1053-1 A Multimedia Workstation for Real-time Review of Full Size Angiographic and Echocardiographic Image Sequences

• Published in: Journal of the American College of Cardiology 1995-02, Vol.25 (2), p.225A-225A
• Main Authors: Spero, laurence A., Groshong, Bennett R., Harrawood, Brian P., Fortin, Donald F., Bashore, Thomas M., Cusma, Jack T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0735-1097; 1558-3597
• DOI: 10.1016/0735-1097(95)92394-K

To fully implement a readily accessible imaging network for cardiovascular studies in a busy clinical environment, we have developed a review station for clinical use which can decompress, zoom, and display full resolution (640×480) JPEG-encoded cardiac angiograms and echocardiograms (colorflow Doppler and 2-D) in real-time (30 frames/sec). These review stations are networked to a digital image archival system and can be installed in multiple locations within a medical center. The review stations consist of a DEC 3000/600 AXP workstation with a DEC J300 Sight and Sound multimedia board. An entire exam can be compressed to less than 10 Mbytes. A graphical user interface (GUI) developed using OSF/Motif 1.2 enables a clinical user to simultaneously display and control several image sequences. A sequence can be retrieved in under three seconds and displayed dynamically in forward or reverse directions with instantaneous speed control. Utilizing a commercial relational database (Sybase), the GUI organizes image sequences for a patient by image modality, location, time, and view. A schematic representation of cardiac anatomy derived from the clinical reporting system allows a user to view specific angiographic image sequences by selecting appropriate objects in the graphic display. In situations where moderate reduction in image quality is acceptable, these review stations, using compressed image sequences, provide rapid access to a larger number of cases than would be otherwise possible. This approach allows image sequences to be more readily distributed over a network so they can be viewed by several workstations simultaneously. Realtime image decompression provides a practical and clinically acceptable way of maintaining ready access to large amounts of clinical cardiac images using existing technology.