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Courses in Biomedical Engineering (BIM)

Lower Division Courses

1. Introduction to Biomedical Engineering (1)

Lecture—1 hour. Introduction to the field of biomedical engineering with examples taken from the various areas of specialization within the discipline. Areas include cellular and molecular engineering; biomedical imaging; biofluids and transport; musculoskeletal biomechanics; and bioinstrumentation. (P/NP grading only.)—I. (I.)

99. Special Study for Undergraduates (1-5)

(P/NP grading only.)

Upper Division Courses

106. Biotransport Phenomena (4)

Lecture—4 hours. Prerequisite: Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior 101 or equivalent, Physics 9B, Mathematics 22B. Principles of heat and mass transfer with applications to biomedical systems; emphasis on mass transfer across cell membranes and the design and analysis of artificial human organs, and basic fluid transport.—II. (II.)

107. Mathematical Methods for Biological Systems (4)

Lecture—3 hours; discussion—1 hour. Prerequisite: Mathematics 22A-22B. Restricted to upper division Engineering majors. Essential mathematical and numerical techniques for engineering problems in medicine and biology. Contents include boundary value problems, the calculus of linear transforms, ordinary and partial differential equations, and an introduction to probability and stochastic processes.—II. (II.)

108. Biomedical Signals and Control (4)

Lecture—4 hours. Prerequisite: Mathematics 22B; Engineering 100 (may be taken concurrently). Restricted to upper division Engineering students. Systems and control theory applied to biomedical engineering problems. Time-domain and frequency-domain analyses of signals and systems, convolution, Laplace and Fourier transforms, transfer function, dynamic behavior of first and second order processes, and design of feedback control systems for biomedical applications. No credit for students who have taken Electrical and Computer Engineering 150A; 2 units of credit for students who have taken Mechanical Engineering 171.—III. (III.) Qi

109. Biomaterials (4)

Lecture—3 hours; discussion—1 hour. Prerequisite: course 106. Mechanical and chemical properties of metallic, ceramic, and polymeric implant materials. Properties of bones, joints, and blood vessels. Cellular response to implants, including inflammation, blood coagulation, and wound and fracture healing. Biocompatibility of orthopaedic and cardiovascular materials.—III. (III.) Revzin

110A-110B. Capstone Biomedical Engineering Design (2-2)

Laboratory—3 hours; lecture/discussion—1 hour. Prerequisite: courses 107, 108, 109. Application of bioengineering theory and experimental analysis culminating in the design of a unique solution to a problem. The design may be geared towards current applications in applied biomechanics, biotechnology or medical technology. (Deferred grading only, pending completion of sequence.)—II, III. (II, III.)

111. Biomedical Instrumentation Laboratory (4)

Lecture—1 hour; laboratory—9 hours. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 1A, course 107, Statistics 120, 131A, or 130A, Engineering 100. Basic biomedical signals and sensors. Topics include analog and digital records using electronic, hydrodynamic, and optical sensors, and measurements made at cellular, tissue and whole organism level.—II. (II.) Willig-Onwaachi

116. Physiology for Biomedical Engineers (5)

Lecture—2 hours; lecture/discussion—3 hours. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 1A, Mathematics 22B. Basic human physiology for the nervous, muscular, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, renal, endocrine and reproductive systems. Emphasis on the physical and engineering principles governing these systems, including transport processes and the application of biomedical engineering-based diagnostics and therapeutics to disease. Only three units of credits if taken after Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior 101.—I. (I.) Louie

117. Analysis of Molecular and Cellular Networks (4)

Lecture—3 hours; discussion—1 hour. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 1A and Mathematics 22B. Network themes in biology, emphasizing metabolic, genetic, and developmental networks. Mathematical and computational methods for analysis of such networks. Elucidation of design principles in natural networks. Engineering and ethical issues in the design of synthetic networks.—III. (III.) Savageau

126. Tissue Mechanics (3)

Lecture—2 hours; laboratory/discussion—3 hours. Prerequisite: Exercise Science 103 and/or Engineering 45 and/or consent of instructor. Structural and mechanical properties of biological tissues, including bone, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, nerves, and skeletal muscle. (Same course as Exercise Science 126.)—II. (II.) Hawkins

