Physics in Medicine
Cocker and Walton Prizes 2012
Physics in Medicine
By Fayaz Rahaman
➢ Introduction
Physics is about understanding the laws that govern the world around us. Most people know about the problems solved and the discoveries made by physicists in the past, such as the orbits of planets found by Galileo, the law of gravity first unravelled by Newton and later extended by Einstein. It is not as widely known how diverse the subjects investigated by physicists are now, and how much their discoveries change our everyday life. Modern hospitals are among the best showcases of the remarkable and often unexpected ways in which Physics is used.
For more then a century, Physics has been the key to new treatments and more and more accurate diagnostics. X rays, ultrasounds, optical fibres, ion and neutron beams are all examples of how breakthroughs in Physics become practical tools used in medicine. Physics enables clinicians to cure diseases such as cancer and kidney stones by destroying unhealthy tissues by delivering energy in the most appropriate form and in the most precise way exactly where it is needed.
➢ The Medical Physicist
Medical physics is the use of physics principles in medical diagnosis and treatment. Many medical physicists are heavily involved with responsibilities in these areas, often with specific patients. They are responsible for selecting and specifying the types of equipment that are used in radiation therapy. They also play a vital role on the medical research and development team in key areas such as cancer, heart disease, and mental illness. A Medical Physicist at work
The medical physicist is called upon to contribute clinical and scientific advice and resources to solve the numerous and diverse physical problems that arise continually in many
Physics in Medicine
By Fayaz Rahaman
➢ Introduction
Physics is about understanding the laws that govern the world around us. Most people know about the problems solved and the discoveries made by physicists in the past, such as the orbits of planets found by Galileo, the law of gravity first unravelled by Newton and later extended by Einstein. It is not as widely known how diverse the subjects investigated by physicists are now, and how much their discoveries change our everyday life. Modern hospitals are among the best showcases of the remarkable and often unexpected ways in which Physics is used.
For more then a century, Physics has been the key to new treatments and more and more accurate diagnostics. X rays, ultrasounds, optical fibres, ion and neutron beams are all examples of how breakthroughs in Physics become practical tools used in medicine. Physics enables clinicians to cure diseases such as cancer and kidney stones by destroying unhealthy tissues by delivering energy in the most appropriate form and in the most precise way exactly where it is needed.
➢ The Medical Physicist
Medical physics is the use of physics principles in medical diagnosis and treatment. Many medical physicists are heavily involved with responsibilities in these areas, often with specific patients. They are responsible for selecting and specifying the types of equipment that are used in radiation therapy. They also play a vital role on the medical research and development team in key areas such as cancer, heart disease, and mental illness. A Medical Physicist at work
The medical physicist is called upon to contribute clinical and scientific advice and resources to solve the numerous and diverse physical problems that arise continually in many