University of Kentucky - The Graduate School - Center for Biomedical Engineering

Courses

Below are short descriptions of the courses offered in the Center for Biomedical Engineering.

BME 481G Topics in Biomedical Engineering (3 credits): (Subtitle required) Detailed investigation of a topic of current significance in biomedical engineering such as: biomaterials, hard or soft tissue biomechanics, rehabilitation engineering, cardiopulmonary systems analysis, biomedical imaging. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
BME 501 Foundations of Biomedical Engineering (3 credits): This course demonstrates the application of diverse engineering principles to analysis and understanding of the structure, function, and control of biological systems. Quantitative measurements and analysis of homeostatic, regulatory, transport, biochemical and biomechanical processes of human body. Prerequisite: 1 semester of undergraduate biology or chemistry.
BME 530 Biomedical Instrumentation (3 credits): Transducers, amplifiers for physiological measurements, biopotential measurements, and selected topics in biomedical instrumentation. Some of the topics include pressure, flow, ultrasonic and nuclear instrumentation and scanning and imaging devices. Lecture, two hours; laboratory, three hours per week. Prereq: EE 305 or equivalent.
BME 579/EE 579 Neural Engineering (3 credits): A multidisciplinary approach combining engineering principles for systems analysis and control, knowledge of biological control mechanisms, and computational properties of biological neural networks in the development of engineering neural networks for control applications. Topics include: equivalent circuit models for biological neurons and networks, non-linear differential equation representations, biological control strategies for rhythmic movements, design and development of controller for robot function, proposal development and presentation.
BME 605 Biomedical Signal Processing I (3 credits): Continuous and discrete signals, sampling, Fourier transform, LaPlace transform, Z-transform, correlation and spectral analysis, digital filters. Prerequisite: EE 305 or equivalent.
BME 610 Biomedical Control Systems I (3 credits): Homeostatic mechanisms, input-output analysis, steady state and transient response, feedback concepts, system identification and simulation from actual operating data. Prereq: PGY 502 and ME440 or equivalent.
BME 615 Biomedical Signal Processing II (3 credits): Stochastic processes, Fourier-based spectral analysis and linear system identification, modern spectral estimation (AR, MA, ARMA), parametric transfer function estimation, time-frequency analysis of nonstationary signals. Prerequisites: BME 605, BME 610, EE 640 recommended.
BME 620 Biomedical Control Systems II (3 credits): Biomedical systems models, dynamic programming, variational approach to optimal control problems, real-time parameter estimation, adaptive control methods and biomedical applications. Prerequisites: BME 605,
BME 610.
BME 625 Analysis of Nonlinear Biomedical Systems (3 credits): Basic concepts of nonlinear systems: iterated maps, dynamical flows, bifurcations, chaos. Modelling and analysis of nonlinear systems: Wiener kernels, white-noise identification, polyspectra, nonlinear time-series models. Extensive discussion of selected biomedical applications. Prerequisites: BME 610 required, BME 615 or EE 640 recommended.
BME 630 Magnetic Resonance in Biomedicine (3 credits): Introductory course on the fundamental principles of magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy, and its uses in biomedical engineering. Topics include: quantum mechanical and classical descriptions of nuclear magnetic resonance, relaxation theory, signal generation, the Bloch equation and solutions, signal processing and encoding. Imaging and spectroscopy applications will be introduced. Several practical demonstrations will be given. Strong engineering/physics and mathematics background is necessary. Prerequisite: Undergraduate degree in engineering or physics.
BME 635 Magnetic Resonance Instrumentation and Measurement (3 credits): Laboratory course on the fundamentals of magnetic resonance, instrumentation, measurement, and its biomedical applications. Begins with the nuclear induction experiment and ends with design and implementation of experiments to address engineering and physics problems that relate to the medical field. Instrumentation hardware and software will be taught. Strong engineering/ physics and mathematics background is necessary. Prerequisite: BME 630 or permission of instructor.