140. Protein Engineering (4)

Lecture—3 hours; discussion—1 hour. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 1A and Chemistry 8B. Restricted to upper division majors in sciences or engineering. Introduction to protein structure and function. Modern methods for designing, producing, and characterizing novel proteins and peptides. Design strategies, computer modeling, heterologous expression, in vitro mutagenesis. Protein crystallography, spectroscopic and calorimetric methods for characterization, and other techniques.—I. (I.) Sutcliffe-Goulden

141. Cell and Tissue Mechanics (4)

Lecture—3 hours; discussion—1 hour. Prerequisite: Physics 9C, Engineering 35, Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior 101. Mechanical properties that govern blood flow in the microcirculation. Concepts in blood rheology and cell and tissue viscoelasticity, biophysical aspects of cell migration, adhesion, and motility.—III. (III.) Simon

142. Biomedical Imaging: Basic Principles and Practice (4)

Lecture—3 hours; term paper. Prerequisite: Physics 9D and Mathematics 22B. Basic physics, engineering principles, and applications of biomedical imaging techniques including x-ray imaging, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound and nuclear imaging.—I. (I.) Cherry

161A. Biomolecular Engineering (4)

Lecture—3 hours; discussion—1 hour. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 1A, Chemistry 8B; upper division standing. Introduction to the basic concepts and techniques of biomolecular engineering such as recombinant DNA technology, protein engineering, and molecular diagnostics.—II. (II.) Yokobayashi

161L. Biomolecular Engineering Laboratory (2)

Laboratory/discussion—6 hours. Prerequisite: course 161A; upper division Biomedical Engineering major. Introduction to the basic techniques in biomolecular engineering. Laboratory and discussion sessions will cover basic techniques in DNA cloning, bacterial cell culture, protein expression, and data analysis. GE Credit: SciEng.—III. (III.) Yokobayashi

167. Biomedical Fluid Mechanics (4)

Lecture—3 hours; discussion—1 hour. Prerequisite: course 106 (may be taken concurrently) or Engineering 103. Basic biofluid mechanics, Navier Stokes equations of motion, circulation, respiration and specialized applications including miscellaneous topics such as boundary layer flow. Not open for credit to students who have completed Mechanical Engineering 167C.—I. (I.)

189A-C. Topics in Biomedical Engineering (1-5)

Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Topics in Biomedical Engineering. (A) Cellular and Molecular Engineering (B) Biomedical Imaging (C) Biomedical Engineering. May be repeated if topic differs. Not offered every year.

190A. Upper Division Seminar in Biomedical Engineering (1)

Seminar—1 hour. Prerequisite: upper division standing. In depth examination of research topics in a small group setting. Question and answer session with faculty members. May be repeated for credit. (P/NP grading only.)—III. (III.) Louie

198. Directed Group Study (1-5)

Prerequisite: consent of instructor. May be repeated up to three times for credit. (P/NP grading only)—I, II, III. (I, II, III.)

199. Special Study for Advanced Undergraduates (1-5)

Prerequisite: consent of instructor. (P/NP grading only.)

Graduate Courses

202. Cell and Molecular Biology for Engineers (4)

Lecture/discussion—4 hours. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 104 or Molecular and Cellular Biology 121. Preparation for research and critical review in the field of cell and molecular biology for biomedical or applied science engineers. Emphasis on biophysical and engineering concepts intrinsic to specific topics including receptor-ligand dynamics in cell signaling and function, cell motility, DNA replication and RNA processing, cellular energetics and protein sorting. Modern topics in bioinformatics and proteomics.—II.

204. Physiology for Bioengineers (5)

Lecture—5 hours. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 1A or the equivalent. Basic human physiology of the nervous, muscular, cardiovascular, respiratory, and renal systems and their interactions; emphasis on the physical and engineering principles governing these systems, including control and transport processes, fluid dynamics, and electrochemistry.—I. Benham

209. Scientific Integrity for Biomedical Engineers (2)

Lecture—1 hour; discussion—1 hour. Scientific integrity and ethics for biomedical engineers, with emphasis and discussion on mentoring, authorship and peer review, use of humans and animals in biomedical research, conflict of interest, intellectual property, genetic technology and scientific record keeping. Biomedical Engineering majors only. (S/U grading only.)—III.

210. Introduction to Biomaterials (4)

Lecture—4 hours. Prerequisite: Engineering 45 or consent of instructor. Mechanical and atomic properties of metallic, ceramic, and polymeric implant materials of metallic, ceramic, and polymeric implant materials; corrosion, degradation, and failure of implants; inflammation, wound and fracture healing, blood coagulation; properties of bones, joints, and blood vessels; biocompatibility of orthopaedic and cardiovascular materials. Offered in alternate years.—(II.) Hazelwood

212. Biomedical Heat and Mass Transport Processes (4)

Lecture—3 hours; discussion—1 hour. Prerequisite: Mechanical Engineering 165, Biological Systems Engineering 125, Chemical Engineering 153 or the equivalent. Application of principles of heat and mass transfer to biomedical systems related to heat exchange between the biomedical system and its environment, mass transfer across cell membranes and the design and analysis of artificial human organs. (Same course as Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering 212.) Offered in alternate years.—(II.) Alderidge

214. Blood Cell Biomechanics (4)

Lecture—4 hours. Prerequisite: Engineering 102. Mechanical properties that govern blood flow in the microcirculation and cell adhesion and motility. Constitutive equations of vasculature tissue and blood. Blood rheology and viscoelasticity. Red and white blood cell mechanics. Remodeling of blood vessels in disease and engineering of blood vessels and cells.—I. Simon

215. Biomedical Fluid Mechanics and Transport Phenomena (4)

Lecture—3 hours; discussion—1 hour. Prerequisite: Engineering 103 or Chemical Engineering 150B or Civil and Environmental Engineering 141. Application of fluid mechanics and transport to biomedical systems. Flow in normal physiological function and pathological conditions. Topics include circulatory and respiratory flows, effect of flow on cellular processes, transport in the arterial wall and in tumors, and tissue engineering. (Same course as Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering 215.)—III. (III.) Barakat

216. Advanced Topics in Cellular Engineering (4)

Lecture—4 hours. Prerequisite: course 214 or consent of instructor. Advanced research strategies and technologies used in the study of immune function and inflammation. Static and dynamic measurements of stress, strain, and molecular scale forces in blood and vascular cells, as well as genetic approaches to the study of disease.—III. (III.) Simon

223. Multibody Dynamics (4)

Lecture—4 hours. Prerequisite: Engineering 102. Coupled rigid-body kinematics/dynamics; reference frames; vector differentiation; configuration and motion constraints; holonomicity; generalized speeds; partial velocities; mass; inertia tensor/theorems; angular momentum; generalized forces; comparing Newton/Euler, Lagrange's, Kane's methods; computer-aided equation derivation; orientation; Euler; Rodrigues parameters. (Same course as Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering 223.)—II. (II.) Eke, Hubbard

225. Spatial Kinematics and Robotics (4)

Lecture—3 hours; laboratory—3 hours. Prerequisite: C Language and course 222. Spatial kinematics, screw theory, spatial mechanisms analysis and synthesis, robot kinematics and dynamics, robot workspace, path planning, robot programming, real-time architecture and software implementation. (Same course as Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering 225.) Offered in alternate years.—II. Cheng

227. Research Techniques in Biomechanics (4)

Lecture—2 hours; laboratory—4 hours; term paper/
discussion—1 hour. Prerequisite: consent of instructor, Mathematics 22B; Exercise Science 115 recommended. Experimental techniques for biomechanical analysis of human movement are examined. Techniques evaluated include data acquisition and analysis by computer, force platform analysis, strength assessment, planar and three-dimensional videography, data reduction and smoothing, body segment parameter determination, electromyography, and biomechanical modeling. (Same course as Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering 227/Exercise Science 227.)—II. (II.) Williams, Hawkins

228. Skeletal Muscle Mechanics: Form, Function, Adaptability (4)

Lecture—4 hours. Prerequisite: basic background in biology, physiology, and engineering; Engineering 35 and 45, Mathematics 21D; Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior 101 recommended. Basic structure and function of skeletal muscle examined at the microscopic and macroscopic level. Muscle adaptation in response to aging, disease, injury, exercise, and disuse. Analytic models of muscle function are discussed. (Same course as Exercise Science 228.)—I. (I.) Hawkins

