These proceedings of the World Congress 2006, the fourteenth conference in this series, offer a strong scientific program covering a wide range of issues and challenges which are currently present in Medical physics and Biomedical Engineering. About 2,500 peer reviewed contributions are presented in a six volume book, comprising 25 tracks, joint conferences and symposia, and including invited contributions from well known researchers in this field.

More than 10 years ago, I had the chance to visit the university hospital in Munster, Germany. At the outpatient clinic there, I accidently met a young dermatologist who was devoted to the study of the quantification of irritated skin during his busy daily clinical work. I sensed immediately that this Dr. P. Frosch was conducting his research with the ideals and enthusiasm which were so familiar to me. Soon we found that we shared a similar past experience; we both had begun our careers in dermatological investigation with the same mentor. For me it was more than 25 years ago that I first met Dr. Kligman, Professor at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, USA. I reminisced that I had been greatly shocked by his initial question ''As a dermatologist, do you want to study living or dead skin?" because, at that time and even today, whenever we cannot collect enough information about the skin with the naked eye, it is invasively removed is common practice to histologically examine a skin sample that from living tissue. Many dermatologists still would never think of studying the living intact skin itself noninvasively with the aid of existing advanced technologies to assess its structural and functional properties. At that time Dr. Kligman intended to build up a system of evaluating the skin from various aspects, using methods that had been unduly neglected in the past and introducing various technological instruments.

Primarily intended as a textbook for the undergraduate students of Instrumentation, Electronics, and Electrical Engineering for a course in biomedical instrumentation as part of their programmes. The book presents a detailed introduction to the fundamental principles and applications of biomedical instrumentation. The book familiarizes the students of engineering with the basics of medical science by explaining the relevant medical terminology in simple language. Without presuming prior knowledge of human physiology, it helps the students to develop a substantial understanding of the complex processes of functioning of the human body. The mechanisms of all major biomedical instrumentation systems—ECG, EEG, CT scanner, MRI machine, pacemaker, dialysis machine, ultrasound imaging machine, laser lithotripsy machine, defibrillator, and plethysmograph—are explained comprehensively. A large number of illustrations are provided throughout the book to aid in the development of practical understanding of the subject matter. Chapter-end review questions help in testing the students’ grasp of the underlying concepts. The second edition of the book incorporates detailed explanations to action potential supported with illustrative example and improved figure, ionic action of silver-silver chloride electrode, and isolation amplifiers. It also includes mathematical treatment to ultrasonic transit time flowmeters. A method to find approximate axis of heart and image reconstruction in CT scan is explained with simple examples. A topic on MRI has been simplified for clear understanding and a new section on Positron Emission Tomography (PET), which is an emerging tool for cancer detection, has been introduced.

Measuring the Skin presents all techniques devoted to non-invasive normal or diseased skin measurement. As opposed other books, this text embraces old and new validated techniques for all skin suborgans and functions. The book is ideal as a small encyclopedia since it provides the answer to any question concerning skin measurement. Each technique is discussed to help select the most appropriate one for each special case. Another novel feature is that the book bases the skin investigation on the physiology and anatomy. Each chapter is preceded by a compendium of current knowledge on the structure or function dealt with. The book may also be used as a research tool. It contains a novel, and presently unique list of more than 400 physical and biological skin constants, which are all referenced.

This comprehensive ‘Major Reference Book’ compiles all current and latest information on aging skin in a two-volume set. Highly structured with a reader-friendly format, it covers a wide range of areas such as basic sciences, the different diseases and conditions which occur with aging (from malignant to non-malignant), the latest techniques and methods being used such as bioengineering methods and biometrics as well as toxicological and safety considerations for the elderly population. It also illustrates the global consumers’ sociological and psychological implications, ethnicity and gender differences and includes marketing considerations for this elderly group. This unique and comprehensive guide will become the main reference textbook on this topic.

Since the first edition of this book was published in 2004, to much acclaim, the pace of innovation in the field of skin metrology has increased and various new technologies have become available. This new, revised edition reflects these advances by presenting the current theory and practice of noninvasive investigation and measurement of the skin and its appendices in health and disease. The first, extensive part of this authoritative work is devoted to the physiology and metrology of the various structural components of the skin. Skin functions and their measurement are then discussed in detail, with sections on mechanical protection, photoprotection, barrier function, immune function, thermoregulation, and sensory function. In addition, careful consideration is given to skin disease rating and skin maps, and a unique list of physical and biological constants and units is provided. Not only is this new edition the first comprehensive, practical handbook in this domain – it will also serve as a manual of skin physiology and collates anatomical, functional, and physical quantitative data that would otherwise be arduous to retrieve because of their dispersal throughout the literature. It will prove a valuable resource for dermatologists, cosmetologists, bioengineers, physiologists, pharmacists, and all others who deal with the skin in their work.