Mobile Workflow in Computed Tomography of the Chest

Abstract

A CT system with a tablet as mobile user interface and a wireless remote control for positioning and radiation release has recently been presented. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of a mobile CT examination workflow on the radiographers’ performance compared to conventional examinations. A prototype of a radiation protection cabin was installed besides the gantry of a CT system. The CT system was equipped with a simplified user interface on a portable tablet and a mobile remote control. 98 patients with an indication for CT of the chest were randomly assigned to examination using the mobile devices (study group, n = 47) or using the conventional stationary workflow on the console (reference group, n = 51). Three ceiling mounted fisheye cameras were used for motion tracking of the radiographers, two in the examination room and one in the control room. Relative density of detection heat-maps and area counts were assessed using a dedicated software tool to quantify radiographers’ movements. Duration of each task of the examination was manually recorded using a stopwatch. In the reference group 25% of the area counts were located inside of the examination room, while it was 48% in the study group. The time spent in the same room with the patient increased from 3:06 min (29%) to 6:01 min (57%) using the mobile workflow (p < 0.05), thereof 0:59 min (9%) were spent in moderate separation with maintained voice and visual contact in the radiation protection cabin. Heat-maps showed an increase of the radiographer’s working area, indicating a higher freedom of movement. Total duration of the examination was slightly less in the study group without statistical significance (median time: study 10:36, reference 10:50 min; p = 0.29). A mobile CT examination transfers the radiographers’ interaction with the scanner from the control room into the examination room. There, radiographers’ freedom of movement is higher, without any tradeoffs regarding the examination duration.

Diagnostic accuracy of ultra-low-dose chest computed tomography in an emergency department

“…Wetzl et al. (21) reported a mean staff time (examination and post-processing time) of 14 min for chest CT examinations. This was longer than the median staff time reported in this study (10 min).…”

“…Furthermore, if a patient admitted to emergency department receives a CT examination for other purposes, performing an ULD-CT instead of sCXR will demand less time. Wetzl et al (21) reported a mean staff time (examination and postprocessing time) of 14 min for chest CT examinations. This was longer than the median staff time reported in this study (10 min).…”

Android Application for Parsing X-Ray Absorption Coefficients Web Database

“…Numerous existing android applications related to computed tomography provide access to the patient's medical exams databases, see [1] and [2], manage data exchange and workflow in hospitals [3], work as a console to initiate data acquisition jobs, to control and finalize the scan or other procedures on the medical hardware they are tethered to [4], [5]. Until very recently, real, computation-intensive calculations rarely took place on a mobile device due to the lack of computational power and not-sostraightforward ways to organize the calculations behind the user interface.…”

Structured Digital Self-Assessment of Patient Anamnesis Prior to Computed Tomography: Performance Evaluation and Added Value

“…Nevertheless, informed patient consent and patient anamnesis obtained during patient-physician interactions are still mainly archived in hard-copy form and remain unavailable for further use. Digitization has the potential to increase the efficiency of healthcare systems [1]: improved software technology and mobile devices, meanwhile, can help to spread this technology into hospitals [2][3][4][5]. Particularly in radiology departments, high levels of digitization are already common and necessary; however, PA and patients' current clinical problems are often incomplete, outdated, or inaccessible [6].…”