CoActiv Adds 3D-EXAMINER™ to the Second-Generation of EXAM-PACS®
April 14, 2006, Ridgefield, CT – CoActiv Medical Business Solutions, a software and systems provider to hospitals and imaging centers for PACS, tele-radiology and DICOM services, will preview CoActiv 3D-EXAMINER, at the SCAR-2006 Conference, booth #112-114, April 27th - 29th in Austin, TX.
CoActiv will be demonstrating their new full-function 3D medical imaging software, which now becomes an integral part the Second Generation of their EXAM-PACS® enterprise picture archiving and communications system. Not only has 3D-EXAMINER been favorably compared to the most popular 3D color imaging programs, but it will be included with all Second-Generation CoActiv Diagnostic Workstation installations at No Additional Charge. Now, for the first time, PACS users will have the latest full featured 3D color medical imaging software built into their diagnostic workstations. No more third party add-ons, no more separate free-standing 3D workstations to move to… now 3D is only a mouse click away on any exam, right on the radiologist’s everyday workstation. And, since there is no extra charge for 3D-EXAMINER, an imaging facility can now easily and affordably have 3D capabilities on all diagnostic workstations. No more waiting for the one dedicated 3D workstation to become available… no more worrying if you have enough “floating licenses” to cover all your doctors, now all your radiologists have 3D color reconstruction and visualization when they want it.
3D-EXAMINER does represent a departure from CoActiv’s previous policy of developing 100% of their PACS software in-house. CoActiv believes that powerful 3D medical imaging capabilities should be an integral part of every PACS diagnostic workstation, and in order to add this functionality to EXAM-PACS in a timely manner, they have partnered with the dynamic new 3D medical imaging company, Biotronics3D, Ltd. of London, England. The 3D software engine from Biotronics3D, which is customized for use in CoActiv EXAM-PACS represents the latest developments in 3D imaging in the international community and is the results of the efforts and expertise of some of the finest 3D developers from several countries. CoActiv is proud to be able to incorporate this exciting new technology into our EXAM-PACS products.
CoActiv EXAM-PACS not only continues to be the most affordable enterprise PACS solution, but now a hospital no longer has to make the additional significant investment in separate 3D software to take advantage of the tremendous advantages of 3D color visualization now afforded by the new generations of multi-slice scanners and high resolution magnets. The resulting images from 3D-EXAMINER are instantly and automatically saved back into EXAM-PACS for immediate distribution to attending and referring physician either by CoActiv’s patent-pending EXAM-Sender® Referring Physician Solution or by EXAM-CDs produced by EXAM-Filer®, CoActiv’s innovative CD creation system. EXAM-PACS is a software-driven enterprise solution that does not require expensive proprietary hardware and has been continuously updated with added feature enhancements, since its introduction at RSNA 2003. EXAM-PACS continues to be the affordable, flexible, scalable and intuitive PACS solution for large hospitals, small community hospitals, large multi-site imaging centers and smaller, independent imaging centers.
CoActiv 3D-EXAMINER™ includes an extensive assortment of features for medical imaging volume visualization. It provides doctors with a powerful and affordable tool for faster and more
accurate diagnosis of traditional cross sectional examinations.
3D-EXAMINER is a totally interactive tool. The user can change any setting within its operation and instantly see the resultant image for true real-time imaging. This facility allows the diagnostician to be in complete control of imaging processes and produce truly superior results. 3D-EXAMINER’s ease of use makes it perfect for the diagnostic radiologist, clinician and radiographer, as well as for other specialty professionals outside radiology, such as cardiologist and orthopedic surgeons.
CoActiv 3D-EXAMINER is designed utilizing the latest Microsoft user interface style. This
development methodology allows any user who is familiar with Microsoft Windows applications feel immediately comfortable with the GUI (graphic user interface). Smart mouse modes provide for easy manipulation of imaging parameters such as view orientation, window width-level, VOI-Volume of Interest, and zoom factor. The “one-click” design functionality allows quick interaction with the data-sets, maximizing work efficiency and productivity.
CoActiv 3D-EXAMINER is based on the new Biotronics3D medical analysis technical framework. Its unique core design optimizes memory and computer resource utilization. As a result, when deployed as a distributed system, it can work within resource constraints, for example, limited physical memory, low network bandwidth, moderate CPU speed, etc. The rendering component for 3D visualization is purely software based and so can be used with any graphics card on any Windows based desktop computer or even notebook computers. The expensive custom graphics cards and extremely high-end workstations required by other color 3D reconstruction systems are simply not required; allowing for easy integration within existing radiology infrastructures.
Below is a brief preview of some of the multitude of features and functionality that will be included in the 3D-EXAMINER upgrade to Release II of CoActiv EXAM-PACS.
· Automatic Bi-Directional Integration with CoActiv EXAM-Viewer.
A simple mouse right-click in any active EXAM-Viewer series window can automatically launch 3D-EXAMINER on the default color display. The complete series is loaded and displayed in the default 4-Panel MPR Mode-View. The user can instantly change the mode of any, or all, of the display panels to a combination of the Image Rendering Modes described below. Opacity can instantly be linked either to Window/Level control or to the Transfer-Function Editor. When reconstruction and 3D visualization is completed, any selected Snapshots, Slabs or Cines are automatically transferred to the original exam and added as a new series.
· User profiles
CoActiv 3D-EXAMINER is designed around a customizable Graphical User Interface (GUI) that easily adapts to the individual preferences of the doctor according to user profile, specific modality and body-part, implemented via the use of multiple viewing panels. As a result, the user interface can be as feature rich or as simple as the user wants. The new Microsoft ‘look and feel’ makes it very easy and fast to both learn and use.
· Image Rendering Modes
CoActiv 3D-EXAMINER can display study volumes using an extensive number of different methodologies. Users can switch between the different modes on the fly. We support MPR, MIP, MinIP, AvIP, SSD, DVR(colour), DVR(gray) and several integrated combinations of multiple modes, always providing only the highest quality image rendering.
· Interactive Multi-Planar and Double-Oblique Reconstruction (MPR)
With CoActiv 3D-EXAMINER, users can perform automatic and interactive “flythroughs” on internal body cavities (colon, bronchi, trachea etc.) and then zoom in and aid the clinician in the analysis of visible abnormalities. This tool may be used as a screening technique to assist the clinician in the detection and diagnoses of colorectal abnormalities, enabling doctors to efficiently perform less intrusive and more accurate screening procedures.
· CPR (Curved Multiplanar Reconstructions)
CoActiv 3D-EXAMINER also has support for the visualization of anatomical tubular structures such as blood vessels and the aorta.
· View Layout / Multiple Views
Many different view layouts are supported within 3D-EXAMINER: single view, four views, nine views, sixteen views and twenty-five views.
· VOI (Volume of interest) & Visual 3D Shutters
The removal of obscuring structures during 3D viewing of volume datasets is often necessary for optimal evaluation. 3D-EXAMINER provides clip-planes to remove objects quickly and easily from the active view. The user can also use clip-planes to interactively view in the volume, similar to an MPR. However, unlike an MPR, the cutplane is actually displayed within the 3D view. The orientation of a clip-plane can also be transferred to the standard MPR view providing for easy oblique MPR display.
· Measurement & Annotation
With 3D-EXAMINER the user easily can make a wide variety of measurements of lengths and angles, annotate images with text comments and insert arrows. All annotations and measurements are optionally filmed (snapshots & cines) along with the images.
· Input Volume
Users can display volume image data from many sources in 3D-EXAMINER: CT, MRI and 3D Angio. Input series volumes of up to 1500+ slices at 512x512 matrices can be loaded and displayed with only a 1-GB of system RAM and on a system with only a 2-GHz CPU. And the 3D images are calculated using the full dynamic range of the input data.
· Pre-Sets (Templates)
3D-EXAMINER comes with a wide variety of pre-sets, or templates, that store the settings used to create the 3D images. 3D-EXAMINER has real-time preview of presets; when browsing a pre-set, the preview window will show the effect of applying that pre-set to the currently loaded volume dataset. Users can create customized pre-sets, and import/export pre-sets to share with other users. Pre-sets can store more than just window width and level; all imaging parameters can be saved in a pre-set allowing for highly customized capabilities. Users can also link a pre-set to an imaging protocol series description; when a dataset with the series description is loaded the appropriate pre-set is automatically applied.
· Volume De-Composition in Anatomical Components.
3D-EXAMINER provides an extensive set of tools for 3D volume de-composition and tissue segmentation. Those tools include not only semi-automatic segmentation techniques, but also 3D component calculation, measurement, quantitative report and visualization. Thanks to the Biotronics3D-based architecture, the 3D volume can be decomposed in up to 256 different components with just a single command.
· Comparison Mode: Support for Two Datasets.
A Unique feature of 3D-EXAMINER allows users to display two datasets on the same screen (or on different multiple-monitor displays). For example, the two datasets can be the same volume displayed at different settings, or two CT volumes or a CT and an MR volume, or two MR volumes. And, the volumes can be linked for comparison mode. Users can also select the linking of different functionalities.
To examine 3D-EXAMINER and all the other enhancements included with EXAM-PACS Second-Generation, please visit CoActiv at SCAR booth number 112-114, or call toll-free 877-COACTIV (262-2848) and ask for a demonstration.
About CoActiv
CoActiv Medical Business Solutions is a software and systems provider to hospitals and imaging centers, offering a complete line of PACS, tele-radiology and DICOM utilities through their EXAM-PACS® picture archiving and communications system. EXAM-PACS® is an allinclusive, affordable, enterprise PACS solution with image management tools designed and priced for easy integration into imaging facilities of all sizes. CoActiv also offers modular PACS components, which include the EXAM-Filer® CD-Burning Solution, EXAM-Vault® Archive Solution and the patent-pending EXAM-Sender® Referring Physician System that are also available separately for integration into existing imaging facilities. Contact CoActiv at (203)431-0002; www.coactiv.com
