RTU Course "Particles for medical physics"
25200 Biomedicīnas inženierzinātņu un nanotehnoloģiju institūts
General data
Code	MEE908	
Course title	Particles for medical physics	
Course status in the programme	Compulsory/Courses of Limited Choice	
Course level	Doctoral Studies	
Course type	Academic	
Field of study	Physics 	
Responsible instructor	Jurijs Dehtjars	
Volume of the course: parts and credits points	1 part, 4.0 Credit Points, 6.0 ECTS credits	
Language of instruction	LV, EN, RU	
Possibility of distance learning	Planned	
Abstract	Goals of particles to be in use for radiation therapy; Methods of radiation therapy: external beam therapy, brachytherapy, radiosurgery. Basics of radiation physics for radiotherapy: radiation interaction with matter, biological effects. Radiotherapy equipment: radiation sources, X-ray machines, isotopes, accelerators. Dosimetry for radiotherapy. Treatment planning. Quality assurance and radiation protection in radiotherapy.	
Goals and objectives of the course in terms of competences and skills	To give the opportunity for students to acquire fundamental knowledge of applications of particles for modern radiation therapy technologies that use both ionizing and non-ionizing radiation.  	
Structure and tasks of independent studies	Independent work will be directed to the practical tasks. The student will study modern literature sources, finding out the state of science and technology to assess the laboratory workplace in radiation therapy physics. Based on the results of literature analysis, the student will work on: calculations, etc. The aim: 1) to achieve skills in evaluations of ionizing radiation properties; 2) to prepare students for the development of research projects. 	
Recommended literature	F. M. Khan. Physics of radiation therapy Lippincott Williams and Wilkins , 2014
Hartmut Zabel. Medical Physics Set, 2017, De Gruyrer	
Course prerequisites	Physics, Math	
Courses acquired before	BKO125 Physics AND DAM103 Mathematics	

Course contents
Content	Full- and part-time intramural studies	Part time extramural studies	
 	Contact Hours	Indep. work	Contact Hours	Indep. work	
Historical introduction. Basics of radiation therapy physics and its relation to other subjects.	2	2	0	0	
Radiation quantities, detection and measurement. Radiation conditions and treatment doses.	2	2	0	0	
Molecular structure of biological tissues, atoms and nuclei. Biological effects of radiation. Main radiation therapies	4	6	0	0	
Radiation exposure to the substance. Radiation particle runoff and dose distribution in the material.	6	10	0	0	
Radiation sources. Reactors. Accelerators. Radiation and radionuclide production. Radiation energy, spectra.	6	8	0	0	
Verification and provision of ionization radiation beam parameters.	10	15	0	0	
Quality assurance and management. Phantoms. Dosimetry.	10	15	0	0	
Radiation therapy equipment	10	15	0	0	
Radiation therapy technologies	5	10	0	0	
Ionization therapy planning. Direct and inverse planning. Use of computers for planning and procedure management.	2	2	0	0	
Fractional therapy. Patient positioning.	2	2	0	0	
Errors in radiation therapy.	2	6	0	0	
Radiation protection and safety	2	2	0	0	
Ethics to use particles for therapy 	1	1	0	0	
Total:	64	96	0	0	

Learning outcomes and assessment
Learning outcomes	Assessment methods	
The student is able to use the acquired knowledge and skills to do the research in radiation therapy technologies and equipment. 	The acquired knowledge, abilities and skills will be tested in practical work and in an exam.	
The student is able to use appropriate methods and equipment for research of particle . The student's readiness for independent work to achieve the goals of the qualification work will be assessed.	The acquired knowledge, abilities and skills will be tested in practical work and in an exam.	

Evaluation criteria of study results
Criterion	%	
Exam 	50	
Test	50	
Total:	100	

Course planning
Part	Semester	CP	ECTS	Hours per Week	Tests	
 	Autumn	Spring	Summer	 	 	Lectures	Practical	Lab.	Test	Exam	Work	
1.	*	 	 	4.0	6.0	2.0	2.0	0.0	 	*