SBIR-STTR Award

The proposed research seeks to develop and evaluate a display station suitable for routine clinical use in medical diagnostic imaging. A digital display that can be sold as a component of Picture Archiving and Communications System will be developed. The investigators intend to overcome the spatial resolution limitations of existing display technology by implementing high speed zoom and roam capabilities. Optimal performance will be extracted from conventional base technologies by development of specialized processing and display hardware.The fundamental method is one of iterative refinement of design parameters through clinical testing and evaluation. The principal evaluation criteria will be the diagnostic accuracy of findings reported from the display and the time required to obtain those findings.Phase I activities will modify existing equipment and evaluate the prototype system. Results of the evaluations will be used to develop specifications for an enhanced system to be constructed and formally evaluated in Phase II.National Cancer Institute (NCI)

This research seeks to develop and clinically evaluate a display system suitable for primary readings of all medical imaging modalities. In this context, suitable means equal to or better than film in terms of both diagnostic accuracy and radiologist productivity. The availability of such a unit at reasonable cost will enable construction of Picture Archiving and Communications Systems (PACS). Laboratory Automation, Inc., intends to overcome the limited spatial and contrast resolution of the CRT monitor by implementing high-speed zoom, roam, and gray-scale functions. Optimum performance will be extracted from conventional base technologies by development of specialized processing and display hardware. The fundamental method is one of iterative refinement of design parameters through clinical testing and evaluation. The primary parameter to be optimized will be the time required for the radiologist to make a finding. This time reflects not only the speed of the system but also the clarity of the image. The radiologist's use of the controls will be analyzed using time study techniques, and the results will be used to successively improve the user interface.

Anticipated Results:
This research seeks to develop a display system optimized for the requirements of the practicing radiologist. Such a display is essential for medical PACS. The unit could be used anywhere a physician views a medical diagnostic image.National Cancer Institute