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—Bioengineering
This publication refers to the session 2009–10. The information given, including that relating to the
availability of courses, is current at the time of publication; 5 October 2009; and is subject to alteration.
Bioengineering
The field of biomedical engineering is developing rapidly both nationally and internationally, and its
progress is reflected in changes occurring at Imperial College London. Our courses are updated continually
to keep abreast of current developments in the subject and enhance the career prospects of our
graduates. They offer entry into the broad field of biomedical engineering, providing students with sound
foundations in engineering and physical principles. The Department also provides MPhil/PhD training for
which there are currently about 85 students, and a recently restructured streamed MSc course targeting
advanced principles in medical physics, biomechanics and neurotechnology.
The Department is active in many areas of research including biomedical sensors, mathematical
modelling of biological and physiological processes, theoretical and experimental neuroscience, medical
imaging, exercise biomechanics, microbionics and bio-inspired circuit design, surgical planning,
engineering approaches to the aetiology, diagnosis and management of cardiovascular, respiratory and
musculoskeletal diseases, software for healthcare, and the analysis and interpretation of biomedical data.
Staff are drawn from fields ranging from mathematics, the physical sciences and engineering to chemistry,
the biological sciences and medicine. Much of the research is undertaken in collaboration with other
departments at Imperial, with medical colleagues from hospitals associated with the College, and
externally with colleagues from around the world. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE)
conducted by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, 75% of the Department of
Bioengineering's returned research was judged to be either world-leading or internationally excellent.
The taught undergraduate courses are accredited by two major engineering institutions, the IET and
the IMechE.
Undergraduate courses
BH81 BEng in Biomedical Engineering (three years)
BH9C MEng in Biomedical Engineering (four years)
Both the BEng and MEng have a common first two years, and MEng students spend the additional year
taking more specialist courses which are usually concentrated in one of the traditional engineering
disciplines, usually Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or Computing. Final decisions about
whether to take the three or four-year course can be delayed until the end of the second year.
The first two years include fundamental training in mathematics, engineering and medical science
including material on bioengineering techniques and design. The final year includes courses on applied
biomedical engineering topics and a research project. There is also an expanding year abroad programme
with exchanges already in place with Institutions in the Netherlands and the USA.
Students must normally have A2 level passes in mathematics and physics, plus an additional A2 level
subject or two AS level subjects with high grades (AAB or above). Knowledge of chemistry and/or biology
is useful but not essential. Competence in English must be proven.
The course consists of lectures supported by study groups and tutorials with additional practical
classes. Design projects are included in many of the modules.
FIRST YEAR
BE1-HMCP Molecules, cells and processes
BE1-HMATH1 Mathematics I
BE1-HVAW Mathematical tools, vibrations and waves
BE1-HEE1 Electrical engineering I
BE1-HEMO1 Electromagnetics and optics I
BE1-HLDS Logic and digital systems
BE1-HMS1 Medical science I
BE1-HPROG1 Programming I
Bioengineering 3
SECOND YEAR
BE2-HMS2 Medical science II
BE2-HMATH2 Mathematics II
BE2-HEM02 Electromagnetics and optics II
BE2-HPROG2 Programming II
BE2-HEE2 Electrical engineering II
BE2-HFLM Fluid mechanics
BE2-HHMT2 Heat and mass transport II
BE2-HSAS Signals and systems
BE2-HSDM Solid mechanics
BE2-HCTRL Control systems
BE2-HMDP Mechanics design project
BE2-HMEW Mechanics workshop
BE2-HAMSS Atomic and molecular and semiconductor structure
BS-0821 Project management
Syllabuses
FIRST YEAR
BE1-HMATH1 Mathematics I1
DR A. WALTON, DR D. BUCK
The course will begin with the nine lecture Basic Mathematics Course which is a revision of the A-level
Mathematics syllabus. The topics covered are: 1 Numbers and Arithmetic, 2 Algebra,
3 Combinatorics – Binomial Theorem, 4 Functions and Graphs, 5 Cartesian Geometry, 6 Trigonometry, 7
Differential Calculus, 8 Integral Calculus, 9 Vectors and Mechanics. The regular syllabus is as follows:
Analysis: Functions of one variable: exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions: odd, even,
inverse functions. Limits: continuous and discontinuous functions.
Differentiation: implicit and logarithmic differentiation; Leibnitz’s formula; stationary points and points of
inflection; curve sketching; polar coordinates. Taylor's and Maclaurin’s series; l’Hopital’s rule.
Convergence of power series; ratio test; radius of convergence.
Complex numbers: the complex plane; polar representation; de Moivre’s theorem; ln z and exp z.
Hyperbolic functions: inverse functions; series expansions; relations between hyperbolic and
trigonometric functions
Integration: definite and indefinite integrals; the fundamental theorem; improper integrals; integration by
substitution and by parts; partial fractions; applications
Linear algebra: vector algebra: basic rules; cartesian coordinates; scalar and vector products; application
to geometry; equations of lines and planes; triple products; linear dependence.
Matrix algebra: double suffix notation; basic rules; transpose, symmetric, diagonal, unit, triangular,
inverse and orthogonal matrices.
Determinants: basic properties; Cramer’s rule.
Linear algebraic equations: consistency; elementary row operations; linear dependence; Gauss-Jordan
method; Gaussian elimination; LU factorisation. Eigenvalues, and Eigenvectors; diagonalisation.
Ordinary differential equations: first order equations: separable, homogeneous, exact and linear. Second
order linear equations with constant coefficients. Fourier series: Standard formulae; even and odd
functions; half range series,; complex form. Parseval’s theorem. Differentiation and integration of series.
1
The syllabus is subject to changes in 2009/10
6 Undergraduate syllabuses
BE1-HPROG1 Programming I
MR M. HOLLOWAY
The C language: variables, types and expressions; assignment statements; input and output; control
statements; variables and identifiers; loops; constants; input/output streams; interaction of C with UNIX
Bioengineering 7
and Windows shells; terse syntax in assignments; functions and variable scope; function arguments and
the stack; recursive functions. Arrays; nullterminated character strings; passing arrays to functions;
multidimensional arrays, array initialisation. Pointers; string library functions; type conversion and
casting; data structures. Program design: bottom-up and top-down strategies, defensive design, pseudo-
code, testing, debugging and documentation.
SECOND YEAR
BE2-HMATH2 Mathematics II
PROFESSOR J. ELGIN, TBA
Mathematics for signal processing: Review of linear dependence/independence, basis, inner products -
vectors, complex numbers, functions. The Dirac delta function. Review of Fourier series. Brief introduction
to Fourier transforms (to be revisited towards end of course).
Partial differentiation: Differentiation as linearization. Functions of more than one variable: partial
differentiation, Jacobian; total differentials, chain rule, changes of variable. Taylor’s theorem for a function
of two variables; stationary values; contours.
Vector calculus: parameterised curves; scalar and vector fields; grad, div and curl; arc length; line
integrals; conservative fields; double and triple integrals; Jacobians; Green’s theorem in the plane; surface
integration; Gauss’ and Stokes’ theorems.
Partial differential equations: application to the description of biological and engineering problems;
classification; wave equation; characteristics. Diffusion equation; similarity solutions. Laplace’s equation.
Separation of variables.
Complex variables: analyticity, differentiability in a region, Cauchy-Riemann equations, Laplace’s
equation. Simple mappings, multivaried functions. Conformal mappings. Cauchy's theorem and the
residue theorem. Evaluation of complex and improper integrals including poles on the real axis.
Transforms: Fourier transforms; definition, inverse and properties. Fourier convolution theorem.
Application to the solutions of PDE’s. Laplace transforms: definition, inverse and properties. Laplace
convolution theorem. Use in solving ODE’s.
resolution (airy disc), coherence, holography, synthetic aperture (radar and sonar), elastic wave equation,
longitudinal waves, acoustic wave parameters, intensity parameters, safety, generation and detection,
Schieleren detection, reflection, acoustic impedance.
BE2-HPROG2 Programming II
DR P.M.M. CASHMAN, MR. M HOLLOWAY
Review of ANSI C structs and pointers. Application example: complex numbers. Dynamic memory
allocation; linked lists; self ordering lists; binary trees; recursion; sorting algorithms; hash tables.
Command line processing; file handling; introduction to object-oriented problems in C. Data abstraction
and encapsulation. The C++ class and data member access permissions; function and operator
overloading, polymorphism and inheritance. Message passing; cin and cout streams. Re-implementation
in C++ of complex numbers example. Class constructors and destructors. Simple Windows applications:
the Document/View architecture. Professional software engineering: 5 reasons why software projects may
fail; properties of good software. The waterfall and evolutionary development models; data
representations; requirements capture. Introduction to the Unified Modelling Language. Use case, class
and sequence diagrams; associations and multiplicity; operations. Benefits of the UML approach to code
implementation. Medical informatics examples.
example on first and second order systems, decomposition of system into first and second order factors.
From transfer function to frequency response and back, relationships between time domain and frequency
domain analysis and design. Simple low-pass filters: average filter in time and in space, high-pass filters:
derivative and gradient filters, ideal filter, implementation in time and frequency domains, applications in
bioengineering, main characteristics of filters in time and frequency domain. Butterworth low-pass filters.
system; field strengths, coils. T1 and T2, free induction decay, spin dephasing, T2*. Basic pulse sequences:
saturation recovery, inversion recovery, spinecho; contrast mechanisms. Imaging: gradients, slice
selection, frequency and phaseencoding, FOV, scan-time, multiple slices, k-space. Image Artefacts,
Overview of MR Clinical Techniques. MR Safety I: Projectile effect, pacemakers, controlled areas, EM field
effects on other equipment. Optical imaging: Optical imaging: Interaction of light with tissue.
Microscopy: principles and limitations, wide-field, confocal microscopy, optical sectioning. Fluorescence
imaging: single-photon and multiphoton excitation. Indicators for fluorescence microscopy. Optical
coherence tomography, Other novel optical imaging techniques. Endoscopy: minimally invasive surgery,
confocal endoscopy.
1
The syllabus of this course is subject to change.
Bioengineering 15
BE3-HBMX Biomechanics
PROFESSOR C. ROSS ETHIER, DR D. OVERBY
At the successful completion of the module, students will be able to: identify key mechanical constituents
of cells and the extracellular matrix; understand how forces are transmitted between cells and their
surroundings; understand and manipulate the lumped parameter, tensegrity and actin foam models of
cellular biomechanics; be familiar with the anatomy and biomechanics of the respiratory system, including
the lungs and the associated structures; understand the role of surface tension and surfactant in lung
biomechanics; understand and be able to use models of mass transfer at the single alveolar and whole
lung level; understand the major determinants of blood rheology and the implications for blood flow in the
large arteries; be able to quantify steady and unsteady blood flow features in the large arteries;
understand the unique flow features of blood flow in capillaries; understand the composition and
mechanical properties of the arterial wall; be able to describe the mechanics of elastic wave propagation
in arteries, including factors that influence wave speed and reflection; describe the mechanics of all major
tissues of the body; calculate joint reaction force; estimate muscle force; discuss relationship between
muscle performance and anatomical and physiological constraints; be able to determine the movement of
body segments based on kinematic data; calculate segment and joint angles; calculate segment velocity
and acceleration; calculate joint forces from kinematic and kinetic data; be able to estimate muscle forces
from equilibrium equations; compute stresses in bone from static force balances using surrounding tissue
components; understand the mechanical factors that control the performance and growth of bone.
Ultrasound RF Analysis: Radiofrequency signal data, signal analysis: bulk properties, structural
organisation parameters. Systems Architecture: Equipment types, system design, QA protocols, Acoustic
output measurements, preventative maintenance protocols, first line maintenance. Contrast Agents and
Harmonic Imaging: Nature of contrast agents, areas of clinical application, fundamental and harmonic
imaging, stimulated acoustic emissions, drug delivery. Dosimetry and Safety: Thermal, non-linear and
cavitation effects. Cellular effects. Cooling mechanisms in vivo. Ultrasound field measurements, thermal
and mechanical indices, operating parameters, International safety regulations. Magnetic Resonance
Imaging NMR phenomenon. Reference frames, resonance and Bloch equations. MR Hardware: Magnet
design and constraints, superconductivity, gradient coil design, gradient performance, eddy currents and
shielding. Components of Receiver chain: coil design, coil loading, quadrature and array coils, SNR vs field
strength. Advanced pulse sequences: CPMG, Stimulated echoes. Fast Imaging Sequences: k-space,
segmented sequences, FLASH, turbo-FLASH, Fast spin-echo, Echo-planar, sequential scanning. Clinical
Scanning Techniques: Contrast agents, paramagnetic ions, positive and negative contrast agents, fat
suppression, chemical shift, chemical and motion artefacts, gating, STIR, in and out-phase techniques,
chemical selection, spatial saturation. MR Angiography: Physics of flow effects, in-flow, phase effects,
gradient moment rephasing, time-of-flight MRA, phase-contrast MRA, two-dimensional and three-
dimensional techniques, TONE, MIP, quantitative velocity measurement, Fourier encoding. Advanced
contrast mechanisms: BOLD effect, diffusion, perfusion, magnetisation transfer. MR Spectroscopy:
chemical shift, common nuclei for investigation, spectral features, line widths, technical requirements,
localisation methods, CSI. MR Image Quality: SNR and resolution, assessing image quality, test objects,
parameters, test materials. MR Safety II: Bioeffects and safety, biological effects of static, time-varying
fields, magneto-hydrodynamic effect, neuro-muscular stimulation, heating, SAR, exposure limits and units.
Pacemakers, implants, standards, guidance and organisational issues, siting and environmental issues.
perception. Vision in flying insects: optic flow processing. Simple and complex cells. Sparse coding in the
visual system; natural scene statistics. Linear filter models of visual processing. The somatosensory
system: spinal cord, ventral posterior nucleus, somatosensory cortex, the sense of touch. Somatotopic
maps. The motor system: spinal mechanisms, motor cortex and voluntary movement, the cerebellum.
Sensorimotor control systems. The hippocampal system and memory. Neural network models: Firing rate
models. Feedforward networks: the perceptron, multilayer networks. Coordinate transformations.
Recurrent networks: linear and nonlinear recurrent networks, the Hopfield network, associative memories.
Adaptation and learning: supervised and unsupervised learning. Networks of integrate-and-fire neurons.
Spike train statistics: variability of inter-spike intervals. Receptive fields and sensory information
processing. Reverse correlation and spike-triggered analysis methods; constructing simple and complex
V1 receptive fields. Information
theory and the neural code. Spike timing and spike count codes. Population coding. Population firing rate
and “labelled line” codes. The neural code and perception. ROC analysis. Decoding neural spike trains.
1 Please check the relevant departmental sections for syllabus details. Availability of some modules
subject to change.