Aims

The aims of the course are to:

• To introduce you to CT scanning and reconstruction, by the development of a CT simulator.
• To understand how CT data can be visualised, and become familiar with what is required to do this.
• To demonstrate how CT can be used in a variety of real life scenarios.
• By giving you a working knowledge of the entire process, to see how physics, maths, computer graphics, etc all interact to generate a useful result.

Content

The aim of this project is to follow the whole process of 3D medical imaging using X-ray Computed Tomography (CT), starting with a scan of a real object, right through to the creation of a new object from the scan. It covers the physics of X-ray material interaction, the design of CT scanners, the maths behind CT reconstruction, the use of computer graphics in CT visualisation, and creation of physical models from CT data using 3D printing.

The first half of the project will introduce you to CT scanning and reconstruction by the development and testing of a simple CT simulator. This will start with an image defining the location and type of various materials, then 'scan' this with a typical CT geometry, and a set of X-ray source and material parameters, and finally reconstruct the data from the scanned measurements using the common technique of filtered back projection. The emphasis is on learning what is involved, and experimenting with the various options (for instance resolution, interpolation techniques, etc), rather than on writing lots of software: most of the components will be supplied.

The second half of the project will concern a variety of 'real life' scenarios. At this point a real object will be scanned, and there may be an opportunity to actually see this happening. Each group will then be tasked with making the best use of the CT data for a scenario of their choice: for instance radiotherapy planning for cancer treatment, or design and assistance with an artificial limb replacement. Each scenario will involve some element of reconstruction (only the raw measurement data from the CT machine will be provided), visualisation (using any of a number of techniques), and model-building from the data (using a 3D printer). Again, the focus is on the investigation rather than writing software. The reconstruction will be an extension of output from earlier in the project, whereas the visualisation and modelling will make use of the many free programs available for this task: selecting and learning the appropriate programs and techniques is a part of the project.

The project will finish with a brief presentation so that each group can show how they have addressed their task to the other students.

FORMAT

You will work in groups of three. In the first part of the project, the groups will be expected to work together on the CT simulator so everyone can acquire the necessary background knowledge. As the project develops each student will take on one part of the collective tasks but will be expected to work in collaboration and present the results as a group. The CT simulation work will be based around some provided functions, which are available both in Matlab and also in Python: you can choose which language you prefer to work in.

Week 1:

Introductory work on X-ray generation, scattering and detection, and CT geometry and scanning. Development of a CT simulator and experiments using this simulator.

Week 2:

CT reconstruction using filtered back-projection and completion of basic CT simulator. Extensions to simulator to include CT noise, beam hardening correction and Hounsfield Units, with associated experiments, leading to interim report.

Week 3:

Real CT scan, provision of raw data, and start of task-based work.

Week 4:

Continue task-based work, presentation of results and final report.

Aims

The aims of the course are to:

• To introduce the basic principles of microfluidic devices.
• To provide practical experience with soft-lithography and microfabrication.
• To design and study the behaviour of simple devices that highlight the key aspects of microfluidics

Content

Microfluidic devices are designed to perform high throughput chemical, physical and biological analysis on small volumes of fluids. This technology is particularly important for biological and biomedical applications where compounds to analyse are often only available in minute quantities, and where there is a need for large scale automation of sequential processes. Typical applications in life sciences are flow cytometry, DNA analysis, cell manipulation and separation, with an increasing use for clinical diagnostics.

These devices typically involve a large array of micron size channels, mixers, sensors and switches that can be integrated in fluidic circuits, often called "lab-on-a-chip" . The development of such devices is highly multi-disciplinary, with a strong engineering component.

During this project, the students will design a device that mixes fluids and study their reactions inside micro-droplets acting as small reactors that can be physically sorted as a function of their chemical content.

FORMAT

This project will be taken by three groups of four students. During the first two weeks, students will learn the necessary techniques and plan their progress for the weeks 3 and 4, which will require a larger work load. Students will work in pairs during week 3, each developing a specific modules of the final device.

Week 1: Soft lithography

All participants will learn how to create microfluidic channels using microfabrication and soft-lithography. This involves creating a mask using a vector graphics software, using a photo-resist to generate a mold, and finally imprinting the circuit on a soft and transparent elastomer matrix.

Week 2: Connections, input/outputs

During week 2, techniques to create input and output connections will be introduced, and a simple device will be built to merge several channels and study mixing issues in microfluidic devices.

Week 3:

In week three, students will work in groups of two, each developing a specific module of the project. One group will design and test a fluid mixer, while the other will develop a droplet generator.

Week 4:

During week four, the two groups will integrate their work into a single device in order to study the dynamics of a reaction in the droplets.

Aims

The aims of the course are to:

• To introduce the basic principles of microfluidic devices.
• To provide practical experience with soft-lithography and microfabrication.
• To design and study the behaviour of simple devices that highlight the key aspects of microfluidics

Content

Microfluidic devices are designed to perform high throughput chemical, physical and biological analysis on small volumes of fluids. This technology is particularly important for biological and biomedical applications where compounds to analyse are often only available in minute quantities, and where there is a need for large scale automation of sequential processes. Typical applications in life sciences are flow cytometry, DNA analysis, cell manipulation and separation, with an increasing use for clinical diagnostics.

