Phantom of the operating table

I have spent a lot of this month at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading as a Medical Physics work experience student, but sadly now the two weeks are over. I mentioned in my first August blog that I wanted to apply to a training scheme that would allow me a route into medical physics and after working full time within a hospital’s physics department, I am even more certain of that career aim.

I spent the majority of my time there working within the Radiation Protection Branch of the Medical Physics Department, under a Non-Ionising Radiation Specialist, who deals mainly with ultrasound imaging.

Probably the main role of a medical physicist is to carry out procedures called Quality Assurance tests, known simply as ‘QA’s. These QAs involve testing all different types of imaging machines to check that they are producing the correct results and, ultimately, that they are fit for clinical use. These tests are carried out on things called ‘phantoms’, which are physical objects built to simulate a specific part of the human body, so that tests can be carried out without the need to have a real patient with you.

A phantom designed to replicate blood flow

During my two weeks of work experience I performed eight QAs on ultrasound machines, including probes used for urology, obstetrics, gynaecology, cardiology and even a machine that is on its way to Ghana to be used in the diagnosis of breast cancer. These QAs involve performing a routine series of checks for different characteristics of the ultrasound probe, before writing up a report and concluding if the probe can be used or not, and if not what alterations need to be made.

 I used this phantom for a QA on an ultrasound bladder probe

The other part of the job is based in research. Whilst working within the Radiation Protection Department, I used some of my time to construct and test a new type of phantom that uses computer technology to simulate the human body, which would remove the need to have physical phantoms.

I was also asked to build my own phantom which was to be used as a training tool for inserting needles into the prostate, guided only by a real-time ultrasound image. I used layers of solidified gelatine to mimic the tissue, before placing a plastic practice golf ball in the middle to replicate the prostate. I made two of these and the next day they were used in a seminar given by the department.

My DIY phantom in action 

Despite spending most of my time with ultrasound I did get the opportunity to experience other types of medical imaging. This included working within the Nuclear Medicine Department to learn about their role within the hospital. Their main work involves injecting a patient with small quantities of a radioactive element and imaging the body, so that they can assess the function, rather than structure, of different organs.

My final expedition was off to Radiology to work with x-rays. X-rays are probably the most commonly known type of medical imaging; however there is so much more to this branch of physics than hospital dramas portray. This is because the x-ray film on TV is a thing of the past. Now the image is produced on either digital cassettes or by a computer. CT scanners also exist, which produce 3D images of patients with x-rays, as well as the growing field of radiotherapy, which uses radiation to kill cancer cells.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time visiting the different departments at the Royal Berkshire Hospital and now that two weeks of work experience are over, I can safely say medical physics is the path I want to take in the future.

James