Course coordinator
Miss Chrystal Douflias
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Mathematics & Physics School
Principal hazards of MRI environment and its effects on the human body and equipment. Physiological monitoring strategies examined from the origin of signals to integration with the imaging system. Considerations in planning for MR installations are reviewed.
Patient Monitoring and MR Safety deals with two broad areas within magnetic resonance technology. Firstly, the techniques used to monitor patients remotely while undergoing an MR examination are discussed. The relevant physiology and technology of the major monitoring modalities are described and the considerations unique to the MR environment are dealt with.
Secondly, hazards due to the nature of MR imaging are reviewed and the rationate for various safety limitations on imaging parameters are examined. The student should also be equipped to deal with the various issues involved in siting and commissioning an MR imaging suite by the completion of these modules.
Course requirements
Assumed background
Undergraduate qualification in radiography, biomedical engineering or medical physics (or international equivalent).
Restrictions
Enrolment restricted to Master of Magnetic Resonance program suite students.
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Miss Chrystal Douflias
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Tutorials are held atﾠ Centre for Advanced Imaging, Building 57, Level 2 Seminar Room.ﾠ
All tutorials are recorded and posted onto Blackboard.ﾠ
Internal tutorial structure External tutorial structure In-person. Tutorial recordings posted on Blackboard
Aims and outcomes
The course aims to give students in-depth understanding of the hardware components of MRI systems. We will focus on the superconducting magnet, gradient and radio frequency coils, and shim coils, and consider their function, how they are designed, and where relevant, discuss how these are fabricated and put together to form a functioning system. We outline the limitations of each component and how they may influence data acquisition and ultimately image quality. We finish by describing the key considerations to be made for the safe operation of MRI systems.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
B0, B1 and gradient effects.
LO2.
Be familiar with various contrast media associated with MRI.
LO3.
Make informed judgements on magnet siting and safety, as well as screening and emergency procedures.
LO4.
Understand the fundamentals of patient monitoring, including electrocardiography in MR environments, oximetry and blood pressure monitoring, respiratory and motion sensing.
LO5.
Understand triggering and gating techniques.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quiz | Online Quizzes | 10% |
4/04/2025 2:00 pm 16/05/2025 2:00 pm |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Assignment One | 20% |
4/04/2025 2:00 pm
Due Friday of Week 6 |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Journal Article Analysis | 20% |
16/05/2025 2:00 pm
Due Fri week 11 |
| Examination | Final examination | 40% |
End of Semester Exam Period 7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025 |
Assessment details
Online Quizzes
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Quiz
- Weight
- 10%
- Due date
4/04/2025 2:00 pm
16/05/2025 2:00 pm
Task description
10 Questions (total 10 marks)
Instructions
Quiz questions are True/False, Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer or Short Answer, and are worth marks according to difficulty.
Duration: The quiz duration is 10 minutes (from the start of the quiz).
The quizzes open 7 days prior to the due date. This test can’t be saved. Once the quiz is started, it must to be completed within 10 minutes. The quiz will be submitted automatically once the time expires.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
See ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION for extension/deferral information relating to this assessment item.
Late submission
You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.
Quiz is open for 1 week therefore late submission attracts a 100% penalty
Assignment One
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
4/04/2025 2:00 pm
Due Friday of Week 6
Task description
Assignment one is a report.
Your paper should aim to be 2000 words (strictly limited to 1800 - 2200 words)
Use the APA referencing style.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
See ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION for extension/deferral information relating to this assessment item.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
You are required to submit assessable items on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item then the listed penalty will be deducted per day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point any submission will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each 24-hour block is recorded from the time the submission is due.
Journal Article Analysis
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
16/05/2025 2:00 pm
Due Fri week 11
Task description
Assignment one is a report.
Your paper should aim to be 2000 words (strictly limited to 1800 - 2200 words)
Referencing
Variation in referencing styles exist in journals relevant to MRI science; therefore, we do not specify a particular style but prefer the use of either the Vancouver or Harvard referencing style. Both styles are attached. Click on the link to get access to ﾠUQ referencing style guides
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
See ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION for extension/deferral information relating to this assessment item.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
You are required to submit assessable items on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item then the listed penalty will be deducted per day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point any submission will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each 24-hour block is recorded from the time the submission is due.
Final examination
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025
Task description
The final exam will be an in-person, paper-based exam. UQ Examinations will contact students directly to confirm arrangements, the student will either sit the exam at the St Lucia campus (lives within 200km radius of the campus) or will be directed to nominate an exam centre by a certain date.
Please ensure you update your semester address in Si-net at the start of the semester.
One reminder will be sent and students who fail to nominate an exam centre and will be automatically assigned to the St Lucia campus. Late nominations will not be accepted.
A list of examination centres is listed here, but note that Exam centre availability is subject to change at short notice.
Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 90 minutes |
| Calculator options | Any calculator permitted |
| Open/closed book | Closed Book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
See ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION for extension/deferral information relating to this assessment item.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 1% Demonstrates very limited knowledge of patient and operator safety in a clinical MRI environment. Demonstrates very little understanding of the physiological monitoring required to ensure patient well-being and the techniques used in a modern MR system, the use of the signals used to augment imaging or the principles underlying the siting of MRI systems and likely interactions with surrounding services and personnel. This includes attempts at addressing some issues, but demonstrates limited understanding of the key concepts. |
| 2 (Fail) |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 20% Demonstrates limited knowledge of patient and operator safety in a clinical MRI environment Demonstrates little understanding of the physiological monitoring required to ensure patient well-being and the techniques used in a modern MR system, and demonstrates little knowledge of the use of the signals used to augment imaging or the principles underlying the siting of MRI systems and likely interactions with surrounding services and personnel. This includes attempts at expressing their deductions and explanations and attempts to address a few of the issues accurately. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: 45% Demonstrates some knowledge of patient and operator safety in a clinical MRI environment. Demonstrates some understanding of the physiological monitoring required to ensure patient well-being and of the techniques used in a modern MR system, and demonstrates some knowledge of the use of the signals used to augment imaging or the principles underlying the siting of MRI systems and likely interactions with surrounding services and personnel. |
| 4 (Pass) |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 50% Demonstrates adeuqate knowledge of patient and operator safety in a clinical MRI environment. Demonstrates an understanding of the physiological monitoring required to ensure patient well-being and the techniques used in a modern MR system, and demonstrates knowledge of the use of the signals used to augment imaging or the principles underlying the siting of MRI systems and likely interactions with surrounding services and personnel. |
| 5 (Credit) |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 65% Demonstrates substantial knowledge of patient and operator safety in a clinical MRI environment. Demonstrates a good understanding of the physiological monitoring required to ensure patient well-being and of the techniques used in a modern MR system, and the use of the signals used to augment imaging and can apply these principles in the recommended siting of MRI systems and likely interactions with surrounding services and personnel. |
| 6 (Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 75% Demonstrates a comprehensive knowledge of patient and operator safety in a clinical MRI environment. Demonstrates a thorough understanding of the physiological monitoring required to ensure patient well-being and of the techniques used in a modern MR system, and the use of the signals used to augment imaging and is proficient in applying these principles in the recommended siting of MRI systems and likely interactions with surrounding services and personnel. |
| 7 (High Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 85% Demonstrates an excellent knowledge of patient and operator safety in a clinical MRI environment. Demonstrates a thorough understanding of the physiological monitoring required to ensure patient well-being and of the techniques used in a modern MR system, and the use of the signals used to augment imaging and is highly proficient in applying these principles in the recommended siting of MRI systems and likely interactions with surrounding services and personnel. |
Additional course grading information
In order to pass this course, students must receive at least 45% of the available marks for the final examination and achieve aﾠpassﾠgrade (4) or better overall.ﾠ
ﾠ
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Should you fail a course with a grade of 3, you may be eligible for supplementary assessment. Refer to my.UQ for information on supplementary assessment and how to apply.
Supplementary assessment provides an additional opportunity to demonstrate you have achieved all the required learning outcomes for a course.
If you apply and are granted supplementary assessment, the type of supplementary assessment set will consider which learning outcome(s) have not been met.
Supplementary assessment in this course will be a 2-hour examination similar in style to the end-of-semester examination. To receive a passing grade of 3S4, you must obtain a mark of 50% or more on the supplementary assessment.
Additional assessment information
Submission of Assignments
Submission of assignments by EMAIL will NOT BE ACCEPTED.
All written assignments eg. essays, reports, proposals, literature reviews etc must be submitted through Turnitin. Students will be given the opportunity to submit a draft prior to the final submission
Turnitin submission
- Access the Assessment folder on the course Blackboard site
- Upload an electronic version through the assessment Turnitin site
- You will be sent a receipt, retain the receipt as proof of submission.
- If you don't receive a receipt then your assignment has not been submitted - please re-submit.
ﾠ
Artificial Intelligence
The assessment tasks in this course evaluate students’ abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Applications for Extensions to Assessment Due Dates
Extension requests are submitted online via my.UQ – applying for an extension. Extension requests received in any other way will not be approved. Additional details associated with extension requests, including acceptable and unacceptable reasons, may be found at my.UQ.
Please note:
- Requests for an extension to an assessment due date must be submitted through your my.UQ portal and you must provide documentation of your circumstances, as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed. Your application must be submitted on or before the assessment item's due date and time.
- Applications for extension can take time to be processed so you should continue to work on your assessment item while awaiting a decision. We recommend that you submit any completed work by the due date, and this will be marked if your application is not approved. Should your application be approved, then you will be able to resubmit by the agreed revised due date.
- If an extension is approved, you will be notified via your my.UQ portal and the new date and time for submission provided. It is important that you check the revised date as it may differ from the date that you requested.
- If the basis of the application is a medical condition, applications should be accompanied by a medical certificate dated prior to the assignment due date. If you are unable to provide documentation to support your application by the due date and time you must still submit your application on time and attach a written statement (Word document) outlining why you cannot provide the documentation. You must then upload the documentation to the portal within 24 hours.
