Assignment 21AB
P1-
Non-Ionising vs Ionising Radiation:
Non-Ionising Radiation: Non-ionising radiation cannot produce enough energy to remove electrons from
atoms therefore it is unable to form ions.
Ionising Radiation: Ionising radiation has enough energy to knock electrons out of their orbit and form
ions.
Non-Ionising Radiation Technologies & Medical Applications:
MRI:
The patient is first placed on the sliding platform table within the MRI scanner. Once the patient is
inside the machine, a large magnetic field is generated around them. A larger superconducting
electromagnet which allows electrical currents to flow through it generates a stable magnetic field with
high field strength through the centre. The magnet causes the hydrogen nuclei to align but are
momentarily disturbed by a burst of short input pulse radio waves produced by the radiofrequency
coils. These radio waves are at a particular frequency and is given to certain parts of the body. The
hydrogen nuclei then flip out of alignment as the radio waves give them extra energy once at the right
frequency. Once the input radiofrequency wave is turned off, the hydrogen nuclei flip back into their
alignment individually which gives out the same radiofrequency wave energy that they absorbed. A
receiver then detects the output radiofrequency and is analysed by a radiologist.
Lasers:
Pump energy (e.g. photons of light, chemicals or electricity) is placed into a glass crystal or gas. This is
referred to as a gain medium. The atoms inside the gain medium absorb the energy, causing their
electrons to move from a low state of energy to a high state of energy then back down once again
almost immediately. The energy that is absorbed by the electrons is given off as photons of light
radiation which is called emission. The space inside the laser is sealed so the photons that are emitted
continuously move at high speeds within the tube. As photons collide with other excited atoms, more
photons are produced which is known as stimulated emission. As this process takes place, the light is
amplified. A number of photons are then made to bounce back and forth within the laser tube as others
escape. This produces a bright, concentrated beam of light. At the back of the laser, there is a total
reflector, and a partial reflector at the front. Only some light is transmitted and the rest is reflected.
Infrared:
Infrared is one type of non-ionising electromagnetic radiation which has wavelengths that are longer
than visible light. Infrared is produced by warm objects like the human body as their atoms and
molecules release their energy as infrared radiation. More infrared is emitted as the object's
temperature is higher. Infrared is detected by infrared cameras and sensors. They can detect the
radiation as they convert the radiation into electrical signals to produce a thermal image. For medicinal
use, infrared cameras detect the infrared radiation emitted from the skin of the patient. Different areas
of the human body emit different amounts of radiation. The infrared cameras then detect the difference
in radiation emitted and produces thermal images illustrating the temperature patterns across the
patient's body. Areas of the body that have more blood flow or any inflammation emit more radiation as
they appear warmer, less blood flow would emit less as they appear cooler. This helps healthcare
professions to identify any abnormal temperature patterns which are indicative of inflammation,
infections, or circulatory problems. As infrared is a non-ionising type of radiation, it will not cause
damage to DNA unlike ionising radiation.
Ultrasound:
Ultrasounds emit sound waves at a frequency of above 20,000 Hz (too high for humans to hear). The
ultrasound itself is produced by using a transducer. A transducer changes electrical signals into sound
and vice versa. Within the transducer there is a piezoelectric quartz crystal which vibrates by being
, compressed and squashed when a high frequency alternating electrical field is applied to it. The
transducer produces ultrasonic waves at frequencies of 2-15 MHz. As the ultrasound waves enter the
patient’s body, the waves interact with different tissues. The waves can also be absorbed, scattered,
reflected and refracted at the tissue boundaries. Some waves are reflected as echoes as they reach
between different tissues, they then return to the transducer at different times to one another
depending on the distance between the tissue boundaries. A computer processes the echoes that
return in order to produce an image of the structures within the body. The image is then displayed on
the monitor. A gel (ultrasound gel) is then applied to the skin to take away any air gaps between the
skin and the transducer as air gaps could prevent the ultrasound waves from entering the body.
Removing any air bubbles allows the ultrasound waves to pass into the body. Ultrasounds are used for
medical diagnosis for example monitoring foetuses in the womb, organ examination (lungs, heart,
kidney etc). It also can be used for treatments such as breaking up gallstones by using high-energy
ultrasound.
P2 –
Non-Ionising Radiation Technology (Diagnosis & Treatment):
Non-ionising radiation is mainly used as it doesn’t have enough energy to knock electrons out of atoms
and can’t form ions as a result therefore, they can provide healthcare professionals with medical
information without the use of ionising radiation. They’re especially useful as different types of non-
ionising radiation are able to interact with tissues in ways that allows for the structures and changes in
the body to be detected. Ultrasounds use reflected waves (echoes) which bounce back from different
tissue boundaries so it can produce images of the structures inside the body. MRI uses radio waves and
magnetic fields to produce detailed images of different tissues. The different tissues produce different
signals. This allows for clear differences between tissue types to be seen by healthcare professionals.
Infrared thermography is able to detect
heat energy that is emitted by a person’s
body. It then converts the heat energy
into a temperature distribution image
which provides information on changes in
blood flow and helps to identify any
problems. Non-ionising radiation also is
used for treatment like ultrasounds.
Ultrasounds can be used to treat kidney
stones by making them vibrate and
break into smaller fragments using. High-
intensity ultrasounds are also able to
heat and destroy any diseased or
damaged tissue in the body. Ultrasound
therapy is used to treat ligament sprains,
muscle strains, inflammation of joints
and tendonitis by increasing blood flow,
reducing swelling, and softening scar
tissue.
