Teaching Resource List

The list below (and associated comments) has been compiled from information provided by A-Level Physics teachers and members of this Department and their professional colleagues. We hope to update it regularly and would be pleased to receive your comments on the usefulness of the listed items, plus any corrections and suggestions for additional items. Please send all contributions to Alan Cottenden by email.

Medical Physics Textbooks

• E. G. A. Aird: An Introduction to Medical Physics. (Heineman, 1985).

• J. L. Ball and A. D. Moore: Essential Physics for Radiographers (2nd ed.) (Blackwell Scientific).

• Brown and Smallwood: Medical Physics and Physiological Measurement (Blackwell, 1981).

• J. R. Cameron and J.G.Skofronick: Medical Physics (Wiley International). Recommended for useful in-depth information, images and diagrams.

• J. S. Carruth and A. L. McKenzie: Medical Lasers (Adam Hilger Ltd).

• J. E. Coggle and G. R. Noakes: Biological Effects of Radiation (Wykeham).

• Alan H. Cromer: Physics for the Life Sciences (McGrew Hill Book Co., 1977).

• T. S. Curry, J. E. Dowdey, and R. C. Murry: Christensen's Physics of Diagnostic Radiology (Lea & Febiger, 4th edition 1990). Beautifully clear, non-mathematical description of all the principal medical imaging methods.

• Damask: Medical Physics. Vol I Physiological Physics, External Probes (Academic Press).

• Damask: Medical Physics. Vol II External Senses (Academic Press).

• Damask and Swenberg: Medical Physics. Vol III Synapse, Neuron, Brain (Academic Press).

• D. Gifford: Handbook of Physics for Radiologists and Radiographers (Wiley).

• G. Hart and F. Armas: Medical Physics for Advanced Level (Simon & Schuster, 1992). An up to date book at the right level for A level students. It has an appropriately pitched section on MRI.

• Hay and Hughes: First Year Physics for Radiographers (Bailliere & Tindall, 1983). Gives extra detail on the topics covered, and though it is too detailed for students' requirements, it is useful as a reference book. The work on x-rays is clear and straightforward.

• D. W. Hill: Physics Applied to Anaesthesia (Butterworths).

• M. Hollins: Medical Physics (Macmillan 16-19 Project, 1992). A good students book. Clear and readable and liked by students. The layout is good with photographs and diagrams to illustrate topics. It also has plenty of questions and full, explanatory answers - rather than just numbers - in the back of the book.

• Johns and Cunningham: The Physics of Radiology. The most comprehensive text on this subject. Very expensive but says everything.

• G. E. Knoll: Radiation Detection and Measurement. A more thorough treatment of radioactivity. This may be too detailed but does not assume too much prior knowledge.

• W. B. Mann, R. L. Ayres, and S. B. Garfinkel: Radioactivity and its Measurement. Useful for its treatment of interaction of a, ß and g radiation with matter and detection instrumentation.

• A. Martin and S. A. Harbison: An Introduction to Radiation Protection (Chapman & Hall, 1986). Covers all aspects of Radiation Protection including atomic fundamentals, radiobiology, principles of protection, legislation.

• Meredith and Massey: Fundamental Physics of Radiology (J.Wright & Sons Ltd).

• Nuffield Chelsea Curriculum Trust: Radioactivity (Pupil's book) (Longmans, 1981).

• R. P. Parker, P. H. Smith, and D. M. Taylor: Basic Science of Nuclear Medicine. Covers basic radiation physics and biology, measurement and instrumentation, chemistry, radiopharmacy. A good introduction to physics in nuclear medicine.

• R. L. Page: The Physics of Human Movement (Wheaton).

• J. A. Pope: Medical Physics (Heinemann, 1999). ISBN 0-435-57094-3. Part of Heinemann's range of books for their Advanced Science series. 188 pages long and aimed at the Edexcel syllabus, although it meets the medical imaging requirements of other examination boards. There are five chapters, covering ultrasound, diagnostic x-rays, radioisotopes in diagnosis, magnetic resonance imaging, radiotherapy, and radiological protection. Drafts of these chapters were given to members of this Department to check through and make sure that the information was up-to-date. The book is clear and well set out. To find out more about this book, please visit the Heinemann website.

• Martin E. Rosenberg: Studies in Biology No 145 Sound and Hearing (Edward Arnold, 1982).

• D. Sumner: Radiation Risks - An Evaluation (Tarragon Press).

• M. K. Sykes, M. D. Vickers, and J. Hull: Principles of Clinical Measurement (Blackwell).

• S. Webb: The Physics of Medical Imaging. Covers every imaging modality in considerable detail. Perhaps too mathematical in places.

• P. N. T. Wells (Ed.): Scientific Basis of Medical Imaging (Churchill Livingstone).

• R. Wilkes: Principles of Radiological Physics (Churchill Livingstone, 1987). A more comprehensive treatment of the subject with many mathematical derivations but nevertheless approachable.

