Journal of the American College of Radiology
Use of Mobile Devices for Medical Imaging
Section snippets
Overview
Mobile devices have become an integral part of life in modern society and have achieved high penetration among health care professionals. By comparison, it is almost laughable what used be called a personal computer. Mobile devices are far more personal insofar as they serve as the primary communication devices for many people and are as important as one’s wallet. They are already used to store and access personal information such as contacts and family photos. In places where devices are used
Bandwidth
Mobile devices can run programs and access data stored locally or on a separate server. Apps and frequently used information are typically stored locally. When seeking additional information, from a website, a server, or the “cloud,” data must be transferred to the device. When a mobile device is plugged into a computer, data can be directly and rapidly transferred through a cable. Universal serial bus 3.0 protocol cables are most commonly used to connect mobile devices to computers. Wireless
Security
Mobile device security falls into several realms. First, there is the task of securing direct access to the device (ie, who gets their hands on it). Next, there is the need to secure access to the device’s memory, either from different application processes or from external hacking. Additionally, there is communication with other devices, typically performed wirelessly through Wi-Fi or cellular networks. Each of these areas is subject to security vulnerabilities, and an appropriate
Regulation
In the United States, the practice of medicine is regulated by state governments, not the federal government. Each state government decides what is considered the standard of care, normative practice, and substandard care and malpractice. Medical devices, on the other hand, are regulated by the FDA. Doctors are at liberty to use both medical and nonmedical devices to practice medicine and treat patients. For example, a stethoscope is a regulated medical device, but a general purpose magnifying
Apps
Mobile apps for radiology can be categorized into one of the following: image viewing, education, decision support, and journals and societies.
Image viewing apps allow referring physicians to access imaging studies anywhere. Although many of these applications are self-described as “not for diagnostic use,” the FDA and Health Canada have cleared a number of iOS applications, such as MobileMIM, for diagnostic reading when no dedicated workstation is available. These applications typically
Image Types
To understand the appropriateness of using mobile devices to view radiologic images, it is worthwhile to review the varieties of radiologic images and their relevant digital image display parameters.
Radiographs are typically the largest images radiologists view in terms of the number of pixels. A full-resolution image ranges from 4 to 12 megapixels (MP), and 1 MP accounts for 1 million pixels. Furthermore, to properly assess such an image usually requires a view somewhat close to life sized.
Summary
Mobile devices are here to stay and are already in the pockets and handbags of most physicians, radiologists, referring clinicians, and patients. Radiologists need to consider a mobile strategy that not only enables viewing images for diagnosis on a consultative basis but also enriches referring clinicians’ electronic medical record experience and the personal health records of the patients they serve. Solutions abound from both PACS and electronic medical record vendors, but careful product
Take-Home Points
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Every radiology facility needs a strategy to make its images accessible for mobile viewing for both doctors and patients.
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Medical image viewing software needs to be intelligently designed to make effective use of the low bandwidth of mobile networks; poorly designed software will cause frustration, especially when trying to navigate large image sets.
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Mobile software needs to ensure the security of patient data, preferably by using encryption during transmission and not keeping any data on the
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Mobile technology in radiology resident education
J Am Coll Radiol
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