Cardiac Imaging Server Provides Interactive, Web-Based Distribution Tools

A new thin-client server platform complements computed tomography (CT) technology by providing the power and clinical tools necessary to arrive at an interpretation swiftly, and with confidence.

TeraRecon, Inc. (San Mateo, CA, USA), a developer of image-processing technology and three-dimensional (3D) visualization systems, recently announced the release of new innovations in its flagship Aquarius iNtuition platform, which were presented at the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) annual meeting in Boston, MA, USA, from September 11-14, 2008.

The Aquarius iNtuition client-server will empower nuclear cardiologists to improve efficiency within their cardiac imaging systems. Multi-detector CT (MDCT) is rapidly evolving as a preferred imaging modality within nuclear cardiology. It is a quick and non-invasive diagnostic test; however, it creates a tremendously large amount of data. TeraRecon understands the fundamental need for quick and accurate diagnoses and addresses this need by providing a workflow-oriented and comprehensive cardiac CT package that is "available anywhere” through the healthcare enterprise.

The application includes calcium scoring, advanced vessel analysis, functional assessment, plaque analysis, and electrophysiology (EP) planning. This architecture integrates with cardiology picture archiving and communication systems (PACS), while providing decision support through automated preprocessing, sophisticated interpretation tools for the diagnosing physician, and interactive web-based distribution tools for disseminating the results of interpretation efficiently to their intended recipient.

TeraRecon's automated preprocessing system, AquariusAPS, automatically identifies and labels cardiac anatomy, and then performs automatic segmentation and centerline extraction, to prepare the examination for the speediest diagnostic interpretation. Streamlined and customer-tailored workflow templates speed the process of navigation through the dataset so that the physician can apply their time and concentration to clinical interpretation.

The all thin-client Aquarius iNtuition system also allows access to multi-modality review of magnetic resonance (MR), nuclear medicine, positron emission tomography (PET)/CT, angio/cath, ultrasound/echo, computed radiography (CR) and digital radiography (DR), from any networked personal computer (PC), enterprise wide, and even from the palm of the user's hand via AquariusWEB.

AquariusWEB provides a simple user interface designed to facilitate a volumetric image review experience that requires no advanced training requirements. AquariusWEB is supported directly by modern web browsers including Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Safari without requiring any installation or administrative privileges. No plug-in, Java, or ActiveX controls are required. AquariusWEB allows volumetric and interactive scenes to be reviewed by end users who would otherwise be prohibited access by institutional security policies that prevent the downloading or installing of software. The system's viewer can also enable embedding of live, interactive scenes into electronic medical records and physician web portals. It is even possible to open and manipulate volumetric images on the iPhone.

"Aquarius iNtuition technology and the AquariusWEB viewer together provide a rich and meaningful service to the healthcare enterprise, while at the same time increasing interpretation efficiency for large volumetric examinations, enabling more advanced procedures such as coronary CTA [CT angiography] to be incorporated into the imaging portfolio of the nuclear cardiologist,” said Robert Taylor, Ph.D., president and COO of TeraRecon.

TeraRecon provides advanced imaging systems for medical and other visualization applications based on its unique and patented image processing technologies.

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