West Virginia's mountaineer doctor television.
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Academic Medical Centers↗
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Results for “Computer Communication Networks”
Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.
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Applied medical informatics for the pharmacist.
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Computer Communication Networks↗
Hydra: a C-language environment for real-time DOS multitasking at the bedside.
Patient monitoring at the bedside is an inherently parallel job, best handled by multiple individual tasks running concurrently. Cost and diffusion considerations strongly favor the use of PC's at the bedside, but their most widespread operating system, DOS, is not built for multitasking. Hence, a software platform in C language has been prepared, allowing the intermediate programmer to easily write independent modules which will then run simultaneously without conflicts. Such a platform aims at allowing effortless sharing of data among concurrently running processes, while providing strong insulation between tasks, enough to allow multiple copies of any one task to run simultaneously unknown to each other. A cooperative, memory sharing multitasking paradigm has been chosen, which offers fine granularity of timeslicing and low execution overhead at the price of some loss in generality of design. Speed, data exchange capability and number of stackable windows are greater than with commercial packages like Windows or LabWindows. Dynamical reprioritization of tasks is built in, allowing the computerized monitor to focus its attention and resources on urgent tasks.
Algorithms↗
Teleradiology/telepathology requirements and implementation.
Teleradiology and telepathology form an integral part of the telemedicine concept. Teleradiology is becoming a mature technology because of advances in imaging technology, database design and communications infrastructure and capabilities. Telepathology has also made significant progress but more development is needed in the definition of required images, database design and standards. While the requirements of most clinical applications of teleradiology are well established, telemammography still presents some impediments. Technical difficulties in telemammography are presented in terms of the lack of a clinically accepted digital imaging system and large data volume required per image. Another important aspect in tele-imaging is the database question. Workstations constitute a window into database. Comprehensive database development is the most difficult and expensive technology for tele-imaging and operational features of such systems are discussed. Finally, we explore current examples of the use of telepathology and teleradiology in the global telemedicine context.
Computer Communication Networks↗
Synchronous and asynchronous telemedicine.
This paper outlines the differences between telemedicine applications in terms of their synchronous or asynchronous nature. The differences in the demands of these two forms of telemedicine are significant and should be considered in the development of any telemedicine system. It is the asynchronous applications that are most likely to provide real change in the practice of medicine.
Computer Communication Networks↗
Defense Simulation Internet: next generation information highway.
The Department of Defense has been engaged in the Defense Modeling and Simulation Initiative (DMSI) to provide advanced distributed simulation warfighters in geographically distributed localities. Lessons learned from the Defense Simulation Internet (DSI) concerning architecture, standards, protocols, interoperability, information sharing, and distributed data bases are equally applicable to telemedicine. Much of the vision and objectives of the DMSI are easily translated into the vision for world wide telemedicine.
Computer Communication Networks↗
Distributed computer system for capture, analysis and display of biological data.
A distributed real-time computer system has been developed to automate the collection, analysis and display of biological (pharmacological) data. It comprises a series of laboratory interface devices (CED 1401/1609) connected to a micro-VAX II via multiple IEEE-488 buses. The micro-VAX II is integrated to the main site computers using Ethernet running DECnet. The micro-VAX II system supports a multi-user, multipreparation and multitasking environment and it provides rapid transfer, storage, analysis and display of data. The system saves the pharmacologists from the manual analysis of their data, typically saving them four days of analysis per experiment and has improved both the quality of data detected and their subsequent analysis. Also, the development of a standard data capture procedure on common hardware along with the modular design of application software has almost quartered project development times.
Computer Communication Networks↗
Use of computers in pediatrics: basic aspects.
Computer: 1. An electronic device designed to accept data, perform prescribed mathematical and logical operations at high speed, and display the results of these operations. 2. A person who computes; computist (1640-50).
Computer Communication Networks↗
Automatic record keeping in anaesthesia--a nine-year Italian experience.
In 1986, in Buccheri La Ferla Hospital, Palermo, an anaesthesia information management project was started. Its aim was to develop a computerized anaesthesia workstation. Today, the system is in daily clinical use and has reached most of its original goals: Automatic collection of physiological signals and patient monitor trends is possible by means of analog-digital conversion or by using serial data transfer. A centralized display is included in the system to allow easy control of the progress of the anaesthetic procedures in the hospital. Available in the workstation, there is an on-line help function to assist pharmacological calculations and administration of anaesthesia drugs. Mail messages can be sent to different anaesthesia workstations and data can be shared between them. Information collected during preoperative visits is automatically transferred from a portable personal computer to the system. There is a nine-year patient data-base with both preoperative and perioperative anaesthesia information which can be accessed from each of the workstations. Today, the system is in daily routine use and comprises eight anaesthesia workstations and two portable personal computers used for preoperative visits. The operation schedule with anaesthetists' notes is printed both for surgical wards and for O.R., using information stored from preoperative visits to the system. For automated data collection a trend resolution of one minute has been used. The postoperative orders are printed from the system in the recovery room and given to the wards with the patient. The feedback from the seventeen anaesthetists and twenty-four nurses who use the system routinely is positive. Today, 16,000 patient records are available in the database. This number increases by 3,300 every year. With increasing computer utilization in patient treatment there have been no legal or administrative controversies. Based on nine years' experience, it is clear that the use of computers in anaesthesia practice improves quality of patient care.
Analog-Digital Conversion↗
Safety factors in the remote control of infusion devices.
We have been using computer driven injections in surgery for many years to the benefit of more than thousand patients. Along these years we accumulated extensive experience in remote controlled infusion pumps. Today we have solved many communication problems. Despite the attention and care we brought in our software developments we still meet with some problems.
Anesthesiology↗
Introduction to microcomputer hardware and software.
Although general purpose computers have been available for more than 40 years, the dramatic plunge in the cost of electronics in the past 10 years has finally made significant computing power affordable to almost anyone. However, a large number of people including professionals have little idea of how a computer really works or what it can and cannot do. Presented here is an introduction to the hardware and software of microcomputers which assumes no working knowledge of electronics or programming. The fundamental pieces of a microcomputer are explained, giving some insight into the reasons why present microcomputers are built the way they are. This is followed by a discussion of the fundamentals of how software is used to make the hardware compute. The various levels of software are discussed, then the most commonly used types of user application software are described, and finally some suggestions are made on how to choose a personal computer.
Computer Communication Networks↗
Mini-micro-mainframe computer marriage: combining technologies in a radiology results reporting system.
The minicomputer-based information system in the Department of Radiology at the Medical College of Georgia Hospital and Clinics was placed in service in February, 1982. This system represents a sizable investment in minicomputer hardware in addition to more than 6 years of software customization. One serious deficiency in the original system was the lack of a radiology results reporting facility. Several options were considered to provide the department with this capability. The most obvious option was retiring the existing system and replacing it with one of a number of commercial products already offering results reporting. In-house development of a reporting facility lent itself more readily to microcomputers than to the existing minicomputer system. Due to system customization, economic and time constraints, it was decided to merge an in-house developed microcomputer-based report module into our existing minicomputer system. The minicomputer was able to communicate with and transfer files to and from both micro and mainframe systems. Combining technologies allowed us to continue taking advantage of our sizable investment in money, time, and customization while providing a microcomputer-based report module. Radiology reports are now typed on microcomputer word processors and bulk transferred to the minicomputer. The minicomputer provides access to both unapproved and approved reports on system terminals throughout the department. It also enhances reports by merging patient demographics and registration information. Using existing communications facilities to the hospital mainframe system, reports are provided throughout the institution.
Computer Communication Networks↗
Electronic aids to education and practice in radiology: the personal computer in the radiologist's office.
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Computer Communication Networks↗
Opinion: a prototype for a computerized national mammography registry and tracking system using telecommunications and the Internet.
In this report, we analyze the feasability and discuss the potential benefits of using currently available technology for the wide-area registration and tracking of mammography patients. In our prototype, three dissimilar computer systems transmitted mammographic data (demographics and the results of mammograms) in a standardized format to a central data repository. Two of the three systems were dedicated computerized mammography systems and one was a general-purpose radiology information system. High-speed modems and the Internet were used to connect with the central repository, which could be queried in real time by remote users. Our results indicated that a busy mammography practice, using the slowest transmission method we tested (14-kilobaud modem), could transmit several days of mammographic data to a central repository in a matter of minutes. To implement systems that provide nation-wide mammographic tracking and follow up, more in-depth planning, development, and testing are necessary.
Computer Communication Networks↗
Radiological images on personal computers: introduction and fundamental principles of digital images.
This series of articles will explore the issue related to displaying, manipulating, and analyzing radiological images on personal computers (PC). This first article discusses the digital image data file, standard PC graphic file formats, and various methods for importing radiological images into the PC.
Computer Communication Networks↗
The operational impact of architectural alternatives for radiological imaging workstations.
Characteristics of workstations for use in digital radiological imaging have been investigated for many years. However, much of this investigation has focused on the workstation in isolation, and has often been directed almost entirely at user interface issues. Certainly these issues are critical, but with the increasing use of commercial workstations it is important to look at the workstation in the context of the medical information environment and examine some important underlying characteristics required to meet the demands of digital radiology. This article examines the role of storage components in these workstations both architecturally and operationally. Both aspects are viewed with consideration of their impact on the internals of the workstation and its interaction with the external information system. By considering these aspects of the workstation it is apparent that local storage and image preloading are required to support diagnostic viewing. Additional operational and architectural strategies are required to efficiently manage information within the workstation.
Computer Communication Networks↗
Redirection of client/server relationship of X Window system as a simple, low-cost, departmental picture archiving and communication system solution for nuclear medicine.
Picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) offer significant advantages over current film-management techniques. However, PACS are complex and expensive, factors that have limited their entry into the radiology and nuclear medicine communities. We present a simple, low-cost PACS solution that allows viewing of images from different computer systems by redirection of the X Window system. In this technique, multiple copies of the imaging software are remotely opened from generic UNIX workstations interfaced to the main computer system via Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol over Ethernet. The X Window system that provides the windowing system for the main computer is redirected to the workstations' displays. With this technique, viewing and processing of images on a remote station is virtually identical to working at the main computer's console. The technique requires that the commercial imaging system's hardware, operating system, and imaging software support multiuser multitasking and the execution of multiple copies of its imaging software, and that they use X Windows as the graphical system. Advantages of the technique include low cost, ease of maintenance, ease of interconnecting different types of computers, the capacity to view images regardless of file format, and the capacity to both view and process images. The latter is a necessity for modalities such as nuclear medicine. A disadvantage of the technique is that the number of nodes that can be supported is limited.
Computer Communication Networks↗
Electronic imaging in a teaching hospital intensive care unit: evaluation of the clinical review system.
An intrahospital image-communication and display system was installed and is in continuous use. All images obtained in the medical intensive care unit (MICU) are digitized in the radiology department, then transmitted, stored and retrieved at the nurses' station in the MICU. This unit was easy to install, required minimal user training, and has been in continuous use for 1 year with negligible down time. The details of this system are provided in this report.
Computer Communication Networks↗