Medical physics

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Medical physics is a branch of applied physics concerning the application of physics to medicine. It generally concerns physics as applied to medical imaging and radiotherapy, although a medical physicist may also work in many other areas of healthcare. A medical physics department may be based in either a hospital or a university and its work is likely to include research, technical development and clinical healthcare.

1 Medical imaging
2 Treatment of disease
3 Physiological Measurement Techniques
4 Radiation Protection
5 Medical Computing and Mathematics
6 Education
- 6.1 Training to become a Medical Physicist in the United Kingdom
7 Biomedical engineering
8 See also
9 External links

[edit] Medical imaging

An MRI scan

Diagnostic radiology, including x-rays, fluoroscopy, mammography, Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, angiography and Computed tomography
Ultrasound, including intravascular ultrasound
Non-ionising radiation (Lasers, Ultraviolet etc.)
Nuclear medicine, including SPECT and positron emission tomography (PET)
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and other methods for functional neuroimaging of the brain.
- For example, nuclear magnetic resonance (often referred to as magnetic resonance imaging to avoid the common concerns about radiation), uses the phenomenon of nuclear resonance to image the human body.
Magnetoencephalography
Electrical impedance tomography
Diffuse optical imaging
Optical coherence tomography

[edit] Treatment of disease

Defibrillation
High intensity focussed ultrasound, including lithotripsy
Interventional radiology
Non-ionising radiation Lasers, Ultraviolet etc. including photodynamic therapy and LASIK
Nuclear medicine, including unsealed source radiotherapy
Photomedicine, the use of light to treat and diagnose disease
Radiotherapy
Sealed source radiotherapy
Terahertz radiation

[edit] Physiological Measurement Techniques

ECG trace

Used to monitor and measure various physiological parameters. Many physiological measurement techniques are non-invasive and can be used in conjunction with, or as an alternative to, other invasive methods.

Electrocardiography
Electromyography
Electroencephalography
Electronystagmography
Endoscopy
Medical ultrasonography
Non-ionising radiation (Lasers, Ultraviolet etc.)
Near infrared spectroscopy
Pulse oximetry
Blood gas monitor
Blood pressure measurement

[edit] Radiation Protection

[edit] Medical Computing and Mathematics

CT image reconstruction

Medical informatics
Telemedicine
Picture archiving and communication systems (PACS)
DICOM
Tomographic reconstruction, an ill-posed inverse problem
Advanced Digital Imaging Solutions Laboratory[ADISL]: [1]

[edit] Education

United States:
- CAMPEP Accredited Graduate Programs in Medical Physics:[2]
- CAMPEP non-Accredited Graduate Programs in Medical Physics:[3]
Canadian programs: [4]
Other programs around the world: [5]

[edit] Training to become a Medical Physicist in the United Kingdom

The person concerned must first gain a first or upper second-class honours degree in a physical or engineering science subject before they can start the Grade A medical physics training within the NHS. Grade A training consists of at least two years attached to an approved medical physics department in a hospital. During this time the trainee will study for an MSc in Medical Physics which is approved by the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM). The MSc will be either at Swansea, Surrey, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Aberdeen, King's or Queen Mary's. Successful completion of the Grade A training programme leads to an IPEM Diploma. The trainee can then apply for a Grade B position, which will consists of the IPEM's Programme of Advanced Training (PAT) which takes a further two years and leads to Corporate Membership of the IPEM. At this stage the physicist is eligible for Senior Grade B positions.