• J. Wilson and J. F. B. Hawkes: Lasers, Principles & Applications (Prentice Hall).

Books on specific Medical Physics applications

• J. O. Rowan: Physics and the Circulation

• R. L. Kathren: Radiation Protection (1985). Includes Natural Radiation, properties of ionising radiation, units, dosimetry, biological effects, legislation, instrumentation, design and operation factors. A very useful book which is descriptive rather than mathematical.

• A. F. McKinlay: Thermoluminescence Dosimetry (1981).

• P. W. Horton: Radionuclide Techniques in Clinical Investigation (1982).

• J. R. Greening"Fundamentals of Radiation Dosimetry (1985). This series may be too specialised for an introduction to the subject.

Other Resources

• Medical Physics: A Career. A leaflet available free from: The General Secretary, The Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine, Fairmount House, 230 Tadcaster Road, York, YO24 1ES. Phone: 01904-610821. Fax: 01904-612279. Email: office@ipem.org.uk).

• SATIS 16-19 Unit 24 X-rays and patients. SATIS (Science and Technology in Society) is a project based series which is particularly suitable for the UCLES syllabus. Good self-study exercise and investigation with relevance to students experience. Available from Association for Science Education, College Lane, Hatfield, Herts, AL10 9AA. Tel 01707 267411. You will need to buy Units 1-25 as a single pack (ISBN 0863571239) in order to get the Unit 24 required. Total cost: £15.

• National Geographic magazine. Special Issue on Medical Physics, January 1987, Vol 171, No 1.

Websites

• The NHS careers site (www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/careers/scientists/physical.html) provides information on all the major career options, including Medical Physicist, Clinical Engineer and Medical Technician (select <Healthcare Science> and then <Physical Sciences>.

• The National Radiological Protection Board site (www.nrpb.org) contains a lot of useful background information on most aspects of radiation and safety/healthcare. In addition, the NRPB supplies a schools information pack, sets of slides and videos - see the education page of the web site (www.nrpb.org/publications/educational/index.htm). They also sell some leaflets useful for A-level teaching - see the At a Glance page (www.nrpb.org/publications/educational/at_a_glance/index.htm).

• The Basics of MRI. by Dr Joseph P Hornak of Rochester Institute of Technology in the USA. This is a multimedia educational package which provides a guide to the basic principles of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). It requires a frames-compatible browser. Access is free, although a site license for this software package may be purchased for use on your own computer. This will eliminate network download delays associated with accessing the software.

• The Pupil Researcher Initiative created by Sheffield Hallam University (www.shu.ac.uk/pri/) includes a variety of brief items (e.g. X-ray imaging (www.shu.ac.uk/pri/scripts/resources/uploaded/xrays.htm) and gamma cameras (www.shu.ac.uk/pri/scripts/resources/uploaded/gamma.htm)) and more substantial pieces (eg the optics of sight (www.shu.ac.uk/pri/scripts/resources/uploaded/rainbowx.pdf); and radiation safety (www.shu.ac.uk/pri/scripts/resources/uploaded/radiatnx.pdf) related to Medical Physics.

• The University of Colorado at Boulder web site Physics 2000 (www.colorado.edu/physics/2000/index.pl) has a good explanation of CT (CAT) scanning and a useful section on X-ray production.

• Another explanation of CT, designed for patients, is available at www.impactscan.org/patientguide.htm.

• A more advanced treatment of CT scanning can be found at: www.slaney.org/pct/pct-toc.html.

• An excellent description of MRI can be found at: www.cis.rit.edu/htbooks/mri/chap-1/chap-1.htm.

• A useful explanation of the physics of Laser Doppler blood flow monitoring can be found at www.moor.co.uk.

• The website at www.cochlear.com explains how cochlear implants for the deaf work and also has useful graphics (some animated) explaining how hearing works.

• The material at www.cid.ch/Default.html was compiled primarily for radiologists but there are some useful medical images (x-ray, MRI, ultrasound, etc.) with explanatory notes which could be used to illustrate the capabilities of the various imaging modalities.

Video, Slides, and Computer Discs

1. Click here to review the video and OHP resources available from this Department.

2. Video: "Medical Imaging" (IEEE Educational Videos)

Run time: 1 hour 14 mins

This American video explains the physics and the clinical applications of x-ray imaging (particularly mammography), CT scanning, nuclear medicine, magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound imaging. The content of the video is very good but the presentation is largely in the form of long monologues (from either the physicist responsible for making the video or the radiologists who explain the uses to which they put the various medical imaging modalities). There are brief clips of the equipment in action, although most footage is devoted to head and shoulders shots of the experts as they speak.There is an excellent demonstration of the power of the magnet used for MRI which involves releasing metal objects in its vicinity and measuring the force on them, the speed with which they enter the magnet and, most graphically, the mess said objects make of a porcelain object juxtaposed between them and the magnet core! Overall, thus this video is likely to appeal to only the most highly motivated students, or to teachers researching the subject for lesson preparation. We have a copy and would be glad to answer any questions you might have.

