This book describes at the introductory level how modern technology has made the scenario of the classic science-fiction movie Fantastic Voyage a reality. The movie is about a submarine and its crew members being shrunk to microscopic size and ventured into the body. Exactly 50 years following the release of the film, such reality takes the form of a medical interventional room capable of mimicking this scenario. Based on 15 years of intensive research and development by the world-leading team in this specific field, the book goes through the scenes of the movie while explaining how it is implemented in this first-of-a-kind interventional facility. This is the first book that explains the fundamentals of navigation of therapeutic agents in the vascular network. The scope of the book is twofold: (1) to initiate readers into various technologies, including, but not limited to, nanotechnology, robotics, and biochemistry (more importantly, it shows how critical the integration of all these disciplines is to solving problems that indeed require a multidisciplinary environment); (2) to inspire the younger generation by showing that science and technology can bring one everywhere with the power to transform fiction to reality that can help humankind.

The product of 20 years of research, this book covers topics in soft tissue elasticity in vivo, from measurement techniques to clinical applications. It provides, for the first time, a single source that systematically introduces the various techniques for in vivo measurement of soft tissue elasticity in an effort to ease the difficulty between learning technical details and clinical applications of techniques. Measurement of Soft Tissue Elasticity in Vivo: Techniques and Applications presents an overview of the existing measurement methods, their physical principles, assumptions, advantages, and disadvantages. Clinical applications discussed include assessment of tissue fibrosis after radiotherapy, articular cartilage degeneration, muscle contraction, cancer staging, liver fibrosis progression, diabetic foot ulceration, cornea stiffening, and wound healing. Techniques covered include shear wave propagation methods, vibro-ultrasound methods, dynamic holography, ultrasound and other indentation methods, and OCT-based and other suction measurement methods. The book also proposes two critical directions for future research in the field. One is to standardize the terms, parameters, and test protocols used in different fields. The second proposal is to standardize one technique to dominate the field, while devices can be adapted to fit the measuring requirements of different tissues. In doing so, the results obtained for the same tissue by different clinicians can be comparable and a standardized protocol can be established. This book bridges the gap between the complexity of measuring techniques and simplicity and accuracy of their clinical use. Its comprehensiveness and clarity help new engineers in the field develop analytical methods and allow clinicians to use these techniques in their practice with greater confidence.

The Physiological Measurement Handbook presents an extensive range of topics that encompass the subject of measurement in all departments of medicine. The handbook describes the use of instruments and techniques for practical measurements required in medicine. It covers sensors, techniques, hardware, and software as well as information on processing systems, automatic data acquisition, reduction and analysis, and their incorporation for diagnosis. Suitable for both instrumentation designers and users, the handbook enables biomedical engineers, scientists, researchers, students, health care personnel, and those in the medical device industry to explore the different methods available for measuring a particular physiological variable. It helps readers select the most suitable method by comparing alternative methods and their advantages and disadvantages. In addition, the book provides equations for readers focused on discovering applications and solving diagnostic problems arising in medical fields not necessarily in their specialty. It also includes specialized information needed by readers who want to learn advanced applications of the subject, evaluative opinions, and possible areas for future study.

These proceedings from the 2009 NSTI Nanotech conference provide the most prestigious forum in the world for leading nano scientists. The papers from the conference have been compiled into three volumes to create the most authoritative and comprehensive compendium available across all of nanotechnology. Including the latest information on industrial development, investments, and ventures, each volume explores cutting-edge research and applications. Volume II covers various aspects of cancer treatment, biomarkers, nanoparticles, drug delivery systems, nanobiotechnology, nanomedicine, nanoneurology, sensors, and soft nanotechnology.

Brachytherapy has become the modality of choice for several cancer localizations, minimizing the possibility of unacceptable risks for healthy tissues and providing a more cost-effective and convenient treatment for patients. Written by leading experts in the physics, development, and implementation of brachytherapy, The Physics of Modern Brachytherapy for Oncology discusses the subject in detail, covering its definition, the basic physics of radiation interaction with matter, radionuclides, sources and source production, calibration and dosimetry protocols as well as experimental dosimetry methods appropriate for practical use. Logically organized, the book begins with basic information, including quantities and units, followed by fundamental atomic and nuclear physics. It also provides the historical background of brachytherapy physics. The next several chapters discuss the radionuclides used in brachytherapy, reflecting upon past (radium), present (iridium or cobalt), and future (ytterbium) methods. The book proceeds to examine source calibration and dosimetry protocols for dose rate calculation while the final chapters explore more recent processes, including Monte Carlo-aided, experimental, and gel dosimetry. The appendices provide useful tables of isotopes, unit conversions and physical constants, brachytherapy sources, TG-43 and TG-43 U1 data tables, and dose rate tables. Detailing the physics behind brachytherapy treatment, The Physics of Modern Brachytherapy for Oncology is essential reading for researchers, practicing radiation oncologists, and medical physicists who want to keep abreast of the developments in this changing field as well as for postgraduate students in medicalphysics.