- If an extension is being sought on the basis of exceptional circumstances, it must be accompanied by supporting documentation (eg. Statutory declaration).
- For extensions based on a SAP you may be granted a maximum of 7 days (if no earlier maximum timeframe applies). See the Extension or Deferral availability section of each assessment for details. Your SAP is all that is required as documentation to support your application. However, additional extension requests for the assessment item will require the submission of additional supporting documentation e.g., a medical certificate. All extension requests must be received by the assessment due date and time.
- An extension for an assessment item due within the teaching period in which the course is offered, must not exceed four weeks in total. If you are incapacitated for a period exceeding four weeks of the teaching period, you are advised to apply for Removal of Course.
- If you have been ill or unable to attend class for more than 14 days, you are advised to carefully consider whether you are capable of successfully completing your courses this semester. You might be eligible to withdraw without academic penalty - seek advice from the Faculty that administers your program.
- Students may be asked to submit evidence of work completed to date. Lack of adequate progress on your assessment item may result in an extension being denied.
- There are no provisions for exemption from an assessment item within UQ rules. If you are unable to submit an assessment piece then, under special circumstances, you may be granted an exemption, but may be required to submit alternative assessment to ensure all learning outcomes are met.
Applications to defer an exam
In certain circumstances you can apply to take a deferred examination for in-semester and end-of-semester exams. You'll need to demonstrate through supporting documentation how unavoidable circumstances prevented you from sitting your exam. If you can’t, you can apply for a one-off discretionary deferred exam.
Deferred Exam requests are submitted online via mySi-net. Requests received in any other way will not be approved. Additional details associated with deferred examinations, including acceptable and unacceptable reasons may be found at my.UQ.
Please note:
- Applications can be submitted no later than 5 calendar days after the date of the original exam.
- There are no provisions to defer a deferred exam. You need to be available to sit your deferred examination.
- Your deferred examination request(s) must have a status of "submitted" in mySI-net to be assessed.
- All applications for deferred in-semester examinations are assessed by the relevant school. Applications for deferred end-of-semester examinations are assessed by the Academic Services Division.
- You’ll receive an email to your student email account when the status of your application is updated.
- If you have a medical condition, mental health condition or disability and require alternative arrangements for your deferred exam you’ll need to complete the online alternative exam arrangements through my.UQ. This is in addition to your deferred examinations request. You need to submit this request on the same day as your request for a deferred exam or
supplementary assessment. Contact Student Services if you need assistance completing your alternative exam arrangements request.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
Students are enrolled in this course in both internal and external modes. All students have access toﾠ
- lecture notes
- assignments
- tutorials
- Blackboard
Students will learn from Blackboard content including quizzes and assessment. Self-directed learning is encouraged with input from the course coordinator.ﾠ
Referencing
Variation in referencing styles exist in journals relevant to MRI science; therefore, we do not specify a particular style but prefer the use of either the Vancouver or Harvard referencing style. Both styles are attached. Click on the link to get access toﾠUQ referencing style guides
To help with referencing, students can use the citation manager,ﾠEndNote. To download this, follow theﾠinstructionsﾠ
To reference material presented by a lecturer or tutor
Cite the lecturer's name, title for the item, then the course, year and URL; for example,ﾠ
C. Douflias. Tutorial Session 4 Module 2 and 3 Part B, MRES7003 Semester 1, University of Queensland 2025. Available from [add the URL]. Hint: To add the URL simply highlight the full URL in the website field and then cut and paste.ﾠ
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (06 Jan - 12 Jan) |
Tutorial |
Module 1 Study Module 1: Bioeffects of Static Magnetic Fields |
Week 2 (13 Jan - 19 Jan) |
Tutorial |
Modules 2 Study Module 2: Radio Frequency Effects and Hazards |
Week 3 (20 Jan - 26 Jan) |
Tutorial |
Modules 3 Study Module 3: Gradient effect |
Week 4 (27 Jan - 02 Feb) |
Tutorial |
Modules 4 Study Module 4: Magnet Siting and Planning and screening patients. |
Week 5 (03 Feb - 09 Feb) |
Tutorial |
Modules 5 Study Module 5: MR Medical Screening Understand MR safety screening |
Multiple weeks From Week 6 To Week 7 |
Tutorial |
Modules 6 & 7 Study Module 6 & 7: MRI Labelling Terminology and MRI Issues for Implants and Devices Understand variations between active and passive implants |
Week 8 (24 Feb - 02 Mar) |
Tutorial |
Modules 8 Study Module 8: Physiological Monitoring Understand physiological essentials and design |
Week 9 (03 Mar - 09 Mar) |
Tutorial |
Module 9 Module 9: Practical session - Magnet Siting and Planning. |
Week 10 (10 Mar - 16 Mar) |
Tutorial |
Module 10 Module 10: Emergency Procedure. Understand medical emergency procedures, emergency shut down, quench and cryogen safety as well as managing patients with emotional distress |
Week 11 (17 Mar - 23 Mar) |
Tutorial |
Module 11 Module 11: Gadolinium-Based MRI Contrast Agents Understand GBCA structure and safety |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.