Pass assignment from BTEC Applied Science Unit 21- medical physics application. unit 21C includes the risks, side effects, and limitations of both ionising and non ionising radiation. it also explains how hospitals implement health and safety measures for both operators and patients.
Explaining the health and safety risks, side effects and
limitations of non-ionising radiation technologies
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
The health and safety risks for operators are that the machines are
quite noisy, which can easily cause the operator to get distracted and lose
focus if they are not paying full attention and concentrating. The MRI
machine produces strong magnetic fields which will attract
ferromagnetic objects. This can cause a health and safety risk for the
operator because if the operator or patient is in possession of one of these
objects, there is an increased risk for injury or in severe cases death.
The health and safety risks to patients are that it can be
claustrophobic in the tunnel. During the MRI scan, the patient slides into
the tunnel which can trigger anxiety or claustrophobia. The patient may start
to panic and move around. The patients must remove any metal objects
such as belts, earrings, and any jewelry. This is to prevent them from being
pulled towards the strong magnet which could cause injury to the patient.
The patient must also make the operators aware of any implants containing
metal which cannot be removed. Patients must also notify the operators
about pregnancy, and any allergies which could pose any potential harm.
The MRI machine is quite noisy which can startle the patient and irritate
them, making them panic and move around in the machine.
The side effects in treatment of patients are normally very small as MRI
is a non-invasive procedure which causes little harm as the equipment does
not come into physical contact with the patient. Some common side effects
patients feel after an MRI scan are nausea, mild itching, temporary hearing
and vision problems.
The limitations in treatment for the patient are that MRI can sometimes
not provide enough contrast between tissues and organs. Images may also
not be of the best quality which can make it difficult to interpret the image.
Any metal implants can cause the quality of the image to deteriorate. MRI
scanners are expensive to buy and maintain, which means that this form of
treatment may not be available to all patients around the world.
Lasers
, The health and safety risks for operators are eye injuries due to laser
being reflected or directly emitted into the operators' eye. This could cause
potential eye damage or blindness. To prevent this from occurring, operators
will be required to wear safety goggles. Skin burns are also a potential
safety risk for operators which can be prevented by wearing protective
clothing and ensuring you are sufficiently covered with no exposed body
parts.
The health and safety risks to patients are damage to the skin and eyes.
This can be prevented by the operator controlling the exposure limits and
the direction of the laser during treatment. Lasers can also cause risk of
infection if the area is not fully sterilized after treatment. A film badge is
used when carrying out treatments with lasers. This is to measure the
exposure to radiation. Too much exposure to radiation can be very harmful
to patients and can also be fatal.
The side effects in treatment of patients are varied depending on the
size and power of the beam. Many patients experience swelling, redness,
bruising, and skin irritation in the area where the treatment was performed.
These side effects will heal over time; however, cooling treatments and
moisturizers can be used to help reduce side effects.
The limitations in treatment for the patient are that some lasers are
more harmful and less effective on patients with an increased melanin
absorption. This means that this procedure is more effective on those with
lighter skin tones. Different lasers have different wavelengths, which means
the laser's effectiveness will vary. The greater the wavelength, the deeper
the laser can penetrate into the body. Another limitation is that the
treatment is not permanent which means that multiple sessions are
required. These sessions will have to be spaced out over time so that the
patient is not exposed to too much radiation all at once.
Ultrasound
The health and safety risks for operators are that there is a high
exposure to sound frequency waves which can cause temporary hearing
loss or damage. Overall, ultrasound is a very safe method of treatment as
it does not have the same risks compared to other forms of treatment.
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