231. Musculo-Skeletal System Biomechanics (4)

Lecture—4 hours. Prerequisite: Engineering 102. Mechanics of skeletal muscle and mechanical models of muscle, solution of the inverse dynamics problem, theoretical and experimental methods of kinematic and kinetic analysis, computation of intersegmental load and muscle forces, applications to gait analysis and sports biomechanics. (Same course as Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering 231.)—III. (III.) Hull

232. Skeletal Tissue Mechanics (3)

Lecture—3 hours; laboratory—1 hour. Prerequisite: Engineering 104B. Overview of the mechanical properties of the various tissues in the musculoskeletal system, the relationship of these properties to anatomic and histologic structure, and the changes in these properties caused by aging and disuse. The tissues covered include bone, cartilage and synovial fluid, ligament and tendon. (Same course as Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering 232.)—III. (III.) Martin

240. Computational Methods in Nonlinear Mechanics (4)

Lecture—4 hours. Prerequisite: Applied Science Engineering 115 or Mathematics 128B or Engineering 180. Deformation of solids and the motion of fluids treated with state-of-the-art computational methods. Numerical treatment of nonlinear dynamics; classification of coupled problems; applications of finite element methods to mechanical, aeronautical, and biological systems. Offered in alternate years. (Same course as Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering 240.)—II. Sarigul-Klign

241. Introduction to Magnetic Resonance Imaging (3)

Lecture—3 hours. Prerequisite: Physics 9D, Mathematics 22B. Equipment, methods, medical applications of MRI. Lectures review basic, advanced pulse sequences, image reconstruction, display and technology and how these are applied clinically. Lecture complements a more technical course. (course 246 can be taken concurrently.)—I. (I.) Buonocore

242. Introduction to Biomedical Imaging (4)

Lecture—4 hours. Prerequisite: Physics 9D and Electrical and Computer Engineering 106 or consent of instructor. Basic physics and engineering principles of image science. Emphasis on ionizing and nonionizing radiation production and interactions with the body and detectors. Major imaging systems: radiography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance, ultrasound, and optical microscopy.—I. (I.) Insana, Boone, Seibert

243. Radiation Detectors for Biomedical Applications (4)

Lecture/discussion—4 hours. Prerequisite: Physics 9D, Mathematics 21D, 22B. Radiation detectors and sensors used for biomedical applications. Emphasis on radiation interactions, detection, measurement and use of radiation sensors for imaging. Operating principles of gas, semiconductor, and scintillation detectors.—II. (II.) Cherry

246. Magnetic Resonance Technology (3)

Lecture—3 hours. Prerequisite: Physics 9D, Mathematics 22B. Course covers MRI technology at an advanced level with emphasis on mathematical descriptions and problem solving. Topics include spin dynamics, signal generation, image reconstruction, pulse sequences, biophysical basis of T1, T2, RF, gradient coil design, signal to noise, image artifacts.—I. (I.) Buonocore

247. Current Concepts in Magnetic Resonance Imaging I (3)

Lecture—3 hours. Prerequisite: course 241 or 246 or consent of instructor. Modern pulse sequences, pulse sequence options, and biomedical/industrial applications; velocity encoded phase imaging and angiography, echo planar imaging, spiral imaging, computer simulation of MRI, fast spin echo, other topics.—II. (II.) Buonocore

248. Current Concepts in Magnetic Resonance Imaging II (3)

Lecture—3 hours. Prerequisite: course 247 or consent of instructor. Continuation of lecture coverage of modern pulse sequences, pulse sequence options, and biomedical/industrial applications: Control of tissue contrast by magnetization refocusing and spoiling, RF pulse design, diffusion and perfusion imaging, image artifact reduction methods, others.—III. (III.) Buonocore

249. Microsensor Design and Fabrication (3)

Lecture—3 hours. Prerequisite: graduate standing. Design and fabrication of sensors. Topics include transduction principles, fabrication technologies specific to microsensors, and design of microsensor systems, including packaging. (Same course as Electrical and Computer Engineering 248.) Not open for credit to students who have completed Electrical and Computer Engineering 248. Offered in alternate years.—(I.)

