Optics in Medicine

Dr. Kleinsasser, 5 ECTS

• Biological Systems
• Trunk System
• Nervous System
• Respiration
• Circulation
• Heart
• Digestion
• Neuroscience
• Functional cardiology
• Advanced endoscopy
• Advanced neuroimaging

Students learn to

• describe relevant structures of the human anatomy and basic physiological processes
• understand features of biological systems when applying optical technologies to them
• describe exemplarily applications of optical technologies in medicine

Dr. Klämpfl, 5 ECTS

• Repetition of important topics of optics
• Scattering of light
• Basics of laser tissue interaction
• Diagnostics applications of Light and lasers
• Therapeutics applications of light and lasers
• Theoretical and practical exercises

Prof. Dr. Maier, 5 ECTS

(also offered in winter term)

• Medical imaging helps physicians to take a view inside the human body and therefore allows better treatment and earlier diagnosis of serious diseases. However, as straightforward as the idea itself is, so diversified are the technical difficulties to overcome when implementing a clinically useful imaging device. We begin this module by discussing all available modalities and the actual imaging goals which highly affect the imaging result.
• Some modalities produce very noisy results, but there are multiple other artifacts that show up in raw acquisition data and have to be dealt with. We address these issues in the chapter preprocessing and show how to compensate for image distortions, how to interpolate defect pixels, and finally correct bias fields in magnetic resonance images.
• The largest portion of this course covers the theory of medical image reconstruction. Here, from a set of projections from different viewing angles a 3-D image is merged that allows a definite localization of anatomical and pathological features. Following roughly the historical development of CT devices, we study the process from parallel beam to fan beam geometry and include a discussion of phantoms as a tool for calibration and image quality assessment. We then move forward and learn about reconstruction in 3-D. Since the system matrix often grows in dimensions such that many direct solvers become infeasible, we also discuss pros and cons of iterative methods.
• In the final chapter, image registration is introduced as the concept of computing the mapping that maps the content of one image to another. Two different acquisitions usually result in images that are at least rotated and translated against each other. Image registration forms the set of tools that we need to match certain image features in order to align both images for further processing, image improvement or image overlays.

Prof. Dr. Maier, 5 ECTS

(also offered in winter term)

This module focuses on recent developments in image processing driven by medical applications. All algorithms are motivated by practical problems. The mathematical tools required to solve the considered image processing tasks will be introduced. In addition to the lectures, we also offer exercise classes. The exercises consist of theoretical parts where you immerse in lecture topics. But we also set emphasis on the practical implementation of the methods.

Dr. Klämpfl, 5 ECTS

• Selected topics of optics
• Light sources for medical applications and medical engineering
• Optical components and systems for medical engineering
• Interaction mechanisms of laser and biological tissue
• Photonics in diagnostics
• Photonics in therapeutics

Prof. Dr. Friedrich, PD Dr. Schürmann, 5 ECTS

• Application of optical methods in the field of cell biology and medicine

• Microscopy: Basic concepts, methods to enhance contrast, optical resolution and limits, components and setup of light microscopes, fluorescence microscopy

• Applications of fluorescence microscopy in life sciences, methods for labeling of biological structures and cellular processes´

• Epi-fluorescence, confocal and multiphoton microscopy, concepts and application examples

• Optical endoscopy and endomicroscopy in research and clinics

• Super-resolution microscopy, concepts and applications for optical Imaging beyond the diffraction Limit of Resolution

Dr. Möckl, Dr. Zieske, 5 ECTS

Light can be used to examine biological systems such as human cells, bacteria, or viruses in various ways. In this seminar, we will explore this fascinating field, such as realizations in optogenetics, model systems, and correlative approaches (Katja Zieske) as well as fluorescence, super-resolution microscopy, image analysis, and deep learning (Leonhard Möckl). Each participant will prepare a talk on one of the topics listed below (or related ones), give a talk, and discuss the topic with the other students. Key topics covered:

• Principles of fluorescence
• Labeling approaches for microscopy of biological systems
• Localization-based super-resolution microscopy
• Single-molecule and single-particle tracking
• STED
• Expansion microscopy
• Image analysis
• Deep learning-based approaches
• AFM
• Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy
• Confocal microscopy + applications
• Microfluidics
• Lipid membranes
• Optogenetic switches
• Biological patterns

Objectives: Understand the specific advantages and challenges of light-based approaches in biology; learn to read and contextualize publications; present and discuss scientific findings.