Program Requirements
The Biological and Biomedical Engineering (BBME) Master鈥檚 program focuses on the interdisciplinary application of methods, paradigms, technologies, and devices from engineering and the natural sciences to problems in biology, medicine, and the life sciences. With its unique multidisciplinary environment, and taking advantage of research collaborations between staff in the Faculties of Medicine, Science, and Engineering. BBME offers thesis-based graduate degrees (M.Eng.) that span broad themes in biomodelling, biosignal processing, medical imaging, nanotechnology, artificial cells and organs, probiotics, bioinformatics, bioengineering, biomaterials, and orthopaedics. BBME鈥檚 internationally renowned staff provide frequent and stimulating interactions with physicians, scientists, and the biomedical industry. Through courses and thesis research, this program will prepare students for careers in industry, academia, hospitals and government and provide a solid basis for Ph.D. studies. Candidates should hold a bachelor鈥檚 degree in engineering, science, or medicine with a strong emphasis on mathematics, physics, chemistry, and basic physiology or cell biology.
Thesis Courses (30 credits)
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BBME 693 Thesis Research 1 (6 credits)
Overview
BBME : Independent research work under the direction of the Thesis Supervisor
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Restriction(s): Only open to students registered in M.Eng in Biological and Biomedical Engineering Master's Program (Thesis)
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BBME 694 Thesis Research 2 (6 credits)
Overview
BBME : Independent research work under the direction of the Thesis Supervisor
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Restriction(s): Only open to students registered in M.Eng in Biological and Biomedical Engineering Master's Program (Thesis)
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BBME 695 Thesis Submission (12 credits)
Overview
BBME : Independent research work under the direction of the Thesis Supervisor.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Restriction(s): Only open to students registered in M.Eng in Biological and Biomedical Engineering Master's Program (Thesis)
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BBME 696 Thesis Research 3 (3 credits)
Overview
BBME : Independent research work under the direction of the Thesis Supervisor.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Restriction: Only open to students registered in M.Eng. in Biological and Biomedical Engineering (Thesis) program.
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BBME 697 Thesis Research 4 (3 credits)
Overview
BBME : Independent research work under the direction of the Thesis Supervisor.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Restriction: Only opened to students in M.Eng in Biological and Biomedical Engineering (Thesis) program.
Required Courses (3 credits)
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BBME 600D1 Seminars in Biological and Biomedical Engineering (1.5 credits)
Overview
BBME : Mandatory attendance at the seminar series at which students present a seminar related to their research
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Chen, Guojun; Mahshid, Sara (Fall)
Restriction(s): Only open to students registered in the second term or later of the M.Eng. in Biological and Biomedical Engineering (Thesis). Not open to students who have taken BMDE 600D1/2.
1. Students must register for both BBME 600D1 and BBME 600D2
2. Students must register for BBME 600D1 before registering for BBME 600D2
3. No credit will be given for this course unless both BBME 600D1 and BBME 600D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
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BBME 600D2 Seminars in Biological and Biomedical Engineering (1.5 credits)
Overview
BBME : Mandatory attendance at the seminar series at which students present a seminar related to their research.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Chen, Guojun; Sudalaiyadum Perumal, Ayyappasamy (Winter)
Restriction(s): Only open to students registered in the second term or later of the M.Eng. in Biological and Biomedical Engineering (Thesis). Not open to students who have taken BMDE 600D1/2.
1. Students must register for both BBME 600D1 and BBME 600D2
2. Students must register for BBME 600D1 before registering for BBME 600D2
3. No credit will be given for this course unless both BBME 600D1 and BBME 600D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
OR
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BBME 600N1 Seminars in Biological and Biomedical Engineering (1.5 credits)
Overview
BBME : Mandatory attendance at the seminar series at which students present a seminar related to their research
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Chen, Guojun; Sudalaiyadum Perumal, Ayyappasamy (Winter)
Students must also register for BBME 600N2
No credit will be given for this course unless both BBME 600N1 and BBME 600N2 are successfully completed in a twelve month period.
