RLTN 4613 - Physics and Instrumentation I

Credit Hours 2
Description: This course begins with an overview of the basics of nuclear medicine physics, including the structure of the atom, radioactive decay processes and laws, and interactions of radiation with matter. This is followed by a discussion of the topics related to radiation exposure and absorbed dose. The next sections discuss the concepts of radiation detection including gas-filled ionization detectors and scintillation detectors. The remaining sections are devoted to in-depth discussions of imaging instrumentation including scintillation cameras, single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), position emission tomography (PET), and x-ray computed tomography (CT) systems. The final section covers the theory and performance of quality assurance of dose calibrators, scintillation counting systems, and planar, SPECT, PET, and CT systems with emphasis on identifying and solving problems.