Spring 2019

• The research problems considered can be easily extended to thesis topics.
• The tools considered have general utility and can be extended for use in other research problems
• The research problem-centered setting is similar to what the graduate student will be doing in his thesis. Therefore, the techniques used to address the research problems can also prepare the student before starting the thesis work.

The learning process will be as follows:

• Instructor explains the research problem and breaks it into its basic engineering problem components
• Instructor shows students example ways to solve each of these engineering problems with practical demonstrations
• Instructor shows students how to assess the resultant solution of the problem on both simulated and real data sets to verify the performance
• Instructor assigns each student to study a slightly modified version of the method considered and report on it in the form of a paper.
•  Student can use the instructor as a resource to ask for help when facing difficulties getting started
• Instructor encourages and awards independence of thinking and problem solving approach

Class Textbooks / Resources

Peter R. Hoskins, Kevin Martin, Abigail Thrush, Diagnostic Ultrasound: Physics and Equipment, 2^nd ed., Cambridge University Press, 2010. (ISBN: 978-0521757102)

Christos P. Loizou, Constantinos S. Pattichis, Despeckle Filtering for Ultrasound Imaging and Video, Volume I: Algorithms and Software, Second Edition, Morgan & Claypool, 2015. (ISBN: 978-1627056687)

Image Despeckle Filtering Toolbox (link)

Topic-specific handouts will be given for each research problem. DOWNLOAD

All research problems will be investigated using a scientific programming language preferably Matlab or Octave (open source program similar to Matlab)

Experimental Resources
(Instructor's Lab at CEIES)

Digison Digital Ultrasound Research System
- Research interface to control acquisition
- Ability to collect RF or stick data
- Two probes: linear and convex

Multi-Tissue Ultrasound Phantom: CIRS Model 040GSE

Course Topics

1. Essential ultrasound imaging physics and instrumentation
2. Hands-on familiarity with ulrasound imaging system and scanning
3. Signal processing of raw RF ultrasound signals
4. Ultrasound image reconstruction
5. Image quality metrics
6. Ultrasound speckle reduction

Supplementary Resources

• Types of Information Sources

• Research Documentation using Lab Notebooks  Src1   Src2

• Academic Journal Paper Search sites (Recommended - Accessible from KAU):

  • Google Scholar

  • IEEE Xplore

  • ScienceDirect (Elsevier)

  • Wiley Interscience

  • Springer      Springer Link

• Microsoft OneNote (Nice tool for lab notebook documentation of research)

• Template for conference papers: EMBC 2015    Sample Paper

• Paper Writing Guide

Matlab Resources

• Matlab Tutorial #1 Notes

• Matlab Tutorial #2 Notes

• Matlab Primer (Official Mathworks Material)

• Matlab Introduction (University of Dundee)

Grading Policy