Virtual sonography through the Internet: volume compression issues.
| Autor: | Ferrer-Roca O; Pathology, University of La Laguna, Tenerife, 38071, Canary Islands, Spain. catai@teide.net, Vilarchao-Cavia J, Troyano-Luque JM, Clavijo M |
|---|---|
| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Zdroj: | Journal of medical Internet research [J Med Internet Res] 2001 Apr-Jun; Vol. 3 (2), pp. E21. |
| DOI: | 10.2196/jmir.3.2.e21 |
| Abstrakt: | Background: Three-dimensional ultrasound images allow virtual sonography even at a distance. However, the size of final 3-D files limits their transmission through slow networks such as the Internet. Objective: To analyze compression techniques that transform ultrasound images into small 3-D volumes that can be transmitted through the Internet without loss of relevant medical information. Methods: Samples were selected from ultrasound examinations performed during, 1999-2000, in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department at the University Hospital in La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain. The conventional ultrasound video output was recorded at 25 fps (frames per second) on a PC, producing 100- to 120-MB files (for from 500 to 550 frames). Processing to obtain 3-D images progressively reduced file size. Results: The original frames passed through different compression stages: selecting the region of interest, rendering techniques, and compression for storage. Final 3-D volumes reached 1:25 compression rates (1.5- to 2-MB files). Those volumes need 7 to 8 minutes to be transmitted through the Internet at a mean data throughput of 6.6 Kbytes per second. At the receiving site, virtual sonography is possible using orthogonal projections or oblique cuts. Conclusions: Modern volume-rendering techniques allowed distant virtual sonography through the Internet. This is the result of their efficient data compression that maintains its attractiveness as a main criterion for distant diagnosis. |
| Databáze: | MEDLINE |
| Externí odkaz: |
|