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BBME 600N2 Seminars in Biological and Biomedical Engineering (1.5 credits)
Overview
BBME : Mandatory attendance at the seminar series at which students present a seminar related to their research.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Chen, Guojun; Mahshid, Sara (Fall)
Prerequisite: BBME 600N1
No credit will be given for this course unless both BBME 600N1 and BBME 600N2 are successfully completed in a twelve month period.
Complementary Courses (12 credits)
3 credits from the following quantitative courses:
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BIEN 510 Engineered Nanomaterials for Biomedical Applications (3 credits)
Overview
BIEN : Introduction to the interdisciplinary field of biomedical uses of nanotechnology. Emphasis on emerging nanotechnologies and biomedical applications including nanomaterials, nanoengineering, nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems, nano-based imaging and diagnostic systems, nanotoxicology and immunology, and translating nanomedicine into clinical investigation.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Kinsella, Matt; Sudalaiyadum Perumal, Ayyappasamy (Fall)
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BIEN 530 Imaging and Bioanalytical Instrumentation (3 credits)
Overview
BIEN : Microscopy techniques with application to biology and medicine. Practical introduction to optics and microscopy from the standpoint of biomedical research. Discussion of recent literature; hands-on experience. Topics include: optics, contrast techniques, advanced microscopy, and image analysis.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Hendricks, Adam (Winter)
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
(3-1-5)
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BIEN 550 Biomolecular Devices (3 credits)
Overview
BIEN : Fundamentals of motor proteins in neuronal transport, force generation e.g. in muscles, cell motility and division. A survey of recent advances in using motor proteins to power nano fabricated devices. Principles of design and operation; hands-on-experience in building a simple device.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Beaudet, Daniel (Fall)
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
(3-1-5)
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BIEN 560 Design of Biosensors (3 credits)
Overview
BIEN : Introduction into the motivation of analytical biosensors as well as its fundamental physicochemical challenges. Techniques used to design, fabricate and operate biosensors. Specific applications.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Wachsmann Hogiu, Sebastian (Fall)
Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor.
1. (3-2-4)
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BIEN 570 Active Mechanics in Biology (3 credits)
Overview
BIEN : Introduction to the role of active forces, e.g. cell and tissue contraction, in the mechanics of biological systems. Review of passive and actively driven viscoelastic systems and momentum transport underlying the material properties of biology. The course involves a literature survey and a team project application.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Ehrlicher, Allen (Fall)
Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor.
1. (3-2-4)
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BIEN 590 Cell Culture Engineering (3 credits)
Overview
BIEN : Basic principles of cell culture engineering, cell line development and cell culture products途 genomics, proteomics and post-translational modifications途 elements of cell physiology for medium design and bioprocessing途 bioreactor design, scale-up for animal cell culture and single use equipment途 challenges in downstream processing of cell-culture derived products途 process intensification: fed-batch, feeding strategies and continuous manufacturing途 scale-down and process modeling途 Process Analytical technologies and Quality by Design (QbD) concept.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: Jardon, Mario (Fall) Jardon, Mario; Kamen, Amine (Winter)
(3-0-6)
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
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BMDE 502 BME Modelling and Identification (3 credits)
Overview
Biomedical Engineering : Methodologies in systems or distributed multidimensional processes. System themes include parametric vs. non-parametric system representations; linear/non-linear; noise, transients and time variation; mapping from continuous to discrete models; and relevant identification approaches in continuous and discrete time formulations.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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BMDE 503 Biomedical Instrumentation (3 credits)
Overview
Biomedical Engineering : The principles and practice of making biological measurements in the laboratory, including theory of linear systems, data sampling, computer interfaces and electronic circuit design.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Wagner, Ross (Fall)
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BMDE 512 Finite-Element Modelling in Biomedical Engineering (3 credits)
Overview
Biomedical Engineering : General principles of quantitative modelling; types of models; principles of the finite-element method, primarily as applied to mechanical systems; introduction to the use of finite-element software; model generation from imaging data; modelling various material types, mainly biological; model validation.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Funnell, Robert (Fall)
(3-0-6)
Prerequisite: Differential equations (MATH 271 or equivalent) or permission of instructor
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BMDE 519 Biomedical Signals and Systems (3 credits)
