Physics

Medical Physics

Medical Physics is a specialized branch of applied physics that focuses on the application of physics principles and techniques in medicine and healthcare. It plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of various medical conditions, emphasizing patient safety, technological innovation, and precision in healthcare delivery.

Core Areas of Medical Physics:

Medical Physics encompasses several subfields, each addressing specific medical applications:

1. Radiation Therapy Physics: Involves the use of ionizing radiation, such as X-rays, gamma rays, and particle beams, to treat cancer and other diseases. Medical physicists in this area ensure the accurate delivery of radiation to target tissues while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissues.

2. Diagnostic Imaging Physics: Focuses on optimizing imaging modalities like X-ray, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, and nuclear medicine. This subfield ensures image quality and patient safety, particularly by managing radiation doses.

3. Nuclear Medicine Physics: Concerned with the use of radioactive isotopes in diagnosis and therapy, such as positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). It ensures accurate imaging and the safe handling of radioactive materials.

4. Health Physics: Also known as radiation protection, this subfield is devoted to safeguarding patients, medical staff, and the public from potential risks associated with exposure to radiation in medical settings.

5. Biomedical Engineering and Technology Development: Involves designing and maintaining medical devices and systems, such as linear accelerators, imaging systems, and radiation detectors.