Cost: $110.00 (IEEE Members), $132 (non-members) + Air mail (~$25)

PAL Product Code: HV0483-8 ISBN: 0-7803-2180-4

NTSC Product Code: HV0251-9 ISBN: 0-7803-0325-3

Available from: IEEE Service Center, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, 445 Hoes Lane, PO Box 1331, Piscataway, NJ 08855-1331, USA. Phone: 001 908 981 0060. Fax: 001 908 981 9667

Payment in dollars is required, which is most readily done using a credit card.

3. Video: "The Vision of Modern Medicine" (Viewtech)

Run time: About 20-25 minutes

This American video surveys the various medical imaging modalities starting with the discovery of x-rays by Roentgen. It uses a mix of drawings, photos, graphics, and video clips (mostly with voice-over commentary) along with case studies and explanations given to camera by a variety of radiologists. X-ray imaging, CT scanning, Ultrasound (imaging and Doppler), Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Gamma cameras, and Endoscopes all receive a mention. Specialist x-ray techniques covered include: mammography, barium meals, arteriograms and arthrograms, and fluoroscopy. The radiologists discuss the strengths and limitations of the various modalities. The video gives (sometimes very brief) views of the equipment used for all these techniques and is particularly strong on showing (with the help of a series of case studies) how they are used for diagnosing medical problems.

Cost: £32.95 (including postage and packing) + VAT

Available from: Viewtech Film & Video, 7-8 Falcons Gate, Northavon Business Centre, Dean Road, Yate, Bristol BS37 5NH. Tel: 01454 858055 (http://www.viewtech.co.uk/General/About%20Us.htm).

4. Video: Whatever became of X-rays?

Run time: 37 minutes

This programme explains and illustrates advances in body imaging. It is in 4 parts: PART 1 looks at the current practice in X-rays, computer tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasound. PART 2 explores the way that images are stored on a computer and looks at some of the problems of creating 3-D images from 2-D data sets. PART 3 illustrates ways in which current research is tackling these problems. PART 4 demonstrates two virtual reality computer programmes designed to teach surgical techniques. Both the programmes shown in PART 4 are available on a web site for students to try themselves.

Cost: £10

Order code: SXRAY001 Available from Leeds University Media Services, Univesity of Leeds, LS2 9JT. Tel: 0113 2332660. (http://mediant.leeds.ac.uk/vtcatalogue/)

5. Slides: Medical Radiation Slide Set 3 (NRPB)

This set of 20 slides outlines the production and use of x-rays in diagnosis, the protection of staff and patients, and the use of radioactive materials in diagnosis and radiotherapy. It summarises the use of magnetic resonance imaging. Radiation doses received during various x-ray examinations are compared with radiation doses from nature. A short written description is provided for each slide. The slide sets are based on publications in the NRPB At-a-Glance series of broadsheets. We have a set and would be glad to answer any questions you might have.

Cost: £25.00 + VAT.

Available from: National Radiological Protection Board, Chilton, Didcot, Oxon OX11 0RQ, UK. Phone: 01235-831600. Fax: 01235-833891. (http://www.nrpb.org/publications/educational/index.htm).

6. Doctor Schueler's Medical Adviser

This CD appears to be aimed at aspiring doctors and inquisitive patients, but there is quite a lot of information relevant to the A-level Medical Physics syllabuses (plus a good deal more of interest to students of human biology). It contains seven main databases (symptoms; diseases; injuries; poisons; drugs; medical tests; health & diet) supported by libraries of clinical photos, medical images, video clips and anatomical diagrams. There are 180 medical images, including 25 MRI scans; 2 ultrasound scans; 10 gamma camera pictures. The rest are x-rays images, including 12 CT scans. The x-ray images cover most parts of the anatomy and there are one or two "interesting" pictures of, for example, gunshot wounds and a thumb whose owner had an accident with a staple gun! Each image comes with brief explanatory notes (usually two or three sentences). Few of the 65 video clips are of direct relevance to the Medical Physics syllabuses but there are clips showing an MRI scan, Doppler ultrasound, foetal ultrasound imaging, and abdominal ultrasound imaging being performed. Video clips typically last about 40 seconds and come with a voice-over commentary. Note, that the video screen is only 40 x 50mm. The clinical photos include one of an ultrasound imaging machine, 4 of a CT scanner, 1 of an ECG being performed, 3 of an EEG being performed, and 4 of an EMG being performed. There are also brief notes on MRI, ultrasound, x-ray and gamma camera imaging.

Cost: Version 1 of the CD is available for £10. Version 2 is £69. Both prices include postage, packing and VAT.
Various other related products are described on the website. Available from: Health Perfect Limited, EBC House, Town End Lane, London NW9 8LL. Phone: 020-8345-6664 (http://www.healthperfect.co.uk/Index/offers.htm)