First multi-year cumulation covers six years: 1965-70.

R. MARKS Biology has become a 'numbers game'. The advantages of being able to grade changes in tissue, submit results to statistical analysis and accurately record biological phenomena make measurement essential. This is as true for the various disciplines in applied biology as it is for the more esoteric aspects ofthe subject. Regrettably, sk in biologists until recently had not seized the opportunities that the availability of their tissue of interest afforded and fell behind in the exploration of measurement techniques. Probably this resulted in part from the mistaken sentiment that 'to see is to know'. It also originated from the complexity ofthe skin which. as a closely interwoven mixture oftissue types. makes assessments technically difficult. However, we are optimistic about the future. The International Society for Bioengineering and the Skin was formed in Cardiff in ] uly 1979 in response to the wishes of the delegates who had attended the first International Symposium on the subject in Miami in 1976 and the second in Cardiff 3 years later. This volume is the proceedings of the Cardiff meeting. We believe that it demonstrates the brave efforts and variety of new ideas that characterise the studies of scientists who realise the importance of blending the phYSICal sciences with skin biology.

Each issue lists papers published during the preceding year.

Fifty Years of Magnetoencephalography celebrates the first half century of research in and clinical applications of magnetoencephalography (MEG). It catalogs and documents its evolution as a means of imaging the ongoing activity of the brain and the activation of particular neuronal networks within it that mediate sensory motor and higher functions like language. The volume's first section looks at the discovery of MEG and its first tentative applications by three of its founders. The following sections detail the rapid progress in the development of the instrumentation necessary for recording noninvasively the magnetic signals on the head that are associated with the brain activity; improvements in the techniques for analyzing the magnetic signals and reconstructing, on their basis, the functional images of brain activity; and improvements in our understanding of the nature and significance of those signals. Subsequent sections of the book detail the main clinical applications of MEG in localizing brain areas that contain sources of epileptiform activity and areas encompassing parts of functional networks essential for motor and sensory function as well as for language that have become an essential part of planning for brain surgery in many epilepsy and tumor surgery centers around the world. In addition, several chapters describe the most current efforts aiming at expanding the utility of MEG in clinical diagnosis and theoretical research.

Echocardiology comprises all aspects of diagnostic application of ultrasound to cardiac patients. It is probably the fastest growing non-invasive technique today. Almost all progress in this young and exciting field has been the positive result of close co-operation between medical and technical scientists. This book contains a series of lectures held at Erasmus University Rotterdam in June 1977 and is divided in three sections: - clinical echocardiology, consisting of both an introduction to the basic principles as well as a wide variety of applications aimed at the clinically oriented reader. - Doppler methods, where in addition to its clinical applications also the engineering of new developments will be presented. - the two dimensional real-time imaging where many new techniques including com puter methods, holography and acousto-optical systems will be discussed. We hope that this book will stimulate communication between scientists of various disciplines and nationalities. N.Bom J. Roelandt P.G. Hugenholtz Rotterdam, June 1977 III Preface The last three decades have seen a remarkable advance in diagnostic instrument ation in diseases of the circulation. In the 1940's the only diagnostic aids were the electrocardiogram and simple X-ray. These were quickly followed by the cardiac ca theter, phonocardiography, radio isotope methods and angiocardiography. The de velopment of cardiac surgery provided the impetus to developing more accurate methods of diagnosis, preferably those that did not need invasion of the patient. The introduction of ultrasound has contributed towards this aim in the last few years.

Design and Development of Medical Electronic Instrumentation fills a gap in the existing medical electronic devices literature by providing background and examples of how medical instrumentation is actually designed and tested. The book includes practical examples and projects, including working schematics, ranging in difficulty from simple biopotential amplifiers to computer-controlled defibrillators. Covering every stage of the development process, the book provides complete coverage of the practical aspects of amplifying, processing, simulating and evoking biopotentials. In addition, two chapters address the issue of safety in the development of electronic medical devices, and providing valuable insider advice.

Powered Upper Limb Prostheses deals with the concept, implementation and clinical application of utilizing inherent electrical signals within normally innervated residual muscles under voluntary control of an upper limb amputee. This amplifies these signals by battery-powered electrical means to make a terminal device, the prosthetic hand, move to perform intended function. The reader is introduced to various facets of upper limb amputations and their clinical management in both children and adults. The authors from Canada, USA and Great Britain are well known practicioners, academics and researchers in the field. The book has over 130 illustrations and contains an extensive bibliography.