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Review of Technology: Planning for the Development of Telesonography

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Abstract

Teleradiology allows contemporaneous interpretation of imaging exams performed at some distance from the interpreting radiologist. The transmitted images are usually static. However, there is benefit to real-time review of full-motion ultrasound (US) exams as they are performed. Telesonography is transmission of full-motion sonographic data to a remote site. We hypothesize that US exams, read after having been compressed utilizing Motion Picture Experts Group version 4 (MPEG-4) compression scheme, transmitted over the Internet as streaming multimedia, decompressed, and displayed, are equivalent in diagnostic accuracy to reading the examinations locally. MPEG-4 uses variable compression on each image frame to achieve a constant output bit rate. With less compression, the bit rate rises, and the only way the encoder can contain bit rate within the set bandwidth is by lowering frame rate or reducing image quality. We review the relevant technologies and industry standard components that will enable low-cost telesonography.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, University of Virginia Health Sciences System, P.O. Box 800170, Lee St., Charlottesville, VA, 22974, USA

    Matthew J. Bassignani M.D., Samuel J. Dwyer III Ph.D., Jonathan M. Ciambotti M.D., Juan M Olazagasti M.D., Ruth Moran M.D. & Sean Moynihan B.S.

  2. Department of Computer Sciences, University of Virginia Health Sciences System, P.O. Box 800170, Lee St., Charlottesville, VA, 22974, USA

    Alfred C. Weaver Ph.D. & Andrew M. Snyder M.S.

Authors
  1. Matthew J. Bassignani M.D.
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  2. Samuel J. Dwyer III Ph.D.
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  3. Jonathan M. Ciambotti M.D.
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  4. Juan M Olazagasti M.D.
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  5. Ruth Moran M.D.
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  6. Sean Moynihan B.S.
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  7. Alfred C. Weaver Ph.D.
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  8. Andrew M. Snyder M.S.
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Correspondence to Matthew J. Bassignani M.D..

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Bassignani, M.J., Dwyer, S.J., Ciambotti, J.M. et al. Review of Technology: Planning for the Development of Telesonography. J Digit Imaging 17, 18–27 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10278-003-1721-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10278-003-1721-4

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