title: The importance of physics to progress in medical treatment.
abstract: Physics in therapy is as diverse as it is substantial. In this review, we highlight the role of physics--occasionally transitioning into engineering--through discussion of several established and emerging treatments. We specifically address minimal access surgery, ultrasound, photonics, and interventional MRI, identifying areas in which complementarity is being exploited. We also discuss some of the fundamental physical principles involved in the application of each treatment to medical practice.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Science and Technology, University of Dundee, UK.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Melzer
authors.forename: Sandy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cochran
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Prentice
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: MacDonald
authors.forename: Zhigang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cuschieri
mesh_terms: D020811:Biomedical Technology; D006801:Humans; D017602:Lithotripsy, Laser; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D061088:Photoacoustic Techniques; D010825:Physics; D012371:Robotics; D013812:Therapeutics; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy