Automated hands-free image manipulation and viewing: a useful macro feature that assists radiologists in the viewing of chest and extremity digital radiographs.
The authors present an adaptation of the macro recording feature on the Siemens Magic View 1000 workstation, which, with the click of one button, launches a macro that performs 3 clinically useful image manipulations. Using a Magic View 1004 Siemens unix workstation, the following Macro sequence was programmed: (1) select all images, (2) reverse grayscale, (3) edge enhancement, (4) display full-resolution all screens, (5) reverse grayscale, (6) enable zoom/pan function. This sequence of commands takes 11 seconds to complete for a 2-view chest x-ray, and 16 seconds for a 3-view hand series. A pause occurs while the CPU performs the edge enhancement algorithm; this "pause" is used to provide time for the radiologist to assess the images. The time to implement and view these manipulations is reduced dramatically with the automatic viewing macro. More importantly, because the macro takes over the workstation operation, radiologist attention can be focused totally on image assessment and interpretation. Automatic hands-free image manipulation can improve the speed and accuracy of radiologist interpretation for both chest and extremity digital radiography.
Koenker
Ralph M
RM
Department of Radiology, Sutter Novato Medical Campus, Novato, CA, USA. ralph@koenker.com
Grover
Sally A
SA
D003626:Data Display; D005121:Extremities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic