Medical Informatics Solutions Improve Patient Care

Two innovative solutions provide data accessibility and imaging capabilities to ensure efficiency and the best possible treatment at the point-of-care (POC).

Developed by Mbits (Heidelberg, Germany), a spin-off company of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ; Heidelberg, Germany), the new solutions deliver medical imaging applications on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, the most rapidly developing technology platform in the history of mankind. The two solutions optimize multiple clinical POC uses, ranging from radiological workflows, intraoperative applications, and up to augmented reality.

MITK pocket, specifically designed for mobile devices, offers clinicians access to images while they are off-duty or off-ward, enabling direct inter-expert as well as physician-patient exchange, without being bound to stationary work places. Moreover, patients and clinicians alike may view and interact with images on their own mobile device using an intuitive user interface with sophisticated gesture input possibilities via an innovative motion sensor. Routinely used tools, such as annotations and measurements, are also available as individual level window settings and synchronized multiple window viewing.

An intelligent management capability downloads images in the background, which are then encrypted and stored locally on the device, removing the need of a permanent internet or Wi-Fi connection; Well-established authentication security measures protect image data and privacy. MITK pocket integrates with any picture archiving and communication system (PACS) via a minimal server application that is registered as a Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) node.

The second innovation, SurgeryPad, is an augmented reality application for tablet computers that helps clinicians visualize individual, three-dimensional (3D) anatomy of patients which are virtually reconstructed from computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The images are superimposed on the tablet display to provide an insight into the patient's individual anatomy prior to surgery. During surgery, the camera of the device captures the underlying scene and superimposes the corresponding organs on the display, accurately and in real-time.

Related Links:
Mbits
German Cancer Research Center