Overview
Biomedical Engineering : An introduction to the theoretical framework, experimental techniques and analysis procedures available for the quantitative analysis of physiological systems and signals. Lectures plus laboratory work using the Biomedical Engineering computer system. Topics include: amplitude and frequency structure of signals, filtering, sampling, correlation functions, time and frequency-domain descriptions of systems.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Kearney, Robert E (Fall)
(3-0-6)
Prerequisites: Satisfactory standing in U3 Honours Physiology; or U3 Major in Physics-Physiology; or U3 Major Physiology-Mathematics; or permission of instructor
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BMDE 610 Functional Neuroimaging Fusion (3 credits)
Overview
Biomedical Engineering : Biomedical engineering: Multimodal data fusion of electrophysiology and functional neuroimaging data, including: detailed description of source localization methods for Electro- and MagnetoEncephaloGraphy data, analysis of brain hemodynamic activity through simultaneous recordings with electrophysiology, analysis and reconstruction of Near Infra-Red Spectroscopy data, modeling of the neurovascular coupling,validation methodology.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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BMDE 660 Advanced MR Imaging and
Spectroscopy of the Brain (3 credits)
Overview
Biomedical Engineering : Advanced magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy techniques to investigate the structure, connectivity, chemistry and physiology of the brain, including data acquisition and reconstruction techniques, scanner hardware, and contrast mechanisms. Focus on neuroscience applications.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Tardif, Christine; Rudko, David (Winter)
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MDPH 607 Medical Imaging (3 credits)
Overview
Medical Physics : This course is concerned with the principles of medical imaging as applied to conventional diagnostic radiography, X-ray computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The course emphasizes a linear system approach to the formation, processing, and display of medical images.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Levesque, Ives (Fall)
Restriction: Open only to students registered in Medical Physics or Biological & Biomedical Engineering programs; permission of instructor for other students.
3-4 credits from the following courses:
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BIEN 510 Engineered Nanomaterials for Biomedical Applications (3 credits)
Overview
BIEN : Introduction to the interdisciplinary field of biomedical uses of nanotechnology. Emphasis on emerging nanotechnologies and biomedical applications including nanomaterials, nanoengineering, nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems, nano-based imaging and diagnostic systems, nanotoxicology and immunology, and translating nanomedicine into clinical investigation.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Kinsella, Matt; Sudalaiyadum Perumal, Ayyappasamy (Fall)
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BIEN 530 Imaging and Bioanalytical Instrumentation (3 credits)
Overview
BIEN : Microscopy techniques with application to biology and medicine. Practical introduction to optics and microscopy from the standpoint of biomedical research. Discussion of recent literature; hands-on experience. Topics include: optics, contrast techniques, advanced microscopy, and image analysis.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Hendricks, Adam (Winter)
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
(3-1-5)
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BIEN 540 Information Storage and Processing in Biological Systems (3 credits)
Overview
BIEN : Storage and processing of information in biological systems, both natural and artificially-created, ranging from biomolecules, cells, and populations of cells. Information storage in DNA and DNA computation; molecular surfaces of proteins; computation with motile biological agents in networks; and biological and biologically-inspired algorithms.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Coulombe-Huntington, Jasmin (Winter)
(3-2-4)
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BIEN 550 Biomolecular Devices (3 credits)
Overview
BIEN : Fundamentals of motor proteins in neuronal transport, force generation e.g. in muscles, cell motility and division. A survey of recent advances in using motor proteins to power nano fabricated devices. Principles of design and operation; hands-on-experience in building a simple device.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Beaudet, Daniel (Fall)
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
(3-1-5)
-
BIEN 560 Design of Biosensors (3 credits)
Overview
BIEN : Introduction into the motivation of analytical biosensors as well as its fundamental physicochemical challenges. Techniques used to design, fabricate and operate biosensors. Specific applications.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Wachsmann Hogiu, Sebastian (Fall)
Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor.
1. (3-2-4)
-
BIEN 570 Active Mechanics in Biology (3 credits)
Overview
BIEN : Introduction to the role of active forces, e.g. cell and tissue contraction, in the mechanics of biological systems. Review of passive and actively driven viscoelastic systems and momentum transport underlying the material properties of biology. The course involves a literature survey and a team project application.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Ehrlicher, Allen (Fall)
Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor.
1. (3-2-4)
-
BIEN 590 Cell Culture Engineering (3 credits)
Overview
BIEN : Basic principles of cell culture engineering, cell line development and cell culture products途 genomics, proteomics and post-translational modifications途 elements of cell physiology for medium design and bioprocessing途 bioreactor design, scale-up for animal cell culture and single use equipment途 challenges in downstream processing of cell-culture derived products途 process intensification: fed-batch, feeding strategies and continuous manufacturing途 scale-down and process modeling途 Process Analytical technologies and Quality by Design (QbD) concept.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: Jardon, Mario (Fall) Jardon, Mario; Kamen, Amine (Winter)
(3-0-6)
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
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BIEN 680 Bioprocessing of Vaccines (4 credits)
Overview
BIEN : Building on recent developments and expansion in the mammalian cell culture for production of complex biologics such as viral vaccines and viral vectors, the following topics will be covered: Principles of immunology and industrial virology; Cell physiology for vaccine production; Cell lines for vaccine production; Upstream process development and process intensification strategies; Purification and downstream processing of viral vaccines; Analytical and potency assays; Formulations and delivery of vaccines; Basics of clinical trials and regulatory principles; Immunization policies. Case studies on bioprocessing/manufacturing licensed vaccines.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Jardon, Mario (Winter)
Prerequisite: Permission of Instructor.
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BMDE 501 Selected Topics in Biomedical Engineering (3 credits)
Overview
Biomedical Engineering : An overview of how techniques from engineering and the physical sciences are applied to the study of selected physiological systems and biological signals. Using specific biological examples, systems will be studied using: signal or finite-element analysis, system and identification, modelling and simulation, computer control of experiments and data acquisition.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Bzdok, Danilo (Fall)
(3-0-6)
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BMDE 502 BME Modelling and Identification (3 credits)
Overview
Biomedical Engineering : Methodologies in systems or distributed multidimensional processes. System themes include parametric vs. non-parametric system representations; linear/non-linear; noise, transients and time variation; mapping from continuous to discrete models; and relevant identification approaches in continuous and discrete time formulations.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
-
BMDE 503 Biomedical Instrumentation (3 credits)
Overview
Biomedical Engineering : The principles and practice of making biological measurements in the laboratory, including theory of linear systems, data sampling, computer interfaces and electronic circuit design.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Wagner, Ross (Fall)
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BMDE 504 Biomaterials and Bioperformance (3 credits)
Overview
Biomedical Engineering : Biological and synthetic biomaterials, medical devices, and the issues related to their bioperformance. The physicochemical characteristics of biomaterials in relation to their biocompatibility and sterilization.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Tabrizian, Maryam (Winter)
(3-0-6)
Restriction: Graduate and final-year undergraduate students from physical, biological and medical science, and engineering
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BMDE 505 Cell and Tissue Engineering (3 credits)
Overview
Biomedical Engineering : Application of the principles of engineering, physical, and biological sciences to modify and create cells and tissues for therapeutic applications will be discussed, as well as the industrial perspective and related ethical issues.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Prakash, Satya (Winter)
(3-0-6)
1.5 hours lecture/1.5 hours seminar per week
Restriction: graduate and final year undergraduate students from physical, biological, and medical science, and engineering.
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BMDE 508 Introduction to Micro and Nano-Bioengineering (3 credits)
Overview
Biomedical Engineering : The micro and nanotechnologies that drive and support the miniaturization and parallelization of techniques for life sciences research, including different inventions, designs and engineering approaches that lead to new tools and methods for the life sciences - while transforming them - and help advance our knowledge of life.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Juncker, David (Fall)
(3-0-6)
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor
This course is intended for graduate and advanced undergraduate students having a biological/medical background or an engineering, physical sciences background. Engineering students enrolled in the Minor in Biomedical Engineering, or Honours in Electrical Engineering and Honours in Mechanical Engineering, should be particularly interested.
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BMDE 512 Finite-Element Modelling in Biomedical Engineering (3 credits)
Overview
Biomedical Engineering : General principles of quantitative modelling; types of models; principles of the finite-element method, primarily as applied to mechanical systems; introduction to the use of finite-element software; model generation from imaging data; modelling various material types, mainly biological; model validation.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Funnell, Robert (Fall)
(3-0-6)
Prerequisite: Differential equations (MATH 271 or equivalent) or permission of instructor
-
BMDE 519 Biomedical Signals and Systems (3 credits)
Overview
Biomedical Engineering : An introduction to the theoretical framework, experimental techniques and analysis procedures available for the quantitative analysis of physiological systems and signals. Lectures plus laboratory work using the Biomedical Engineering computer system. Topics include: amplitude and frequency structure of signals, filtering, sampling, correlation functions, time and frequency-domain descriptions of systems.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Kearney, Robert E (Fall)
(3-0-6)
Prerequisites: Satisfactory standing in U3 Honours Physiology; or U3 Major in Physics-Physiology; or U3 Major Physiology-Mathematics; or permission of instructor
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BMDE 525D1 Design of Assistive Technologies: Principles and Praxis (3 credits)
Overview
Biomedical Engineering : This is an interdisciplinary, project-based course, centred around a design project in which small teams of students work closely with a person with a disability in the Montreal area to design a device, piece of equipment, app, or other solution that reduces their experience of disability.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Students must also register for BMDE 525D2
No credit will be given for this course unless both BMDE 525D1 and BMDE 525D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken BMDE 625D1/D2. Not open to students in Physical and Occupational Therapy.
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BMDE 525D2 Design of Assistive Technologies: Principles and Praxis (3 credits)
Overview
Biomedical Engineering : See BMDE 525D1 for description.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Prerequisite: BMDE 525D1
No credit will be given for this course unless both BMDE 525D1 and BMDE 525D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
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BMDE 610 Functional Neuroimaging Fusion (3 credits)
Overview
Biomedical Engineering : Biomedical engineering: Multimodal data fusion of electrophysiology and functional neuroimaging data, including: detailed description of source localization methods for Electro- and MagnetoEncephaloGraphy data, analysis of brain hemodynamic activity through simultaneous recordings with electrophysiology, analysis and reconstruction of Near Infra-Red Spectroscopy data, modeling of the neurovascular coupling,validation methodology.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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BMDE 650 Advanced Medical Imaging (3 credits)
Overview
Biomedical Engineering : Review of advanced techniques in medical imaging including: fast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional MRI, MR angiography and quantitative flow measurement, spiral and dynamic x-ray computed tomography, 2D/3D positron emission tomography (PET), basic PET physiology, tracer kinetics, surgical planning and guidance, functional and anatomical brain mapping, 2D and 3D ultrasound imaging, and medical image processing.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Collins, Louis (Winter)
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BMDE 654 Biomedical Regulatory Affairs - Medical Devices (3 credits)
Overview
Biomedical Engineering : Regulatory strategies and quality management systems are critical for medical device development. This course provides an overview of regulatory requirements, and familiarize students with the important ISO and IEC standards pertaining to medical device development. This course will provide biomedical engineers with an understanding of the regulatory and quality requirements to translate a medical device idea into a commercial product, and will draw upon the expertise of invited speakers currently working in the medical devices industry.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: Kroo, Danny (Fall) Kroo, Danny (Winter)
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BMDE 660 Advanced MR Imaging and
Spectroscopy of the Brain (3 credits)
Overview
Biomedical Engineering : Advanced magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy techniques to investigate the structure, connectivity, chemistry and physiology of the brain, including data acquisition and reconstruction techniques, scanner hardware, and contrast mechanisms. Focus on neuroscience applications.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Tardif, Christine; Rudko, David (Winter)
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MDPH 607 Medical Imaging (3 credits)
Overview
Medical Physics : This course is concerned with the principles of medical imaging as applied to conventional diagnostic radiography, X-ray computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The course emphasizes a linear system approach to the formation, processing, and display of medical images.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Levesque, Ives (Fall)
Restriction: Open only to students registered in Medical Physics or Biological & Biomedical Engineering programs; permission of instructor for other students.
5-6 credits at the 500-level or higher to complete the 12 credits of Complementary Courses (at least 3 credits of which have both life sciences content and content from the physical sciences, engineering, or computer science), with the prior written approval of the Thesis Supervisor and the Graduate Program Director.