These devices typically involve a large array of micron size channels, mixers, sensors and switches that can be integrated in fluidic circuits, often called "lab-on-a-chip" . The development of such devices is highly multi-disciplinary, with a strong engineering component.

During this project, the students will design a device that mixes fluids and study their reactions inside micro-droplets acting as small reactors that can be physically sorted as a function of their chemical content.

FORMAT

This project will be taken by three groups of four students. During the first two weeks, students will learn the necessary techniques and plan their progress for the weeks 3 and 4, which will require a larger work load. Students will work in pairs during week 3, each developing a specific modules of the final device.

Week 1: Soft lithography

All participants will learn how to create microfluidic channels using microfabrication and soft-lithography. This involves creating a mask using a vector graphics software, using a photo-resist to generate a mold, and finally imprinting the circuit on a soft and transparent elastomer matrix.

Week 2: Connections, input/outputs

During week 2, techniques to create input and output connections will be introduced, and a simple device will be built to merge several channels and study mixing issues in microfluidic devices.

Week 3:

In week three, students will work in groups of two, each developing a specific module of the project. One group will design and test a fluid mixer, while the other will develop a droplet generator.

Week 4:

During week four, the two groups will integrate their work into a single device in order to study the dynamics of a reaction in the droplets.

Aims

The aims of the course are to:

• To introduce the basic principles of microfluidic devices.
• To provide practical experience with soft-lithography and microfabrication.
• To design and study the behaviour of simple devices that highlight the key aspects of microfluidics

Content

Microfluidic devices are designed to perform high throughput chemical, physical and biological analysis on small volumes of fluids. This technology is particularly important for biological and biomedical applications where compounds to analyse are often only available in minute quantities, and where there is a need for large scale automation of sequential processes. Typical applications in life sciences are flow cytometry, DNA analysis, cell manipulation and separation, with an increasing use for clinical diagnostics.

These devices typically involve a large array of micron size channels, mixers, sensors and switches that can be integrated in fluidic circuits, often called "lab-on-a-chip" . The development of such devices is highly multi-disciplinary, with a strong engineering component.

During this project, the students will design a device that mixes fluids and study their reactions inside micro-droplets acting as small reactors that can be physically sorted as a function of their chemical content.

FORMAT

This project will be taken by a group of four students. During the first two weeks, students will learn the necessary techniques and plan their progress for the weeks 3 and 4, which will require a larger work load. Students will work in pairs during week 3, each developing a specific modules of the final device.

Week 1: Soft lithography

All participants will learn how to create microfluidic channels using microfabrication and soft-lithography. This involves creating a mask using a vector graphics software, using a photo-resist to generate a mold, and finally imprinting the circuit on a soft and transparent elastomer matrix.

Week 2: Connections, input/outputs

During week 2, techniques to create input and output connections will be introduced, and a simple device will be built to merge several channels and study mixing issues in microfluidic devices.

Week 3:

In week three, students will work in groups of two, each developing a specific module of the project. One group will design and test a fluid mixer, while the other will develop a droplet generator.

Week 4:

During week four, the two groups will integrate their work into a single device in order to study the dynamics of a reaction in the droplets.

Aims

The aims of the course are to:

• To introduce the basic principles of microfluidic devices.
• To provide practical experience with soft-lithography and microfabrication.
• To design and study the behaviour of simple devices that highlight the key aspects of microfluidics

Content

Microfluidic devices are designed to perform high throughput chemical, physical and biological analysis on small volumes of fluids. This technology is particularly important for biological and biomedical applications where compounds to analyse are often only available in minute quantities, and where there is a need for large scale automation of sequential processes. Typical applications in life sciences are flow cytometry, DNA analysis, cell manipulation and separation, with an increasing use for clinical diagnostics.

These devices typically involve a large array of micron size channels, mixers, sensors and switches that can be integrated in fluidic circuits, often called "lab-on-a-chip" . The development of such devices is highly multi-disciplinary, with a strong engineering component.

During this project, the students will design a device that mixes fluids and study their reactions inside micro-droplets acting as small reactors that can be physically sorted as a function of their chemical content.

FORMAT

This project will be taken by a group of four students. During the first two weeks, students will learn the necessary techniques and plan their progress for the weeks 3 and 4, which will require a larger work load. Students will work in pairs during week 3, each developing a specific modules of the final device.

Week 1: Soft lithography

All participants will learn how to create microfluidic channels using microfabrication and soft-lithography. This involves creating a mask using a vector graphics software, using a photo-resist to generate a mold, and finally imprinting the circuit on a soft and transparent elastomer matrix.

Week 2: Connections, input/outputs

During week 2, techniques to create input and output connections will be introduced, and a simple device will be built to merge several channels and study mixing issues in microfluidic devices.

Week 3:

In week three, students will work in groups of two, each developing a specific module of the project. One group will design and test a fluid mixer, while the other will develop a droplet generator.

Week 4:

During week four, the two groups will integrate their work into a single device in order to study the dynamics of a reaction in the droplets.