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Medical Mavericks at Physics at Work 2018

Medical Mavericks

Come and see Medical Mavericks and learn about all the AMAZING careers associated with Physics within the NHS and have a go on some real-life medical equipment!!

Using our ultrasound you will be able to have a look at the growth plates in your wrist to see if you will grow. Ultrasounds emit sound waves through a special piezoelectric crystal. When an electric current is applied to these they make sound pressure waves which can then be emitted into the body. When a sound wave hits a tissue it makes an echo that reflects back to the crystal - These can then be converted into electrical signals which make an image on the screen. Try placing the probe on your finger, you will be able to see your finger bone!! The ultrasound is used to not only look at breaks, fractures and strains in the muscles and bones but to also check on unborn babies in the womb and assess the different organs in the body. 

Using a similar principle to the ultrasound you can also listen to your blood flow through your arteries with our Pulse-Doppler - Instead of an image, the waves are converted into a sound that allows you to listen to the blood flow in your arm. Cardiac physiologists are trained to listen to the flow of your blood through arteries to determine the condition of your arteries, this can prevent and monitor a whole number of conditions including blockages or strokes.

You will also have the opportunity to record and print your own ECG. An Electrocardio Gram allows you to visualise the electricity that moves through your heart - You are looking for 3 peaks in your ECG; The P wave, QRS complex and the T wave. Each wave refers to a different section of the heart being depolarised or polarised. 

An ECG is used by many people in a clinical setting; doctors, paramedics, nurses, cardiac physiologists use them to detect dysrhythmias, heart attacks and a number of other diseases.

Finally, you can use our iPhone Retina Scanner to look at the back of your eye, in particular, the Retina!! This is a very important tool in the modern world as they are hand-held and easily accessible making the use of them in more deprived countries across the world easier. 

All these pieces of equipment are vital within the NHS and many careers associated with these specialities need physics to allow you to do it! Check out the NHS careers website (https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk), and also our website (www.medicalmavericks.co.uk) for more info and access to some FREE careers resources!

Further Reading

Medical Mavericks: www.medicalmavericks.co.uk

NHS careers website: https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk