is desirable.

Transducers, amplifiers for physiological measurements, biopotential measurements and selected topics in biomedical instrumentation. Some of the topics include pressure, flow, ultrasonic and nuclear instrumentation and scanning and imaging devices. Lecture, two hours; laboratory, three hours per week. Prerequisites: EE 305 or equivalent.

An introduction to mechanical modeling of human motion (lectures) along with application of computational software to model and estimates internal tissues responses to physical demands of several different activities/tasks (lab activities). Prerequisites: EM 221, EM 313; or consent of instructor.

A multidisciplinary approach combining engineering principles for systems analysis and control, knowledge of biological control mechanisms and computational properties of biological neural networks in the development of engineering neural networks for control applications. Topics include: equivalent circuit models for biological neurons and networks, non-linear differential equation representations, biological control strategies for rhythmic movements, design and development of controller for robot function, proposal development and presentation.

A comprehensive introduction to bio-medical imaging systems used today, including xray imaging and computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound imaging (UI) and diffuse optical tomography (DOT). The course will review the fundamental mathematics underlying each imaging modality, the hardware needed to implement each system and the image reconstruction and analysis. The class may involve homework, projects and exams. Prerequisite: Engineering standing, or consent of instructor.

An interdisciplinary course devoted to detailed study of a topic of current significance in biomedical engineering, such as cellular mechanotransduction, systems biology and tissue engineering. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

Continuous and discrete signals, sampling, Fourier transform, LaPlace transform, Z-transform, correlation and spectral analysis, digital filters. Prerequisites: EE 305 or equivalent.

Homeostatic mechanisms, input-output analysis, steady state and transient response, feedback concepts, system identification and simulation from actual operating data. Prerequisites: PGY 502 and ME440 or equivalent.

Stochastic processes, Fourier-based spectral analysis and linear system identification, modern spectral estimation (AR, MA, ARMA), parametric transfer function estimation, time-frequency analysis of nonstationary signals. Prerequisites: BME 605, BME 610, EE 640 recommended.

Biomedical systems models, dynamic programming, variational approach to optimal control problems, real-time parameter estimation, adaptive control methods and biomedical applications. Prerequisites: BME 605, BME 610.

Basic concepts of nonlinear systems: iterated maps, dynamical flows, bifurcations, chaos. Modeling and analysis of nonlinear systems: Wiener kernels, white-noise identification, polyspectra, nonlinear time-series models. Extensive discussion of selected biomedical applications. Prerequisites: BME 610 required, BME 615 or EE 640 recommended.

Introductory course on the fundamental principles of magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy and its uses in biomedical engineering. Topics include: quantum mechanical and classical descriptions of nuclear magnetic resonance, relaxation theory, signal generation, the Bloch equation and solutions, signal processing and encoding. Imaging and spectroscopy applications will be introduced. Several practical demonstrations will be given. Strong engineering/physics and mathematics background is necessary. Prerequisite: Undergraduate degree in engineering or physics.

Laboratory course on the fundamentals of magnetic resonance, instrumentation, measurement and its biomedical applications. Begins with the nuclear induction experiment and ends with design and implementation of experiments to address engineering and physics problems that relate to the medical field. Instrumentation hardware and software will be taught. Strong engineering/ physics and mathematics background is necessary. Prerequisites: BME 630 or permission of instructor.

This course presents an engineering-based approach to study the system of ethics applicable to biomedical engineering. This course will describe and examine the responsibilities of biomedical engineers to patients, research subjects and engineering clients as well as to the legal system (where applicable) and the profession. As a scholarly discipline, biomedical engineering ethics draws upon principles from subjects such as: the philosophy of science, the philosophy of engineering and the ethics of technology. Materials from these principles will be used in this course with adaption to the special circumstances attending the practice of biomedical engineering.

Survey of the regulatory, legal, managerial, financial and medical environment in which the biomedical engineering profession is practiced. This course attempts to provide the interface between the theoretical course material taught in the BME curriculum and the realities of the diverse multidisciplinary world that is unique to the biomedical engineer. Outside guest speakers, in class lectures and case history analyses will be used. Group term project is mandatory. Prerequisite: Engineering baccalaureates receive preference.

Study of biological and man-made materials that perform, improve or restore natural functions. Structure and properties of connective tissue and commonly implanted metals, ceramics and polymers; biocompatibility of materials used in orthopedic, soft tissue and cardiovascular applications. Prerequisite: Undergraduate engineering degree or consent of instructor.

Study of the interface between implants and host tissues from both the materials and biological prospective. Structure of the tissue-implant interface; surface characterization of biomaterials; protein adsorption; mechanisms of cell responses; the methods for controlling the tissue-implant interface, with emphasis on orthopedic and cardiovascular applications. Prerequisite: BME 661.

Application of laws of mechanics to study the behavior of human organ systems. Stress-strain analysis of soft and hard body tissues and emphasis on pulmonary and musculoskeletal systems. Viscoelastic properties. Prerequisites: PGY 502, EM 302 or consent of instructor.

Application of laws of mechanics to study behavior of human musculoskeletal system. Materials science of bone, muscle, tendon are integrated into static, kinematic, and dynamic analyses of isolated body segment motion as well as whole body motion. Prerequisites: PGY 502, ME 330 or consent of instructor.

Flow limitation in compliant tubes. Impedance concepts in lung airways and vessels. Fluid mechanics of lung micro-circulation. Morphological analysis of bifurcating networks. Fractal analysis of blood flow. Stress wave in tissue. Structural analysis of body organs. Applications to the lungs, cardiovascular and skeletal systems. Prerequisites: BME 670 and BME 672 or consent of instructor.

Seminars in Orthopaedic biomechanics research exploring current clinical problems and engineering solutions. Prerequisites: BME 670 and BME 672.

Review of the rheology of circulatory processes in the body. Special emphasis on cardiovascular dynamics: pulsatile pressure and flow, vascular impedance, wave propagation/reflection, cardiac dynamics. Special topics. Lecture, three hours with periodic lab demonstrations. Prerequisites: PGY 502 or equivalent, BME 672, or consent of instructor.

Individual study related to a special research project. Intended for M.S. candidates who want a research project independent of their M.S. thesis work. This course cannot be used to satisfy residency credit requirements. May be repeated to a maximum of six credits. Prerequisites: Consent of instructor and graduate standing in BME.

Special topics in biomedical engineering addressed primarily in a lecture/discussion format. Presentation of focused or specialized topics that are not available in standard courses. May be repeated to a maximum of nine credits. Prerequisites: Consent of instructor and graduate standing in BME.

Half-time to full-time work on thesis. May be repeated to a maximum of six semesters. Prerequisite: All course work toward the degree must be completed.

Half-time to full-time work on dissertation. May be repeated to a maximum of six semesters. Prerequisite: Registration for two full-time semesters of 769 residence credit following the successful completion of the qualifying exams.

Review of current literature in the field of biomedical engineering, general discussion and presentation of papers on research in biomedical engineering. Lecture, one hour per week. Required for all graduate students in biomedical engineering.

Scientists and engineers present current research in biomedical engineering. Students are required to prepare for and deliver a seminar on their own research.

Discussion of advanced and current topics in biomedical engineering. Individual work on research problems of current interest. May be repeated to a maximum of nine credits. Lecture/laboratory hours, variable. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor.

Graduate research in any area of biomedical engineering, subject to approval of the director of graduate studies. May be repeated to a maximum of nine hours. Prerequisite: Consent of director of graduate studies.