Digital and Medical Imaging

Technological advancements contribute to the medical field more than storing information, however. Breakthroughs in technology allow surgeons improved methods in operations all over the world. Neurosurgeons at UC San Diego Health system found a way to revolutionize brain tumor operation. The team of scientists integrated 3D imagery, computer simulation and upgraded surgical tools to perform a very complex surgery through a miniscule incision (Carr). In comparison to making a large incision and removing an even larger section of the skull, the new procedure reduced the operation site, “[decreasing] the risk of the surgery and

When it comes to medical imaging, there are several different options to choose from for different testing. There are similarities and differences; pros and cons to each. This paper will discuss MRI, CT, and ultrasound. They each have important things to know regarding radiation dose, cost, and reasons to use one over another.

This type of procedure is performed in a hospital or outpatient setting under the supervision of a certified Interventional Radiologist. Commonly performed procedures can include the treatment of varicose veins, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism, IVC filter placement, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), etc. This type of modern imaging has greatly decreased the amount of invasive surgeries as well as limits the cost for patients. With this procedure, imaging such as x-ray, CT, or ultrasound are used to guide the doctor through minor incisions into the body.

Healthcare has evolved tremendously over the last few decades. Technology, being one of the biggest impacts has reached new heights and has advanced our learning and knowledge to places unimaginable. Many different modalities take place in the health field to ensure the greatest treatment for everyone with improving outcomes. Three modalities that have enhanced and have taken special roles in 3-D imaging include, CT scans, MRI, and Ultrasound; each with their own advantages and disadvantages. These modalities all require training, are cost effective, and take a specific amount of time to obtain all the necessary information. These same modalities have different traits regarding the use of radiation, contrast, evidence

The first opportunity for Texas Health Care Imaging is the business slant with the development towards coordinating computerized imaging and electronic restorative records. The move in the medical services industry is consistently acknowledged to advance toward an electronic restorative record and part of that includes a total digital solution of imaging examinations. U.S. Federal government regulations are forcing the industry towards direct digital imaging solutions by 2017 to maintain current Medicare reimbursement rates. The “Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 (American, 2016) will reduce Medicare reimbursement rates by 30% for any non-direct digital radiology imaging. Texas Health Care Imaging arrangements are for the most part

Nurses and other health care providers have to be able to provide the proper education about robotic surgery for their patients, so it is essential that they know all aspects about this technology.

It comforts the surgeons' requirements from a clinical point of view, but also does not add time to the surgery. It is economical and simple to use. The surgeons are truly pleased with the

Radiologists serve as cornerstones in the practice of medicine. Time and again, I’ve seen diagnosis and treatment dependent on proper understanding of imaging. As a Physics nerd, I am intrigued by the cutting edge of technology. My fondest memories of the OR include being swept away by the miracle of image-guided surgery. Our patient had been diagnosed with brain cancer, and the tumor was scheduled for resection. Rather than make an incision and expose the operative area as I’d seen many times in general surgery, the neurosurgeon was able to utilize an instrument that transmitted its position and trajectory to a computer and projected this information onto pre-operative MRI. In this way, the surgeon was able to follow in real time the precise location of his surgical instruments for a minimally invasive tumor resection. This was my first real

Nuclear medicine uses computers and radioactive material to make images of the body to diagnose many forms of cancer, heart disease, gastrointestinal, endocrine, neurological disorders, and other irregularities. The procedure is usually painless. The patient has to take radiopharmaceuticals, or radiotracers before the exam. These are drugs that are injected, swallowed, or inhaled as a gas that emit radio waves from the area being scanned. During the exam the radiotracers give off tiny amounts of energy also known as gamma rays. Special computers detect the gamma rays and interpret them into pictures of the area examined. Nuclear medicine imaging differs from other exams in the fact that regular exams picture the structure and anatomy or the body. Nuclear medicine imaging focuses on the chemical reactions and physiologic processes that go on inside the body, like brain activity or rates of metabolism.

Pediatric imaging is one of the most controversial topics in the radiology field. When imaging any patient, dose, shielding, and risk versus benefit are important factors to consider. However, with pediatrics, those factors plus other considerations become especially important as we begin to consider how the radiation affects their growing cells. The ionizing radiation causes interactions with the atom causing the atom to become charged or ionized. Children are particularly vulnerable to ionizing radiation because their cells are constantly undergoing high rates of cell division. Which makes pediatric, individuals 18 and under, imaging and adult imaging incomparable. Pediatric imaging requires specific examinations, training, and quality of

IGS were first developed for the application in neurosurgical procedures to determine precise anatomical locations, which was deemed to be primordial. The 1970’s saw the trial of computed tomography (CT) – assisted location systems for focal destruction in stereotactic brain surgery. (3-5) These early devices impeded efficient sinus surgery with the need for reference frames fixated to the cranium and positioning of fiducial markers. During the 1980’s, multiple systems were constructed to bypass the need for reference frames, localising instead by acoustic or ultrasound triangulation or even articulated arms. During this timeframe, referencing was always in accordance to fiducial markers.(6) Innovative systems dedicated to endonasal surgery progressed in the 1990s through the use of infrared diodes and opaque radio-markers.(7-9) In 1994, the Americans were the first to describe computer-assisted endoscopic sinus surgery, using a frameless stereotactic system with attached articulated arms of an ISG viewing wand.(10) The technology pertaining to intraoperative IGS in endoscopic sinus and skull base surgery continues to develop.

This imaging system allows the surgeon to see an enhanced 3-dimensional view of the operative field and it provides direct eye-hand-instrument alignment and natural depth perception. This is possible through the use of a dual lens endoscope with two high-resolution cameras.

Technology is transforming the medical field with the design of robotic devices and multifaceted imaging. Even though these developments have made operations much less invasive, robotic systems have their own disadvantages that prevent them from replacing surgeons all together. Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) is a broad notion encompassing a lot of common procedures that existed prior to the introduction of robots. It refers to general procedures that keep away from long cuts by entering the body through small, usually about 1cm, entry incisions, through which surgeons use long-handled instruments to operate on tissue inside the body. Such operations are directed by viewing equipment and, therefore, do not automatically need the use of a robot. Yet, it is not incorrect to say that computer-assisted and robotic surgeries are categories that fall under minimally invasive surgery (Robotic Surgery, n.d.).

Though lossy data compression is often acceptable but the game is not that easy when it comes to medical images. The data from medical imaging examination should possess certain requirements for fidelity [3].

According to Ashish Chandra and Zachary D. Frank, surgeons have been trying to find a more effective method of performing