This paper presents the framework for a one-semester course to give physicians a better understanding of the core concepts of technology assessment, using medical instrumentation technology as a vehicle to stimulate the discussion of technology assessment and its applications. An assessment matrix has been developed as an organizational tool to identify issues in assessment to be addressed under each topic and to identify those issues that are of key importance to particular technologies. At the end of the class, the physician-student should be able to identify major types of medical instrumentation and the instrument's principal application(s), to identify the techniques of technology assessment, and to analyze the economic, ethical, and legal issues that are applicable to instrumentation.