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Course Descriptions

For course locations and times, please see the UT Course Schedules.

For descriptions of non-BME courses, please see the UT catalog.

Core Graduate BME Courses: Fundamentals of Biomedical Engineering

• BME 380J.5. Biostatistics, Study Design and Research Methods
  Experimental design, ANOVA, Data mining, Cluster analysis, hypothesis testing, t-test, f-test, Time Sequence, Ethics, Multi-variate analysis
• BME 380J.6. Analysis of Biomedical Engineering Systems I
• BME 380J.7. Analysis of Biomedical Engineering Systems II
• 2 Core courses (completion of a physiology course & Matlab exam are required before enrolling in these courses)

BME Track Courses

Track 1: Molecular and Cellular Imaging

• BME385J.16. Laser-Tissue Interaction - Optical. The optical behavior of random media in interaction with laser irradiation. Approximate transport equation methods to predict the absorption and scattering parameters of laser light inside tissue. Port-wine stain treatment; cancer treatment by photochemotherapy, cardiovascular applications.
• BME385J.18. Biomedical Image Processing. Physical principles and signal processing techniques used in thermographic, ultrasonic and radiographic imaging; including image reconstruction from projections, such as computed tomography.
• BME385J.23. Optical Spectroscopy. Theoretical and experimental principles of optical spectroscopy, including absorption, fluorescence and Raman spectroscopies. Applications in biomedical engineering and clinical medicine will be considered.
• BME385J.28. Non-Invasive Optical Tomography Basic Principles of optical tomographic imaging of biological materials for diagnostic or therapeutic applications. Optical-based tomographic imaging techniques including photothermal, photoacoustic, and coherent methodologies.

Track 2: Molecular Based Sensors and Devices

• BME352 (for grad. credit) Advanced Engineering Biomaterials Overview of properties and pros/cons of metallic, ceramic, polymeric and composite biomaterials used in biomedical applications. Material synthesis and processing. Analysis of mechanical and chemical properties, including stress-strain. Material interactions with the body and blood. Soft and hard biomaterials applications.
• BME354 (for grad. credit) Molecular Sensors & Nano-devices. Nanobiotechnology and nanomedicine are emerging areas of scientific and technological opportunity that will meld nanofabrication and biosystems to the benefit of both. This course will provide an introduction and overview of the relevant research in the area of nanotechnology, including: (1) microanalysis of biomolecules, with a goal of developing miniaturized sensor technologies, (2) molecular templates, with the goal of producing patterned structures or controlled arrays of molecules for use as tools in research, (3) bioselective surfaces, with the goal of understanding the interactions between cells and surfaces by using molecular templates to fabricate surfaces with site-specific chemistries and topographies, (4) miniature biomachines, with the goal of building tiny moving parts into a silicon chip, for example, and interfacing these nanomachines with the body, and (5) sparse cell isolation, with the goal of developing microfabricated devices that can isolate a few specialized cells from large volumes of fluids.
• BME385 Cell and Tissue Engineering. Taught using case studies of the different tissues and organs of the body. Each case will introduce the physiology and biology of the particular tissue, the pathologies of the tissue, the current clinical treatments, and the role that engineers play in the development of new technologies to diagnose and treat these pathologies. Emphasis will be placed on the use of quantitative cellular and molecular techniques. Applications of synthetic and natural biomaterials will also be discussed. Prerequisite: BIO302 or BIO 303 or consent of instructor.
• BME385J Biochemical Engineering Microorganisms in chemical and biochemical synthesis; genetic manipulation of cells by classical and recombinant DNA techniques; enzyme technology; design of bioreactors and microbial fermentations; and separations of biological products. Normally offered in the fall semester only.

Track 3: Computational Biomedical Engineering

A. Bioinformatics

• BME

B. Physiologic Systems Modeling

• BME385J.9 Laser-Tissue Interaction: Thermal. The thermal response of random media in interaction with laser irradiation. Calculation of the rate of heat production caused by direct absorption of the laser, thermal damage, and ablation.
• BME385J.12 Biomedical Heat Transfer. Heat transfer in biological tissue; determination of thermodynamic and transport properties of tissue; cryobiology; clinical applications of heat transfer for diagnosis and therapy.
• BME385J.20 Network Thermodynamics in Biophysics. Modeling and simulation methods for nonlinear biological processes including coupling across multi-energy domains; practical implementation by bond graph techniques.
• BME385J.22 Musculoskeletal Biomechanics. Emphasis is on synthesizing properties of the musculotendon and skeletal systems to construct detailed computer models which quantify human performance and muscular coordination.
• BME385J.29 Transport Process Introduction to engineering analysis of transport phenomena in living systems, including fluid flow, heat transfer, pharmacokinetics, and membrane fluxes with clinical applications.
• BME385J.30 Introduction to Biomechanics Modeling and simulation of human movement; neuromuscular control; computer applications; introduction to experimental techniques. Three lecture hours and one laboratory hour a week for one semester.
• BME395.1 Dynamics I Basic principles of rigid-body kinematics. Theory is emphasized, especially Kanes’ method of dynamics. Prerequisite: ME324.
• BME395.2 Dynamics II Introduction to the formulation of dynamical equations of motion; students solve complex dynamics problems using the computer. Prerequisite: BME395.1

Track 4: Bio-Systems Instrumentation

• BME384N.3 Electromechanical Sensors/Actuators. Electrical, mechanical, and fluid dynamics; principles of energy conversion, transducer laws, and representation; effects of the transducer characteristics on accuracy and efficiency of energy transformation.
• BME385J.3 Bioelectric Phenomena. Physiological and physical bases of bioelectricity and the techniques required to record bioelectric phenomena. Representation of bioelectric activity by the equivalent dipoles and the volume conductor fields produced. Cable analogy for nerve conduction, origin of the electromyogram and electrocardiogram.
• BME385J.15 Biosignal Analysis. Theory and classification of biological signals such as EEG, EKG, EMG, etc. Data acquisition and analysis procedures for biological signals, including computer applications.
• BME385J.17 Instrumentation II. Design, construction, evaluation, documentation and testing of a computer-based biomedical instrument. See Dr. Valvano for potential topics. Offered both as 385J and 685J. BME685J provides more in-depth study with additional laboratory projects for 6 hours of graduate credit.
• BME385J.26 Therapeutic Heating : RF MW and US. Engineering aspects of electromagnetic fields as clinically applied to achieve therapeutic effects: diathermy, tumor hyperthermia, cardiac ablation, electrosurgery (thermal damage processes).
• BME385J.31 Instrumentation I Application of techniques of electrical engineering to analysis and instrumentation in biological sciences: pressure, flow, temperature measurement; bioelectric signals; pacemakers; ultrasonics; electrical safety; electro-therapeutics.
• BME385J.32 Lab Projects in Biomedical Engineering An in-depth examination of selected topics such as optical and thermal properties of laser interaction with tissue; measurement of perfusion in the microvascular system; diagnostic imaging; interaction of living systems with electromagnetic fields; robotic surgical tools; ophthalmic instrumentation; non-invasive cardiovascular measurements.
• BME385J.33 Neurophysiology/Prosthesis Design This course is a description of the structure and function of the human brain. Selected neurological diseases will be discussed in conjuncture with the normal neurophysiology. Neuroprosthesis treatments and design philosophy will introduce the topics of functional neural stimulation and functional muscular stimulation.