Rapid 3D visualization is a key factor determining outcomes in patients suffering from acute disorders such as stroke, heart attack and trauma. 3D visualization also aids the detection of subtle and/or spatially complex lesions, and improves communication between doctors and patients. However, its computational cost and storage requirements have restricted it to high-end workstations. These workstations are expensive ($100k per seat) and difficult to use. These factors have limited the deployment and use of advanced visualization in healthcare.

To address this, Calgary Scientific Inc. has created the ResolutionMD Enterprise visualization web server. The server uses algorithms developed in Dr. Mitchell’s lab, plus an array of inexpensive, yet powerful, gaming graphics cards, to perform advanced visualization of many large medical image datasets in real time. The rendered images are sent securely over the network to a web browser. User keyboard and mouse events are sent up to the server to control the visualization. The result is secure, interactive 3D rendering of remote patient images anywhere a user can connect to the internet.

This paradigm was extended to Apple Inc’s new iPhone 3G. We created an application to manage high-speed communication with CSI’s server. No patient data is stored on the iPhone. Instead, user “touch” events are sent up to the server to control the visualization, and the rendered 2D images are sent down to the iPhone, in real time. Now doctors can perform advanced visualization from a device in their pocket.

We believe these developments will further broaden the use of advanced visualization in medicine, assist doctors on call, help doctors communicate with their patients, and improve patient outcomes.