Experience the Elekta Differ - Institute of Physics and Engineering in ...

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SCOPE | BOOK REVIEWS
very useful, in particular in Chapter 6 with
its scanning electron micrographs of
microelectrode arrays and Chapter 7 with
numerous Simulink diagrams providing
excellent support to an introduction of
biohybrid systems analysis.
The medical physicist
will find little description
of the practical
applications of this
technology until the last
three chapters
“
”
Aside from a very interesting short
section in the first chapter on an actuated
articulated false-foot orthosis (designed to
aid crutch-free walking for injured combat
troops), the medical physicist will find
little description of the practical
applications of this technology until the
last three chapters. This makes some of the
intervening chapters rather ‘dry’ and it’s a
shame that more short examples of the
applications weren’t included. The last
part of the book is dedicated to a few
examples of medical applications,
including neuromorphic hardware for
audition and vision, neurocardiology and
sensing of insulin demand. This is where
the readers’ hard work in the earlier
chapters will pay off! Chapter 9,
‘Neuromorphic Hardware for Control’, is
particularly interesting, demonstrating a
biohybrid system to restore lost locomotor
control and a silicon retina in which spatial
and temporal filtering are computed at
pixel level allowing low-power real-time
control of a system.
As a research text, this book will find
little immediate application in the majority
of clinical engineering departments. Many
of the systems demonstrated will be
confined to studies in research laboratories
for some time to come. However, for
anyone intrigued by the latest
neuroprostheses showcased in the news or
nature, this publication offers a fascinating
insight into the field.
Ms Julie Wooldridge is a Trainee Clinical
Scientist in Electrodiagnostics and Clinical
Engineering at the University Hospitals of
Leicester NHS Trust, UK
BIOHYBRID SYSTEMS: NERVES, INTERFACES
AND MACHINES
Editor: Ranu Jung
Publisher: Wiley-VCH
ISBN: 9783527409495
Format: Hardback
Pages: 224
44 | SEPTEMBER 2012 | SCOPE
Quantitative MRI in
Cancer
I was keen to review this book as I have an
interest in QMRI methods. Probably the
most comprehensive book to date on this
topic is the QMRI in the brain book by Paul
Tofts. However, it has been several years
since it was published and I was interested
to see how others presented these themes.
The unique selling point of this new book
is its focus on the application of QMRI
methods in the treatment of cancer. This
book provides a focussed, disease-led
approach to presenting QMRI methods. This
reflects the target audience, who in this case
is likely to be researchers and clinicians with
an interest in the application of novel
imaging methods to cancer.
A further feature of this textbook is that it
does not focus solely on the brain by
covering QMRI techniques applied to a
range of other areas of the body such as the
breast and prostate.
The book itself is structured into five
sections, namely: ‘The Physical Basis of
MRI’; ‘Characterising Tissue Properties with
Endogenous Contrast Mechanisms’;
‘Characterising Tissue Properties with
Exogenous Contrast Mechanisms’, and
ending with ‘Image Processing in Cancer
and Emerging Trends’.
The introductory chapters on the biology
and imaging of cancer set the scene for the
rest of the book. The chapters on the physics
of MRI and in particular the chapter on
hardware and data acquisition are some of
the best I’ve seen where the text is well
supported by clear figures and equations.
Beyond the introductory chapters of the
book the QMRI methods begin to be
introduced. Many of the chapters follow the
structure of having both quantitative and
then qualitative descriptions. This makes the
book accessible to readers who may just
want an overview of the topic as well as
providing more detailed quantitative and
mathematical descriptions for those who
may wish to try and implement or develop
the methods for themselves.
The structure and choice of sections of the
book are sensible and there is an entire
section (five chapters) devoted to image
processing methods in cancer. This reflects
the importance of modern image processing
methods in facilitating quantitative
methods. The individual chapters contain
the essential descriptions and underlying
mathematics for each of the topics.
Throughout this book each chapter is well
referenced and importantly the authors
direct the reader to associated software tools
that have been used to perform image
processing tasks.
The final section of the book introduces
emerging trends of QMRI in cancer. These
are the use of MRI in radiation therapy;
molecular and cellular imaging and the use
of hyperpolarised MR in cancer. These topics
are exciting and it is right that they have
been included in a text such as this to enable
the reader to get the best perspective on the
current status of active research in this
particular field.
Overall, this is an excellent book for
anyone interested in the application of
QMRI methods ‘to cancer’. This textbook
would also be useful for anyone interested
in QMRI methods, irrespective of their
disease of interest.
Dr John McLean is a Clinical Scientist in
Neuroradiology at the Institute of Neurological
Sciences, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
QUANTITATIVE MRI IN CANCER
Editors: T. Yankeelov, D. Pickens and R. Price
Publisher: CRC Press (Taylor & Francis)
ISBN: 9781439820575
Format: Hardback
Pages: 338
Proton Therapy
Physics
Did you know that the possibility of using
protons in radiotherapy was first postulated
as long ago as 1946 by R. R.Wilson at
Harvard University? He suggested that the
finite range and Bragg peak of proton beams
could be used to treat deep targets in the
body with minimal damage to normal
tissue. The idea was taken up a few years
later by Tobias and his colleagues at
Berkeley Laboratories in California and the