Software for Establishing Teleradiologic Links for Quantitative Volumetric Imaging Consultation

Produced by

Division of Physiologic Imaging,
Department of Radiology
University of Iowa College of Medicine

sponsored by
The National Library of Medicine

Overview

As part of our efforts to make advanced quantitative volumetric imaging and image analysis methodology available to patients who are remote to major academic medical centers, we have developed web based tutorials teaching specific applications of quantitative volumetric imaging. We report protocols for specific applications, and mobile scanners travel between Iowa hospitals if scanners do not reside at a particular hospital full time. Once a patient has been scanned, image data can be viewed simultaneously by multiple distant sites.

Applications of the Teleradiology Software.

  1. The technician on the mobile CT truck can confirm the appropriateness of the acquired scans with a radiologist before the patient leaves the truck.
  2. The patient's primary physician can speak with the radiologist while both parties simultaneously view the images.
  3. The radiologist can request advanced image display and analysis methodologies of the image data to be performed by an image analysis specialist at a third site,
  4. The primary radiologist can obtain a specialist's opinion with both parties simultaneously viewing the case.
To aid in these scenarios, we have developed software which links our image analysis software, VIDA, to a teleradiology consultation via the use of a low end UNIX workstation, and a special purpose high luminance display box (currently IMLOGIX) which has onboard processing of resident images allowing for real time zoom, pan, page, and window/level functions. Software is written such that the same video cursor control device (mouse) controls the graphical user interface (GUI) environment of the UNIX box as well as the IMLOGIX environment. Multiple sites can join into a consultation whereby all sites see the same stack of CT, MR, etc. image data. As any site which is control alters the viewing parameters (slice location, zoom, pan, window/level), all sites see the same presentation. Any site can take control by clicking the appropriate button on their main panel, and as the controlling site points at the image, all sites see the cursor in the same location on their image. If in the course of a consultation, it is decided that a feature of the advanced image display and analysis software is required, a simple click of the mouse switches the mouse commands back to controlling the UNIX GUI where VIDA resides and can provide all the capabilities described in the VIDA tutorials.

Teleradiology Link

Starting Teleradiology Link

To start the teleradiology software type consult in a terminal.
The Teleradiology Link panel should appear.
The upper part of the Teleradiology Link panel displays a map of Iowa showing current consultations in session.
The lower part displays eight buttons -- Cases, Join, Audio, Import, Quit, Leave, Imlogix, and Export.


The Cases button allows you to select the images you wish to display using the Imlogix box to other sites over the network. The Preview option allows you to send only a specific subregion of the image data for faster transfer time to distant sites.


The Join button allows you to start a teleradiology consult with another site. Once you press the Join button, the Remote Consultation Site panel will appear showing you a list of sites to which you can connect.


The Audio button allows you to talk to people from other joining locations.


The Import button allows you to add new image data to the Load Case list. You can import data from the computer disk or from a DAT tape.


The Quit button allows you to exit from the Teleradiology Link program. You cannot quit if you are still engaged in a teleradiology consult with another site. You must first exit the consult.


The Leave button allows you to end the teleradiology consult if you were the party to initiate the consult.


The Imlogix button allows you to control the Imlogix box at your site as well as the distant site. You can point on the Imlogix screen to any structure of interest using your mouse. You can also window and level, zoom, and step through the slices of the data set. Both sites simultaneously view the same image and cursor movements. There are default window/level settings available. You can select any default values and add new window/level settings for your own convenience.


The Export button allows you to export image files to other sites.




©1994-99 Division of Physiologic Imaging, Dept. of Radiology, Univ. of Iowa


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