250. Mathematical Methods of Biomedical Imaging (4)

Lecture—4 hours. Prerequisite: graduate standing or consent of instructor. Advanced mathematical techniques with emphasis on imaging systems. Matrices and vector spaces, Fourier analysis, integral transforms, signal representations, probability and random processes.—I. (I.) Insana

251. Medical Image Analysis (4)

Lecture—4 hours. Prerequisite: Electrical and Computer Engineering 106. Techniques for assessing the performance of medical imaging systems. Principles of digital image formation and processing. Measurements that summarize diagnostic image quality and the performance of human observers viewing those images. Definition of ideal observer and other mathematical observers that may be used to predict performance from system design features.—II. Insana

270. Biochemical Systems Theory (4)

Lecture—4 hours. Prerequisite: course 202 concurrently or consent of instructor. Systems biology at the biochemical level. Mathematical and computational methods emphasizing nonlinear representation, dynamics, robustness, and optimization. Case studies of signal-transduction cascades, metabolic networks and regulatory mechanisms. Focus on formulating and answering fundamental questions concerning network function, design, and evolution.—I. (I.) Savageau

271. Gene Circuit Theory (4)

Lecture—4 hours. Prerequisite: course 270 or 202 and consent of instructor. Analysis, design, and construction of gene circuits. Modeling strategies, elements of design, and methods for studying variations in design. Case studies involving prokaryotic gene circuits to illustrate natural selection, discovery of design principles, and construction of circuits for engineering objectives.—II. (II.) Savageau

281. Acquisition and Analysis of Biomedical Signals (4)

Lecture—3 hours; laboratory—3 hours. Prerequisite: Engineering 100, Statistics 130A. Basic concepts of digital signal recording and analysis; sampling; empirical modeling; Fourier analysis, random processes, spectral analysis, and correlation applied to biomedical signals.—III.

282. Biomedical Signal Processing (4)

Lecture—4 hours. Prerequisite: Electrical and Computer Engineering 150A, 150B. Characterization and analysis of continuous- and discrete-time signals from linear systems. Examples drawn from physiology illustrate the use of Laplace, Z, and Fourier transforms to model biological and bioengineered systems and instruments. Filter design and stochastic signal modeling. Genomic signal processing.—II. Insana

284. Mathematical Methods for Biomedical Engineers (4)

Lecture—4 hours. Prerequisite: Mathematics 22B, Statistics 130A. Theoretical and computational applications of linear systems, random processes, and differential equations that describe biological systems and instruments that measure them.—(I.) I.

286. Nuclear Imaging in Medicine and Biology (4)

Lecture/discussion—4 hours. Prerequisite: course 243 or consent of instructor. Radioactive decay, interaction of radiation with matter, radionuclide production, radiation detection, digital autoradiography, gamma camera imaging, single photon emission computed tomography, positron emission tomography and applications of these techniques in biology and medicine.—III. (III.) Cherry

287. Concepts in Molecular Imaging (4)

Lecture—2 hours; lecture/discussion—2 hours; term paper. Prerequisite: Chemistry 2C, Mathematics 21C, Physics 9D, consent of instructor. Current techniques and tools for molecular imaging. Emphasis on learning to apply principles from the physical sciences to imaging problems in medicine and biology.—III. (III.) Louie, Sutcliffe-Goulden

289A-E. Selected Topics in Biomedical Engineering (1-5)

Variable. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Selected topics in (A) Bioinstrumentation and Signal Processing; (B) Biomedical Imaging; (C) Biofluids and Transport; (D) Orthopedic Biomechanics; (E) Analysis of Human Movement. May be repeated for credit.—I, II, III. (I, II, III.)

290. Seminar (1)

Seminar—1 hour. Seminar in biomedical engineering. (S/U grading only.)

290C. Graduate Research Conference (1)

Discussion—1 hour. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Individual and/or group conference on problems, progress, and techniques in biomedical engineering research. May be repeated for credit. (S/U grading only.)—I, II, III. (I, II, III.)

299. Research (1-12)

(S/U grading only.)

Professional Course

396. Teaching Assistant Training Practicum (1-4)

Prerequisite: graduate standing. May be repeated for credit. (S/U grading only.)—I, II, III. (I, II, III.)