RBE 544: Imaging for Medical Robotics

Credits 2.0

This course aims to introduce the physical principles behind modern medical imaging, including radiography, X-ray computed tomography, nuclear medicine, ultrasound imaging, and magnetic resonance imaging, and their adaptation for image-guided interventions. In robotics, vision and perception play a crucial role, but the optical camera provides only surface information, which limits its usefulness in medical robotics for surgical guidance and diagnosis. To perceive the structural and functional information inside the body, medical imaging is a critical component. Topics include mathematical and physical foundations of each modality, including their interactions with biological tissue. Additionally, the course will present advanced imaging solutions that combine with robotic instrumentation to enable robotic-assisted imaging and image-guided robotic interventions. In the team project, students will tackle real clinical challenges using novel imaging and instrumentation methods.