Wireless Medical Image Application Developed for iPhones and iPods

Mobile technology has been developed that enables patients and healthcare professionals to view digital medical images such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), X-ray, and other images on an iPhone or iPod touch.

Merge Healthcare (Milwaukee, WI, USA), a leading medical imaging systems provider, has introduced the Merge Mobile, a breakthrough technology intended to help healthcare organizations and clinicians improve quality of care, reduce costs, and improve responsiveness to patients. Currently, radiologists and physicians have access to patient medical images from computers connected to their practice management or picture archiving and communications systems (PACS). Applications built upon Merge Mobile technology will enable radiologists to view emergency cases directly from their Apple, Inc. (Cupertino, CA, USA) iPhone or iPod touch, consult with colleagues, and when necessary, forward critical findings directly and securely to a patient's referring physician.

"Merge Healthcare will usher in a new era of mobile healthcare by bringing advanced medical imaging information to the fingertips of physicians," said Justin Dearborn, Merge Healthcare chief executive officer. "Merge Mobile leverages the rapid convergence of mobile and medical technology development to empower new approaches in healthcare delivery and coordination."

Merge Mobile technology will enable the development of applications to retrieve CT, MRI, X-ray, and other images wirelessly, and to perform standard radiological manipulations to guide decision-making, similar to computer-based solutions such as PACS. Few solutions of this kind now exist, and most experience download delays associated with medical imaging's large data sets. Merge Mobile incorporates advanced remote rendering techniques, including multi-planar reconstruction (MPR), which eliminates downloading of large data quantities to the mobile device and enable near-immediate access to images. Features include remote stack viewing using the iPhone multi-touch interface, scroll, contrast adjustment, zoom, and pan. A secure communication protocol addresses privacy.

Merge Healthcare provides sample images and data via a demonstration server with the free Merge Mobile download at the apple iphone appstore.

Merge Healthcare's systems help with mission-critical issues for radiology practices, outpatient imaging centers, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and device manufacturers worldwide.

Related Links:
Merge Healthcare
Apple
Apple iPhone appstore