Electronic spirit levels

I'm more than happy with how an "analogue" spirit level works. A cylinder with a slight upward curve in the middle (or a larger diameter in the middle) is incompletely filled with a spirit. This leaves a bubble which travels to the centre of the cylinder when on a flat surface. When on a slight … Continue reading Electronic spirit levels →

Patients come first!

Today we're scheduled to spend a whole day on radiotherapy machine quality assurance (QA), performing the monthly checks on a particular machine to ensure that we are operating within the approved procedures with which we're allowed to carry out radiotherapy. These checks include mechanical checks of the couch positioning and isocentres (laser, mechanical, radiation), dosimetric … Continue reading Patients come first! →

Mice don’t menstruate!?

Attended a radioactive substances lab audit today where the professor expressed an interest in renewing the license for using animals as part of the research and mentioned that the application for the license would involve at least 3 weeks of full time work. ASPA 1986 It turns out that there is not a special radioactive … Continue reading Mice don’t menstruate!? →

Cheeky London skyline view

It's a tough life testing dental x-rays on the 25th floor! Who needs the Shard's viewing platform? 😉

First doubts

It's taken 5 months but today I've experienced my first doubts about my suitability for the role of a medical physicist in the NHS. As medical physics experts, the team run various training courses. I've sat in on one for non-medical referrers of medical imaging (e.g. for podiatrists who refer patients for x-rays) and one … Continue reading First doubts →

X-MR Testing

It turns out the most important weapon in a radiation safety physicist's arsenal is.... Micropore tape! Many metres used in the 8 hours of testing of this biplane interventional system. It was a very cool piece of kit with arms that move both independently and together with an astonishing number of joysticks and buttons. Hopefully … Continue reading X-MR Testing →

Got a desk and a cute mug!

I am ready for the world of work!

Trainee Meeting #2

Had a very satisfying trainee meeting this week with 5 second years and a third year in the King's consortium of Medical Physics and Engineering STPs. It was good to hear about how they were still all enjoying the scheme and that they'd picked their specialisms. Us first years have now found out what we're … Continue reading Trainee Meeting #2 →