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Article available online at:
http://www.rt-image.com/120808TS
Medipattern Corp.
Breast imaging computer-aided detection system
12.08.08
Email
PrintToronto-based Medipattern Corp. introduces enhancements to its B-CAD breast imaging computer-aided detection (CAD) solution. B-CAD versions 1.3 and 2.3 bring numerous enhancements to Medipattern’s solution for breast ultrasound imaging, which combines CAD with structured digital reporting.
Although ultrasound images are digital, the rest of the interpretative process does not necessarily follow suit. The only way for professionals to note the information between exams is to manually write it down – a menial task, which can add an average of eight to 10 minutes per patient to the sonographer’s workload.
When the information is, in turn, presented to the radiologist interpreting the case, it becomes the burden of the radiologist to decipher the sonographer’s handwritten notes while reading digital images. “B-CAD helps sonographers and radiologists follow lesions more easily with standardized reporting,” says Jeff Collins, CEO of Medipattern.
In addition, he says, “Sonographers can view the prior exam in B-CAD, and then take all of the patient notes, describe images, and take measurements in a digital format. This digital worksheet can be sent to radiologists to review in B-CAD or on their own PACS workstations.”
“B-CAD is also very helpful to radiologists who perform their own scanning, enabling them to view prior images, note details on the current exam, score lesion severity, and finalize reporting quickly and efficiently. The enhancement to B-CAD offers greater connectivity to PACS through DICOM query/retrieve to view prior breast ultrasound studies while performing the current exam and the ability to send reports to PACS in DICOM format.”
B-CAD uses the power of CAD to find the edge of the lesion and characterize it using the American College of Radiology BI-RADS® lexicon, and then B-CAD advances the process by providing the sonographer with the ability to make a completely digital worksheet that is sent to PACS and included in the electronic record alongside the images.
Using B-CAD, radiologists are able to consistently document notes, patient history, and lesion information, resulting in a thorough diagnosis and efficient communication. The enhanced B-CAD is intended to be part of a wide product range that provides radiologists and sonographers with the timesaving tools they need to work effectively while maintaining consistent communication across the enterprise.
“[With B-CAD], the radiologist reads the information from the worksheet on the same workstation used to view the images,” says Michael Cloutier, manager of technical services and imaging informatics at the Manchester, N.H.-based Catholic Medical Center.
“Everything is digital, and all of the information is consistent. And, because B-CAD renders a second opinion, we have been reimbursed for the procedure. B-CAD is a win, win, win. It’s great for the sonographer, radiologist, and for hospital administrators like me.”
The B-CAD enhanced versions have been installed in several partner sites to validate the expanded workflow in multiple environments as part of Medipattern’s Beta Test Phase. While version 1.3 is available for sale in the United States, version 2.3 is marketed globally and available in Chinese, French, German, Italian, and Spanish, as well as English.
“The fusion of text and image information in the same consistent digital workflow provides a unified process that brings CAD beyond marking areas of an image or measuring image features,” says Collins. “B-CAD organizes the process, from reviewing prior information to disseminating current status in a thorough and organized manner. B-CAD is now the catalyst that enables our customers to be more efficient, be more productive and be more effective.”
— Medipattern Corp.
www.medipattern.com
Although ultrasound images are digital, the rest of the interpretative process does not necessarily follow suit. The only way for professionals to note the information between exams is to manually write it down – a menial task, which can add an average of eight to 10 minutes per patient to the sonographer’s workload.
When the information is, in turn, presented to the radiologist interpreting the case, it becomes the burden of the radiologist to decipher the sonographer’s handwritten notes while reading digital images. “B-CAD helps sonographers and radiologists follow lesions more easily with standardized reporting,” says Jeff Collins, CEO of Medipattern.
In addition, he says, “Sonographers can view the prior exam in B-CAD, and then take all of the patient notes, describe images, and take measurements in a digital format. This digital worksheet can be sent to radiologists to review in B-CAD or on their own PACS workstations.”
“B-CAD is also very helpful to radiologists who perform their own scanning, enabling them to view prior images, note details on the current exam, score lesion severity, and finalize reporting quickly and efficiently. The enhancement to B-CAD offers greater connectivity to PACS through DICOM query/retrieve to view prior breast ultrasound studies while performing the current exam and the ability to send reports to PACS in DICOM format.”
B-CAD uses the power of CAD to find the edge of the lesion and characterize it using the American College of Radiology BI-RADS® lexicon, and then B-CAD advances the process by providing the sonographer with the ability to make a completely digital worksheet that is sent to PACS and included in the electronic record alongside the images.
Using B-CAD, radiologists are able to consistently document notes, patient history, and lesion information, resulting in a thorough diagnosis and efficient communication. The enhanced B-CAD is intended to be part of a wide product range that provides radiologists and sonographers with the timesaving tools they need to work effectively while maintaining consistent communication across the enterprise.
“[With B-CAD], the radiologist reads the information from the worksheet on the same workstation used to view the images,” says Michael Cloutier, manager of technical services and imaging informatics at the Manchester, N.H.-based Catholic Medical Center.
“Everything is digital, and all of the information is consistent. And, because B-CAD renders a second opinion, we have been reimbursed for the procedure. B-CAD is a win, win, win. It’s great for the sonographer, radiologist, and for hospital administrators like me.”
The B-CAD enhanced versions have been installed in several partner sites to validate the expanded workflow in multiple environments as part of Medipattern’s Beta Test Phase. While version 1.3 is available for sale in the United States, version 2.3 is marketed globally and available in Chinese, French, German, Italian, and Spanish, as well as English.
“The fusion of text and image information in the same consistent digital workflow provides a unified process that brings CAD beyond marking areas of an image or measuring image features,” says Collins. “B-CAD organizes the process, from reviewing prior information to disseminating current status in a thorough and organized manner. B-CAD is now the catalyst that enables our customers to be more efficient, be more productive and be more effective.”
— Medipattern Corp.
www.medipattern.com
