Australian Institute of Physics

South Australian Branch

Technological innovation continues to impact greatly medical diagnosis and care. Many of the advances are derived from physics principles and techniques. Two recent examples discussed are the development of digital detectors for X-ray diagnosis and the application of high energy charged particles in radiation therapy.

The replacement of X-ray film by digital readout detectors will have a dramatic effect on dagnosis both through the improved contrast and also by the ability to immediately have the information in a form suitable for telemedicine.

About 120,000 people still die each year in the USA alone due to lack of local tumor control in the absence of distant metastases. One way of improving local control is to replace high energy X-ray beams with charged particles which have a much better depth - dose profile. Many facilities are being developed around the world to do this including one at Indiana University which will be described.

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Members are invited to have dinner prior to the lecture from 6pm onwards in the Equinox restaurant in the Union building at the University of Adelaide. Bookings, which are helpful but not essential, should be made by noon on Tuesday 17th March with the AIP-SA Secretary or with Ms. Tanya Weir on (08) 8303 5996.