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iPods Used for Medical Images

Posted by samzenpus on from the take-out-the-machine-that-goes-ping dept.

spagiola writes "There's a nice little story on CNN about a doctor in Geneva who has developed ways to use iPods to view medical images. His software, called Osirix (OSS, BTW) enables medical professionals to view medical images on their iPods, saving them and the hospitals they work for thousands of dollars in expensive equipment."

5 of 281 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Evolving by Oculus+Habent · · Score: -1, Redundant

    this sound like a setup dammit. A good setup.

    --
    That what was all this school was for... to teach us how to solve our own problems. -- janeowit
  2. Fit for purpose? by mustafap · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Lets say a doctor misses a vital sign on the image. In court, would a valid prosecution argument be that the display on these units are not fit for purpose?

    Can you really expect medical practitioners to draw valid conclusions from such a small display? I think not. I certainly wouldn't like to be a health authority trying to justify the use of such a device in court!

    --
    Open Source Drum Kit, LPLC deve board - mjhdesigns.com
  3. OMG, is that a tear across the pulmonary artery?? by backslashdot · · Score: -1, Redundant

    oh, nevermind .. it's just a scratch.

  4. Wonderful by Professor_UNIX · · Score: 0, Redundant

    So the doctor can carry around X-rays on his tiny iPod Photo screen instead of looking at it on one of those big clunky clear 20" monitors. That makes sense unless you want to avoid a malpractice suit. I can barely read the names of my MP3s on that screen much less diagnose someone's problem! If storage is the issue then just carry a portable notebook hard drive in a USB case or keep the files on a private LAN.

  5. resolution by Anonymous+Cowpat · · Score: -1, Redundant

    surely the resolution on an ipod's LCD isn't anywhere near Enough. At the osteo..., er, bone clinic at my local hospital they have huge extremely high resolution CRT's for this sort of thing.
    Of course, if you RTFA you'll notice that they have such a screen there too with the ipod, it appears that it's being used to check images when on the move rather than as a replacement for high-quality monitors, which does seem like a good use. (such as finding out roughly where in someone's leg the fracture is when you come around to them). It looks like a great convenience boon, but they need to make sure that they're not relying on them and giving up on the proper monitors for actual diagnosis.

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    FGD 135