AuntMinnie.com: What impact are new imaging technologies (DR, multislice CT, etc.) having on PACS?
Doug Tucker, Agfa: Clearly it’s helping the market. When these MR and CT studies are generating thousands of images, it’s no longer possible to put these up for review on an alternator. So PACS is really becoming the way radiology is practiced.
While those new modalities are clearly driving new business, it’s also driving the ways vendors configure and build those systems. For example, if a hospital brings in a multislice system and now doesn’t have film as a backup, nobody wants to be responsible when that film is not available. So it’s clearly driving scalability of systems, and ubiquitous, Web-based image and information distribution.
The proliferation of these technologies will separate viable PACS vendors from the niche players; any serious PACS vendor will need to be able to support the added image volume as these modalities are added on to existing PACS.
Wanchoo, GE: DR, multislice CT, and other technologies clearly have an impact on PACS. The big one so far has been multislice CT; the only way to really effectively employ multislice CT is by using PACS and soft-copy viewing. On the flip side, this has created challenges for PACS networks, because 500-slice CT scans can provide challenges in maintaining system performance.
DR hasn’t had much of an impact, but it will. As we introduce more and more image processing on DR, we want to move those onto PACS. And that’s what provides the ultimate productivity for the customer.
Larson, Kodak: They are all driving the need for digital imaging. The sheer volume of image data produced by many of these modalities demands high levels of functionality in diagnostic workstations. In addition, these modalities demand new technologies such as Storage Area Networks and streaming technologies to effectively store and transport all the image data to the users.
DR is obviously a technology that will offer the most benefits when coupled with PACS, so I expect both PACS and DR to drive each other’s growth.
diPierro, Philips: DR, multislice CT, advanced MR imaging applications, as well as digital mammography, all contribute to an increasing need for bandwidth and storage capacity.
However, if you view these technology advances in conjunction with Moore’s Law (computer capacity/performance doubling every 18 months), then the future doesn’t look grim. Those customers that have chosen to implement PACS based on off-the-shelf technology will be well positioned to seamlessly integrate future computer technology advances into their existing system. This will allow them to protect and continue to leverage their initial investment in PACS while practicing a "grow as you go" philosophy.
Primo, Siemens: Multislice CT and volume MR acquisitions have upgraded soft-copy reading to the status of required tool. Reading a typical 1,000-image multislice CT exam on 25 sheets of film, hanging on multiple panels in an alternator lightbox, is no longer an option for the radiologist, both from a functional and economic point of view. As such, even smaller hospitals can reap the benefits of small-scale PACS, and switch to soft-copy reading with tools such as stacked display mode and replace film as a diagnostic medium in a cost-effective way.
CR/DR can now provide the required image quality to replace film in many cases. For example, CR deployments in the ER/OR/ICU provide a very efficient mechanism to allow fast diagnostic reading without the radiologist waiting for film transport and development, and without having to visit these specific departments. Call it a virtual presence or the imaging department without walls.
Next page: Next steps in the evolving PACS market
Copyright © 2001 AuntMinnie.com