BME 641 Practices of Biomedical Engineering (3 credits): Survey of the regulatory, legal, managerial, financial and medical environment in which the biomedical engineering profession is practiced. This course attempts to provide the interface between the theoretical course material taught in the BME curriculum and the realities of the diverse multidisciplinary world that is unique to the biomedical engineer. Outside guest speakers, in class lectures, and case history analyses will be used. Group term project is mandatory. Prerequisite: Engineering baccalaureates receive preference.
BME 661 Biomaterials Science and Engineering (3 credits): Study of biological and man-made materials that perform, improve, or restore natural functions. Structure and properties of connective tissue and commonly implanted metals, ceramics, and polymers; biocompatibility of materials used in orthopedic, soft tissue, and cardiovascular applications. Prerequisite: Undergraduate engineering degree or consent of instructor.
BME 662 Tissue-Implant Interface (3 credits): Study of the interface between implants and host tissues from both the materials and biological prospective. Structure of the tissue-implant interface; surface characterization of biomaterials; protein adsorption; mechanisms of cell responses; the methods for controlling the tissue-implant interface, with emphasis on orthopedic and cardiovascular applications. Prerequisite: BME 661.
BME 670 Biosolid Mechanics (3 credits): Application of laws of mechanics to study the behavior of human organ systems. Stress-strain analysis of soft and hard body tissues and emphasis on pulmonary and musculoskeletal systems. Viscoelastic properties. Prerequisites: PGY 502, EM 302 or consent of instructor.
BME 672 Musculoskeletal Biomechanics (3 credits): Application of laws of mechanics to study behavior of human musculoskeletal system. Materials science of bone, muscle, tendon are integrated into static and dynamic analyses of isolated (e.g., foot, arm, and hand) and whole body segment motions. Prerequisites: PGY 502, ME 330 or consent of instructor.
BME 680 Advanced Topics in Biomechanics (3 credits): Flow limitation in compliant tubes. Impedance concepts in lung airways and vessels. Fluid mechanics of lung micro-circulation. Morphological analysis of bifurcating networks. Fractal analysis of blood flow. Stress wave in tissue. Structural analysis of body organs. Applications to the lungs, cardiovascular and skeletal systems. Prerequisites: BME 670 and BME 672 or consent of instructor.
BME 682 Advanced Topics in Orthopaedic Biomechanics (3 credits): Seminars in orthopaedic biomechanics research exploring current clinical problems and engineering solutions. Prerequisites: BME 670 and BME 672.
BME 685 Biofluid Mechanics (3 credits): Review of the rheology of circulatory processes in the body. Special emphasis on cardiovascular dynamics: pulsatile pressure and flow, vascular impedance, wave propagation/reflection, cardiac dynamics. Special topics. Lecture, three hours with periodic lab demonstrations. Prerequisites: PGY 502 or equivalent, BME 672, or consent of instructor.
BME 690 Research in Biomedical Engineering (0-3 credits): Individual study related to a special research project. Intended for M.S. candidates who want a research project independent of their M.S. thesis work. This course cannot be used to satisfy residency credit requirements. May be repeated to a maximum of six credits. Prerequisites: Consent of instructor and graduate standing in BME.
BME 699 Special Topics in Biomedical Engineering (0-3 credits): Special topics in biomedical engineering addressed primarily in a lecture/discussion format. Presentation of focussed or specialized topics that are not available in standard courses. May be repeated to a maximum of nine credits. Prerequisites: Consent of instructor and graduate standing in BME.
BME 748 Master's Thesis Research (0-9 credits): Half-time to full-time work on thesis. May be repeated to a maximum of six semesters. Prereq: All course work toward the degree must be completed.
BME 749 Dissertation Research (0 credits): Half-time to full-time work on dissertation. May be repeated to a maximum of six semesters. Prereq: Registration for two full-time semesters of 769 residence credit following the successful completion of the qualifying exams.
BME 772 Seminar (0 credits): Review of current literature in the field of biomedical engineering, general discussion and presentation of papers on research in biomedical engineering. Lecture, one hour per week. Required for all graduate students in biomedical engineering.
BME 774 Graduate BME Seminar (0-1 credits): Scientists and engineers present current research in biomedical engineering. Students are required to prepare for and deliver a seminar on their own research.
BME 781 Special Problems in Biomedical Engineering (0-3 credits): Discussion of advanced and current topics in biomedical engineering. Individual work on research problems of current interest. May be repeated to a maximum of nine credits. Lecture/laboratory hours, variable. Prereq: Approval of instructor.