This paper describes a High Speed Digital Lightbox. The current status of film in the medical imaging department sets the stage for this next generation of image display/management systems. Digital Im-aging devices are proliferating because of their diagnostic speed and accuracy, and their ease of use. However, the resultant images are usually prepared by a technician, transmitted to film, then mounted on a lightbox to be eventually reviewed by the physician. Until recently, the shortcomings of a film display system could be overlooked in favor of its data acquisition and archiving advantages. With recent developments in real-time disks and high resolution display systems, it is now possible to improve upon the physician's display with a digital lightbox. A unique Multimodality Acquisition and Review System (MARS) is described which will support this new digital lightbox with performance features that meet or exceed the characteristic use of film in today's medical imaging departments.
INTRODUCT IONMedical Imaging techniques are undergoing a period of evaluation unlike any other in recent years. Just as NMR is emerging and DSA is rapidly progressing, imaging departments are studying display technology to develop alternatives to the traditional lightbox. With so many present generation imaging systems being digital, is filmless radiology just around the corner?It has been stated, that film is a remarkable technology in itself. One piece of film represents a self-contained acquisition, display and archiving system with multimodality capability. The major weaknesses of film include the lack of display flexibility, the cost to generate and track copies, and the attendant risk of lost films due to sheer volume. These disadvantages are overlooked or accommodated by most physicians every day. De-spite the fact that 20% or more of today's images are digitally produced, those images end up being reviewed as film on a lightbox. Physicians currently prefer this film system because of its convenience, even though the costs are continuously rising', and film management is becoming more difficult.2Complete replacement of film is not a realistic proposal at this time because current digital acquisition techniques cannot match the upper range of film resolution, and cost-effective digital archiving is not yet available. But several authors2-7 suggest that an integrated digital acquisition, display, management, distribution and archive system could be optimized for selected medical imaging modalities. The best elements of film, video, and digital technology could be represented in a digital lightbox. With graceful adaptation to initially specific but expandable digital systems, departments could begin to control the rising costs, and solve the image management problems.
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONSA digital imaging system has numerous technical problems to overcome before it approaches the acceptability of the film system. Data transmission rates between storage devices and display, and between workstations is the most signific...