Deconditioning is an integrated physiological response of the body to a reduction in metabolic rate, that is, to a reduction in energy use or in exercise level. Deconditioning and Reconditioning presents selected background information on the many aspects of ground-based and in-flight physiological research and applications.
This multi-author volume emphasizes human research programs on prolonged bed rest, immersion and confinement studies simulating conditions of space flight, as well as data from humans in space. Consolidating this research, chapters cover the psycho-sociological aspects of confinement deconditioning, the effects of deconditioning and reconditioning on aerobic power, thermoregulation during deconditioning, and practical applications.

Ultrasonic Exposimetry presents the fundamentals of ultrasonics and discusses the theoretical background of acoustic wave generation and reception. Measurements, instrumentation, and interpretation of measured data (including error analysis) are examined in detail. Ultrasound transducers, including transducers used in diagnostic imaging and therapeutic applications, are described. This section also presents a detailed description of transducers used in the recently introduced extracorporeal lithotripsy procedure. Other topics examined in the book include current trends in labeling and characterizing acoustic devices (including present regulatory requirements and future implications), the operation of state-of-the-art miniature PVDF ultrasonic hydrophones and fiber optic hydrophones, recent advances in transducer calibration and calorimeter and radiation force measurements, and the intricacies of statistical error analysis. Ultrasonic Exposimetry presents a wealth of invaluable information for students, instructors, researchers, biomedical engineers, and sonographers.

While there are many excellent texts focused on clinical medical imaging, there are few books that approach in vivo imaging technologies from the perspective of a scientist or physician-scientist using, or interested in using, these techniques in research. It is for these individuals that Essentials of In Vivo Biomedical Imaging is written. Featuring contributions from leading experts in the field, this authoritative reference text helps answer the following often-asked questions: Can imaging address my question? Which technique should I use? How does it work? What information does it provide? What are its strengths and limitations? What applications is it best suited for? How can I analyze the data? By explaining what each imaging technology can measure, describing major methods and approaches, and giving examples demonstrating the rich repertoire of modern biomedical imaging to address a wide range of morphological, functional, metabolic, and molecular parameters in a safe and noninvasive manner, Essentials of In Vivo Biomedical Imaging helps scientists and physician-scientists choose and utilize the appropriate in vivo imaging technologies and methods for their research.

Radiosensitizers and Radiochemotherapy in the Treatment of Cancer catalogs and describes the mechanism of action for entities characterized as radiosensitizers. Developments in the biological and physical sciences have introduced new radiosensitizers and defined novel targets for radiosensitization. As a result, a book about radiosensitization must now address a huge range of topics, covering everything from molecular oxygen and high Z elements to monoclonal antibodies and complex phytochemicals. At the molecular level, the understanding of the molecular consequences of DNA damage and the DNA damage response have informed the development of targeted radiosensitizers and shed light on the mode of action of radiochemotherapy protocols of known clinical efficacy. In this book the mechanisms of action at the molecular and cellular level are described for documented radiosensitizers including, where applicable, a brief history of their clinical use and most recent clinical results. In addition, the clinical context is addressed including the importance of factors such as dose and dose rate, normal tissue toxicity, and drug delivery. Intuitively organized by topic and application, the book includes extensive illustrations, end-of-chapter summaries, and a wealth of references.

This publication establishes a detailed set of protocols concerning the application of radiation for medical purposes within the speciality of mammography. The publication addresses the requirements of a quality assurance programme which will allow an organization to optimize the conditions necessary to achieve the early detection of breast cancer and assure its successful treatment. To that end, the publication contains details of actions needed to install and promote the quality culture, systematic programme of conduct and appropriate education that are critical for success. Instructional material to supplement the knowledge of professionals already working in this field is also provided, as well as quality control worksheets.