Principles & Production of Non-Ionising
Radiation Flowchart:
P1-
Non-Ionising vs Ionising Radiation:
Non-Ionising Radiation: Non-ionising radiation cannot produce enough energy to remove electrons from
atoms therefore it is unable to form ions.
Ionising Radiation: Ionising radiation has enough energy to knock electrons out of their orbit and form
ions.
Non-Ionising Radiation Technologies & Medical Applications:
MRI:
The patient is first placed on the sliding platform table within the MRI scanner. Once the patient is
inside the machine, a large magnetic field is generated around them. A larger superconducting
electromagnet which allows electrical currents to flow through it generates a stable magnetic field with
high field strength through the centre. The magnet causes the hydrogen nuclei to align but are
momentarily disturbed by a burst of short input pulse radio waves produced by the radiofrequency
coils. These radio waves are at a particular frequency and is given to certain parts of the body. The
hydrogen nuclei then flip out of alignment as the radio waves give them extra energy once at the right
frequency. Once the input radiofrequency wave is turned off, the hydrogen nuclei flip back into their
alignment individually which gives out the same radiofrequency wave energy that they absorbed. A
receiver then detects the output radiofrequency and is analysed by a radiologist.
Lasers:
Pump energy (e.g. photons of light, chemicals or electricity) is placed into a glass crystal or gas. This is
referred to as a gain medium. The atoms inside the gain medium absorb the energy, causing their
electrons to move from a low state of energy to a high state of energy then back down once again
almost immediately. The energy that is absorbed by the electrons is given off as photons of light
radiation which is called emission. The space inside the laser is sealed so the photons that are emitted
continuously move at high speeds within the tube. As photons collide with other excited atoms, more
photons are produced which is known as stimulated emission. As this process takes place, the light is
amplified. A number of photons are then made to bounce back and forth within the laser tube as others
escape. This produces a bright, concentrated beam of light. At the back of the laser, there is a total
reflector, and a partial reflector at the front. Only some light is transmitted and the rest is reflected.
Infrared:
Infrared is one type of non-ionising electromagnetic radiation which has wavelengths that are longer
than visible light. Infrared is produced by warm objects like the human body as their atoms and
molecules release their energy as infrared radiation. More infrared is emitted as the object's
temperature is higher. Infrared is detected by infrared cameras and sensors. They can detect the
radiation as they convert the radiation into electrical signals to produce a thermal image. For medicinal
use, infrared cameras detect the infrared radiation emitted from the skin of the patient. Different areas
of the human body emit different amounts of radiation. The infrared cameras then detect the difference
in radiation emitted and produces thermal images illustrating the temperature patterns across the
patient's body. Areas of the body that have more blood flow or any inflammation emit more radiation as
they appear warmer, less blood flow would emit less as they appear cooler. This helps healthcare
professions to identify any abnormal temperature patterns which are indicative of inflammation,
infections, or circulatory problems. As infrared is a non-ionising type of radiation, it will not cause
damage to DNA unlike ionising radiation.
Ultrasound:
Ultrasounds emit sound waves at a frequency of above 20,000 Hz (too high for humans to hear). The
ultrasound itself is produced by using a transducer. A transducer changes electrical signals into sound
and vice versa. Within the transducer there is a piezoelectric quartz crystal which vibrates by being
, compressed and squashed when a high frequency alternating electrical field is applied to it. The
transducer produces ultrasonic waves at frequencies of 2-15 MHz. As the ultrasound waves enter the
patient’s body, the waves interact with different tissues. The waves can also be absorbed, scattered,
reflected and refracted at the tissue boundaries. Some waves are reflected as echoes as they reach
between different tissues, they then return to the transducer at different times to one another
depending on the distance between the tissue boundaries. A computer processes the echoes that
return in order to produce an image of the structures within the body. The image is then displayed on
the monitor. A gel (ultrasound gel) is then applied to the skin to take away any air gaps between the
skin and the transducer as air gaps could prevent the ultrasound waves from entering the body.
Removing any air bubbles allows the ultrasound waves to pass into the body. Ultrasounds are used for
medical diagnosis for example monitoring foetuses in the womb, organ examination (lungs, heart,
kidney etc). It also can be used for treatments such as breaking up gallstones by using high-energy
ultrasound.
P2 –
Non-Ionising Radiation Technology (Diagnosis & Treatment):
Non-ionising radiation is mainly used as it doesn’t have enough energy to knock electrons out of atoms
and can’t form ions as a result therefore, they can provide healthcare professionals with medical
information without the use of ionising radiation. They’re especially useful as different types of non-
ionising radiation are able to interact with tissues in ways that allows for the structures and changes in
the body to be detected. Ultrasounds use reflected waves (echoes) which bounce back from different
tissue boundaries so it can produce images of the structures inside the body. MRI uses radio waves and
magnetic fields to produce detailed images of different tissues. The different tissues produce different
signals. This allows for clear differences between tissue types to be seen by healthcare professionals.
Infrared thermography is able to detect
heat energy that is emitted by a person’s
body. It then converts the heat energy
into a temperature distribution image
which provides information on changes in
blood flow and helps to identify any
problems. Non-ionising radiation also is
used for treatment like ultrasounds.
Ultrasounds can be used to treat kidney
stones by making them vibrate and
break into smaller fragments using. High-
intensity ultrasounds are also able to
heat and destroy any diseased or
damaged tissue in the body. Ultrasound
therapy is used to treat ligament sprains,
muscle strains, inflammation of joints
and tendonitis by increasing blood flow,
reducing swelling, and softening scar
tissue.
Principles & Production of Non-Ionising
Radiation Flowchart:
