P1:
Non-ionising radiation:
Non-ionizing radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation that does not have the energy
to ionize atoms or molecules, (the removal of an electron from an atom or molecule). Non-
ionising radiation takes up the right side of the electromagnetic spectrum (radio waves,
microwaves, infrared and visible light). These all have lower frequency, higher wavelength,
and low energy. Non ionising technologies are safer to use as they do not penetrate deep
into the skin tissues.
THE MRI
1. What is the physics behind the MRI?
2. How does it create an image?
3. What part of the body can it image?
4. How is the MRI used in a hospital?
What is it used for?
What does it look like?
The procedure of how it is used.
Who can’t it be used on?
Health and safety.
Anything else.
Ultrasound
1. What is the physics behind the Ultrasound?
2. How does it create an image?
3. What part of the body can it image?
4. How is the Ultrasound used in a hospital?
What is it used for?
What does it look like?
The procedure of how it is used.
Who can’t it be used on?
Health and safety.
Anything else.
Laser
1. What is the physics behind the laser?
1
, 2. How does it create an image?
3. What part of the body can it image?
4. How is the laser used in a hospital?
What is it used for?
What does it look like?
The procedure of how it is used.
Who can’t it be used on?
Health and safety.
Anything else.
B:
The X-Ray
1. What is the physics behind the X-ray?
2. How does it create an image?
3. What part of the body can it image?
4. How is the X-ray used in a hospital?
What is it used for?
What does it look like?
The procedure of how it is used.
Who can’t it be used on?
Health and safety.
Anything else.
Gamma Camera
1. What is the physics behind the gamma camera?
2. How does it create an image?
3. What part of the body can it image?
4. How is the gamma camera used in a hospital?
What is it used for?
What does it look like?
The procedure of how it is used.
Who can’t it be used on?
2
, Health and safety.
Anything else.
CT Scan
1. What is the physics behind the CT scan?
2. How does it create an image?
3. What part of the body can it image?
4. How is the CT scan used in a hospital?
What is it used for?
What does it look like?
The procedure of how it is used.
Who can’t it be used on?
Health and safety.
Anything else.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI):
MRI is a medical imaging technique used in radiology to produce images of the anatomy
and physiological activities of the body. Strong magnetic fields, magnetic field gradients,
and radio waves are used in MRI scanners to make detailed pictures of the inside of the
body.
Principles:
Protons can be in specific areas of the body by the process used in MRI called nuclear
magnetic resonance (NMR); this produces a very clear image of tissues. This process can also
reveal the type of tissue that the protons are in because certain tissues have their own
signal caused by the re-alignment of protons at different speeds. Energy produced by the
protons is a radiofrequency and the signal detected will remain for a few short seconds and
can give important information about the type of body tissue. An MRI uses a large,
permanent superconducting electromagnet to pass radio waves through the body. Protons
in the body react to the energy and create highly detailed pictures of the body's structures,
including soft tissues, nerves, and blood vessels. Unlike X-rays and CT scans, MRIs do
not use any radiation.
Production:
When a patient is undergoing an MRI scan a large magnetic field is created around the
patient from the machine. This magnet causes the hydrogen nuclei in the body to align. A
short input pulse of electromagnetic waves of a certain frequency given to different parts of
the body disturb the hydrogen nuclei causing them to break from the alignment when the
wave gives them extra energy at the right frequency. Individually the hydrogen nuclei return
to their alignment when the input radiofrequency wave is turned off; they then give out the
3
Non-ionising radiation:
Non-ionizing radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation that does not have the energy
to ionize atoms or molecules, (the removal of an electron from an atom or molecule). Non-
ionising radiation takes up the right side of the electromagnetic spectrum (radio waves,
microwaves, infrared and visible light). These all have lower frequency, higher wavelength,
and low energy. Non ionising technologies are safer to use as they do not penetrate deep
into the skin tissues.
THE MRI
1. What is the physics behind the MRI?
2. How does it create an image?
3. What part of the body can it image?
4. How is the MRI used in a hospital?
What is it used for?
What does it look like?
The procedure of how it is used.
Who can’t it be used on?
Health and safety.
Anything else.
Ultrasound
1. What is the physics behind the Ultrasound?
2. How does it create an image?
3. What part of the body can it image?
4. How is the Ultrasound used in a hospital?
What is it used for?
What does it look like?
The procedure of how it is used.
Who can’t it be used on?
Health and safety.
Anything else.
Laser
1. What is the physics behind the laser?
1
, 2. How does it create an image?
3. What part of the body can it image?
4. How is the laser used in a hospital?
What is it used for?
What does it look like?
The procedure of how it is used.
Who can’t it be used on?
Health and safety.
Anything else.
B:
The X-Ray
1. What is the physics behind the X-ray?
2. How does it create an image?
3. What part of the body can it image?
4. How is the X-ray used in a hospital?
What is it used for?
What does it look like?
The procedure of how it is used.
Who can’t it be used on?
Health and safety.
Anything else.
Gamma Camera
1. What is the physics behind the gamma camera?
2. How does it create an image?
3. What part of the body can it image?
4. How is the gamma camera used in a hospital?
What is it used for?
What does it look like?
The procedure of how it is used.
Who can’t it be used on?
2
, Health and safety.
Anything else.
CT Scan
1. What is the physics behind the CT scan?
2. How does it create an image?
3. What part of the body can it image?
4. How is the CT scan used in a hospital?
What is it used for?
What does it look like?
The procedure of how it is used.
Who can’t it be used on?
Health and safety.
Anything else.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI):
MRI is a medical imaging technique used in radiology to produce images of the anatomy
and physiological activities of the body. Strong magnetic fields, magnetic field gradients,
and radio waves are used in MRI scanners to make detailed pictures of the inside of the
body.
Principles:
Protons can be in specific areas of the body by the process used in MRI called nuclear
magnetic resonance (NMR); this produces a very clear image of tissues. This process can also
reveal the type of tissue that the protons are in because certain tissues have their own
signal caused by the re-alignment of protons at different speeds. Energy produced by the
protons is a radiofrequency and the signal detected will remain for a few short seconds and
can give important information about the type of body tissue. An MRI uses a large,
permanent superconducting electromagnet to pass radio waves through the body. Protons
in the body react to the energy and create highly detailed pictures of the body's structures,
including soft tissues, nerves, and blood vessels. Unlike X-rays and CT scans, MRIs do
not use any radiation.
Production:
When a patient is undergoing an MRI scan a large magnetic field is created around the
patient from the machine. This magnet causes the hydrogen nuclei in the body to align. A
short input pulse of electromagnetic waves of a certain frequency given to different parts of
the body disturb the hydrogen nuclei causing them to break from the alignment when the
wave gives them extra energy at the right frequency. Individually the hydrogen nuclei return
to their alignment when the input radiofrequency wave is turned off; they then give out the
3
