 |  |  |  |
LINE Imaging Systems
Master the challenges of the digital future in the world of medical diagnostics with LuraTech:
LINE Imaging Systems utilizes high-end JPEG2000 compression software produced by the international software specialist for digitizing medical images from any source.
LuraTech GmbH, based in Berlin, is a leading developer of high-performance compression solutions for digital images, data and documents as well as for JPEG2000 implementations. The JPEG2000 image format was adopted in January 2001 by the ISO Working Group as an international standard. By applying the so-called wavelet process (special mathematical calculation and transformation of image data), JPEG2000 allows greater data compression of digital images. A crucial feature here is that despite data volume reduction, clearly more enhanced image quality in comparison with conventional formats such as GIF or JPEG is achieved. This facilitates a significant acceleration of the workflow in hospitals, companies and institutes. And thanks to shorter download and browsing times, it also reduces traffic and wage costs considerably.
Medical progress means the volume of image data is constantly increasing There is an urgent need for higher-performance compression software solutions for digitized medical images, particularly in the field of radiology. This is because the volume of data to be processed is growing in line with increasingly detailed x-ray, CAT Scan, and MRI studies. The core product from LuraTech – LuraWave.jp2 – is an innovative, easily-integrated JPEG2000 implementation that is particularly recommended for deployment in medicine. For example, LuraWave.jp2 can be integrated in Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) to simplify the archiving and transfer of radiological findings from the databases in local specialist clinics and x-ray practices.
Moreover, with LuraWave.jp2, virtual patient records, which can be used for teleradiological applications, are created quickly and conveniently. This enables significant workflow optimization. Even today, most patients still take their x-ray images home following an examination in order to pass them on to their primary care physician. Instead, forwarding the digital x-ray results online directly to the doctor who ordered the examination, significantly saves on time and costs. To do this, the image data must be so highly compressed that it can be received by all medical information systems, and yet there cannot be a compromise in image quality. LuraWave.jp2 JPEG2000 compression software makes this possible, as the JPEG2000 image format is supported by DICOM (*Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine), the international radiology standard for image acquisition and transfer.
JPEG2000 not only reduces the data volume relative to lossless TIFF LZW compression but also to lossy JPEG compression by a factor of 2 to 3. This is only achievable through use of the above-mentioned wavelet process, which enables grayscale images to be created in 8-, 12-, or 16-bit quality.
A single digitized x-ray or Computed Radiography (CR) image reaches a size of 10 to 20 MB. However, the more complex and precise the examinations are, the greater the amount of data. For instance, with a mammography study, two images are created in duplicate for every patient, each of which amounts to somewhere between 40 and 60 MB. With an ultrasound examination, this figure may increase because the study consists of images acquired thirty times per second. Individual images can then be used to document the case. Even larger image files may occur with magnet resonance imaging (MRI).
By far the most impressive data volumes arise with the latest form of computerized tomography (multi-slice CAT). Here, more than a thousand x-ray sections are generated and then converted in the computer to form a 12-bit grayscale image. Thanks to improved contrast graduation, it is now possible to differentiate precisely between different types of tissues such as bone or various soft tissues. However, with such enormous files, there is an urgent need for a reliable and extremely efficient compression solution.
LINE Imaging systems and LuraTech – a perfect team
This situation was also recognized by two American brothers, Daniel and John Schwartzberg, who founded LINE Imaging Systems in Atlanta in 1992. Daniel is a practicing neuroradiologist, and John is a computer specialist. Today, LINE Imaging continues to be one of the leading developers of software communication solutions for the medical sector. The Schwartzberg brothers introduced WinRad®, their Windows-based image data management system, in the year the company was founded. Working in close collaboration with LuraTech, they succeeded in implementing compression software in the latest version of WinRad® at the beginning of 2003. For the first time, this implementation is designed to meet any compression-related requirement thanks to LuraWave.jp2
“LINE Imaging can look back on many years of research experience in the field of waveletbased data compression. In the search for highly professional image data compression software for our WinRad system, we examined a variety of JPEG2000 products.
LuraWave.SDK quickly proved to be the best solution as it is not just very user-friendly – and therefore easy to integrate into our WinRAD32 application – but convincing in terms of its speed, performance and reliability,” explains John Schwartzberg, co-founder and President of LINE Imaging Systems.
This has opened up entirely new opportunities for the American company, as one of the first imaging vendors that can offer doctors and hospitals a modern medical communication system with an integrated, highly professional and standards-compliant image data compression solution.
“Despite very small data set sizes of the compressed images, our LuraWave.jp2 compression software ensures excellent image quality. Other advantages are the reduced memory requirements and accelerated data transmission. We are delighted to have found an innovative partner in LINE Imaging Systems, which knows how to make excellent use of the enormous potential provided by our software. We are convinced that the sophisticated digital image data management system will find increasing uptake in the medical sector,” states Carsten Heiermann, Managing Director of LuraTech GmbH.
Impressive Features
WinRad® has an appealing graphical user interface and enables the immediate checking of captured images (image viewing) as well as generation, transmission, reception and storage in DICOM and non-DICOM formats.
Furthermore, WinRad32® provides film digitizers and video frame grabbers which can be used, for example, for the production of angiograms not captured in the DICOM format. Another additional feature in this version is the ability to display many images on the screen at the same time for diagnoses requiring comparison of old and new examinations. If required, the WinRad® zoom function means that a clinician can instantly enlarge individual image segments from within the application with a click of the mouse.
Screenshots: enlarged image segment with WinRad® zoom function, © Line Imaging Systems WinRad32® is easy to use even without extensive knowledge of computing. As it is an open software solution, allowing communication between heterogeneous systems, implementing WinRad32® means sustained optimization of the entire internal and external workflow can be rapidly achieved. Thus, image data, compressed with LuraWave.jp2, can be easily exchanged between different image-producing and image-processing devices.
Whether the studies are sent by modem, ISDN, TCP/IP or DICOM, they can, in all cases, be quickly and directly forwarded and accessed by all authorized medical experts and doctors. They can then be reviewed by telephone, e-mail and via teleradiology – as if one were there in person.
The successful use of LuraTech’s LuraWave.jpg2 software in WinRad32® from LINE Imaging Systems shows the possibilities of innovative and high-performance compression solutions in dealing with radiology findings in a complex image communication system. It represents an excellent tool for radiology clinics and practices wanting to archive, receive and transfer larger image files.
IDI Impresses Prospective Clients with PDF Compression Solution
Solution: PDF/A, PDF Compressor
Industry: Government
Banishing the Paper Archive: Rhine-Ruhr Transport Association Moves to PDF/A
Solution: PDF/A, PDF Compressor
Industry: Government
German City of Erlangen Uses LuraTech’s PDF/A Solutions to Support Long-Term Archiving and Data Compression for eGovernment Initiative
Solution: PDF/A, PDF Compressor
Industry: Government
DAK migrates their information archive to PDF/A with LuraTech
Solution: PDF/A, PDF Compressor
Industry: Health Care
The German Resistance Memorial Center
Solution: JPEG2000
Industry: Cultural Heritage
LINE Imaging Systems
Solution: JPEG2000
Industry: Health Care
Overcoming Data Overload
Solution: PDF/A, PDF Compressor
Industry: Scan Service Provider