Medical imaging plays a crucial role in patient diagnosis and has done since its introduction in the early 1900’s. The introduction of the computer and digital age saw an explosion of diagnostic imaging techniques with new imaging modalities like ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging.

Medical Imaging is used on a daily basis by thousands of practices and hospitals around the world to help make informed diagnosis and treatment plans for patients. In most cases only the provider reviewing the case will view the image, in special cases a number of experts will be asked to review the image but this is generally restricted to a geographic location or private network. In very special cases experts from around the world will be consulted and DICOM (Appendix1) files sent to them.

In recent years a number of new systems have been introduced which change the availability and ability of medical images to be collaborated on by people and doctors around the world. These are Medical Image Diagnostic Collaboration Systems, some examples include www.lifeimage.com and www.seemyradiology.com, they all allow DICOM files to be uploaded and medical images and data contained within them to be extracted and placed into a community environment. Users are able to share images and create collaboration rooms allowing other users or groups to join or be invited into the room, to collaborate and share their thoughts on the medical images and cases being presented in real time.

This provides an amazing new opportunity of group diagnosis and collaborative assessment of individual cases.
A system that is currently being developed by Intechno for an Asian Based company is going a step further and integrating an intelligent knowledge base that learns from previous collaborations and their final diagnosis. When a new DICOM or image is uploaded the system assesses the image and is able to intelligently realize if there has been any similar past cases, if so then these cases are presented to the user. The basic details are visible and the user can request access from the collaboration room owner to the full details, including the collaboration room with “playback” functionality so the user can view how the diagnosis was reached. The end result being a system that can offer an informed diagnosis within minutes of the image being uploaded.

If you are interested in this system or other systems Intechno is working on please contact us.
Or contact me directly I would be happy to speak with you.

Best Regards
Christian Solomon
chris@intechnochina.com
Skype: christian.intechno

Appendix 1:
Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) is a standard for handling, storing, printing, and transmitting information in medical imaging. Wikipedia (2010)