Unit 21 medical physics a and b- Applied science

uses of radiofrequency waves and strong magnets - Correct Answers produce detailed images of soft tissues in the body what is magnetic resonance imaging? - Correct Answers use of electromagnetic energy to produce an image of soft tissues in any plane of the body What body parts is MRI used on? - Correct Answers brain and spine, joints, blood vessels, heart conditions, abnormal body water conditions Benefits of MRI - Correct Answers non-contact, non-invasive, painless main types of medical lasers - Correct Answers carbon dioxide, argon, yttrium aluminium garnet (YAG), pulsed dye uses of medical lasers - Correct Answers eye surgery, removal of kidney stones, removal of tumours benefits of medical lasers - Correct Answers can focus on a small area and damage less tissue surrounding the area to be treated; less pain, swelling and scarring than using traditional surgery How do lasers work? - Correct Answers • Light of specific wavelength passes through a gain medium, which amplifies light with higher energy by stimulated emission. • Reflectors send the light backwards and forwards in the gain medium until it has gained enough energy. • High-energy amplified light emitted as a narrow beam or is spread out, depending on application, through a laser oscillator What does infrared thermography (IRT) do? - Correct Answers produces thermal images (thermograms) that show areas of abnormal body temperature, 'hot spots' on the skin that result from higher blood flow due to tumours Uses of IRT - Correct Answers in screening programmes, cardiovascular/circulatory disorders, respiratory problems, dentistry Benefits of IRT - Correct Answers fast, passive, non-contact and non-invasive, maps body surface temperature remotely. Instrumentation of ultrasound - Correct Answers earthed case, coaxial cable, absorber, crystal and plastic cover, monitor screen. How does an ultrasound work? - Correct Answers • Pulses of ultrasound transmitted from the probe in the transducer into the body and reflected back. • The density characteristics of the different structures inside the body are displayed as an image types of ultrasounds - Correct Answers o external ultrasound scan, e.g. screening of fetus o internal ultrasound scan - produces images of organs in more detail o endoscopic ultrasound - long, thin flexible tube (endoscope) inserted into the body through mouth to examine stomach, gullet or lymph nodes in chest Ultrasound treatment uses - Correct Answers kidney stones, benign and malignant tumours ultrasound diagnosis uses - Correct Answers narrowing of blood vessels, strokes and heart attacks; echocardiogram to measure blood flow rates