Medical imaging technology has radically altered the way healthcare professionals diagnose healthcare issues and provide treatment. Over the last 150 years, imaging technology has become an invaluable tool and an essential part of modern medicine. Today, developments in digital solutions are further enhancing medical imaging capabilities, enabling healthcare providers to create more detailed images, while also improving our ability to store and share them safely.
Omda’s medical imaging solutions are excellent examples of how modern end-to-end imaging technology is reshaping medical imaging practices. We’ll take a deeper look at how the solution achieves this later in the piece.
How medical imaging technology has developed
Medical imaging technologies play a crucial role in modern healthcare, providing detailed visual representations of the interior of the body for clinical analysis and medical intervention. These technologies enable healthcare professionals to diagnose, monitor and treat various medical conditions with greater precision and efficacy.
From the invention of x-ray imaging by Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen in 1895 to the development of ultrasound in the 1940s and 50s and the more modern CT, MRI and PET technologies in the second half of the 20th century, medical imaging technology has continuously revolutionised healthcare provision. It offers medical professionals non-invasive methods to visualise, measure and understand humans’ internal body structures and has facilitated the development of more intricate and targeted treatments.
Supporting ongoing innovation in medical imaging
Today, significant work is being done to develop new imaging solutions and sustain the technological evolution that has driven improvements in healthcare provision over the last century. However, greater attention is also being paid to digital solutions that support these technologies and enable medical professionals to extract maximum value from them.
In modern connected healthcare systems, we can amplify the power of imaging technologies by ensuring medical images and the information extracted from them are securely shareable, easy to access and compatible with advanced analytics solutions. Doing so enhances clinical support for decision-makers, enables quicker and more accurate medical interventions, and improves patient outcomes. At Omda, we believe it is our responsibility to assist in this process and design, develop and implement digital solutions that harness the true potential of medical imaging technologies.
With this in mind, we wanted to explore several medical imaging technologies that enable medical professionals to leverage their imaging tools more effectively.
AI solutions
AI is having a dramatic impact on medical imaging solutions, supercharging the speed with which we can analyse images and improving our ability to identify small variations or abnormalities. In general, AI is enhancing medical imaging capabilities in the following ways:
- Diagnostic accuracy – AI solutions can analyse images with greater precision than humans, identifying features otherwise invisible to the human eye.
- Workflow automation – AI can automate many of the manual processes inherent in medical imaging processes. For instance, AI applications could run a preliminary scan and flag urgent cases, ensuring the most urgent cases are prioritised.
- Improved imaging quality – AI can set image scan parameters, enhancing image quality and facilitating improved diagnosis.
Data analysis and personalised medicine
Enhanced data analytics enables healthcare providers to comb through the extraordinary quantities of data at their disposal and leverage it to improve diagnosis and treatment. One of the key ways this manifests today is in the drive for increasingly personalised medical treatments.
By analysing medical imaging alongside other healthcare data, such as genetic and lifestyle information, data analytics solutions can help tailor interventions to the individual, resulting in more effective treatments and fewer negative side effects.
For instance, in radiotherapy, data analytics platforms can continuously analyse imaging data during treatment, providing real-time insight into how the tumour responds. Adaptive radiotherapy takes changes in the sizing and position of the tumour into account and adjusts treatment going forward.
Image storing and sharing
In modern medical settings, there is a considerable emphasis on connecting digital systems to allow for improved information sharing and more efficient workflows. Medical imaging is no different. Digital solutions play a crucial role in improving imaging accessibility, ensuring professionals can collaborate easily, and guaranteeing the security and integrity of patient healthcare data.
For instance, Omda provides organisations with an end-to-end systems for capturing, storing, sharing and archiving images of all kinds. It enables imaging and information to be shared securely and safely across multiple departments and organisations, while also ensuring patients also benefit from easy access.
In doing so, it ensures organisations and teams of all sizes benefit from advanced imaging capabilities and can share expertise and information far more readily. The Omda Connected Imaging product portfolio includes several products, ranging from radiology information systems to user-facing platforms that streamline communication between patients and their medical professionals.
However, we wanted to explore Omda Medialab in a little more detail, as it best demonstrates the power of Omda digital solutions to facilitate high-quality image capture and advanced diagnostics.
Omda Medialab Solution
Omda Medialab provides frontline medical professionals with an advanced digital solution for capturing medical images. It facilitates image capture via mobile devices but also integrates seamlessly with a wealth of other imaging technologies, including DSLR cameras, endoscopes and microscopes, among others. The solution then transfers images to Omda’s secure diagnostic ecosystem, where users can leverage the solution’s excellent diagnostics and analysis tools to better interpret and understand the clinical findings.
Omda Medialab includes several key features and functionalities we can explore in greater depth.
Video and image capture
Omda Medialab enables users to capture and store images from different sources using a single, connected system, then access recorded images and videos in any browser on your network. Users can also save bookmarks, comments and snapshots with the use of external devices, such as foot pedals and endoscope buttons. Images and videos can be stored in all formats, including current standard formats and older legacy formats, and they are easy to retrieve no matter which format is used.
Mobile image capture
The solution includes a hand-held and connected medical imaging app that supports photo and video capture while enabling medical professionals to add accompanying notes. The app is designed to support a broad range of use cases, including wounds, trauma and dermatological changes, and it boasts a user-friendly interface that incorporates cropping and trimming functionalities.
Designed to improve clinical workflows by making them faster, easier and less prone to error, the app is fully compliant with all the necessary data privacy regulations and protects confidential patient data at all times. It works on both Apple and Android devices, making it extremely versatile, and it Integrates closely with existing digital systems, such as electronic patient records and patient information systems.
Web-based multimedia management
With its web-based design, Omda Medialab facilitates effective and comprehensive multimedia management so that medical professionals can find what they need quickly, analyse images effectively and extract the necessary diagnostics information. The solution supports diverse medical disciplines, devices and types of media, and enables medical professionals to review and interpret images. They can also add structured metadata for inclusion in the EMR system.
The multimedia management functionality also enables on-screen measurements and side-by-side comparisons with historical data, allowing for easier analysis. Advanced tools allow users to enhance image quality and clarity. The solution is fully scalable, making it ideal for organisations of all sizes, ranging from single-use installations to hospital-wide deployments.
Web-based document handling
As well as multimedia assets, Omda Medialab is compatible with various multi-page document formats, such as PDFs, TIFFs and bundled images. The web-based viewer makes it incredibly easy to review these scanned documents and manipulate them as needed. For instance, users can rotate, zoom and flip their documents to facilitate easier reading or comparison. Users can also split, rearrange and merge documents in the solution, giving medical professionals greater control over how information is presented, shared and distributed.
Workflow management
As with all Omda digital solutions, Omda Medialab improves efficiency by streamlining workflows, simplifying integrations and providing users with a configurable setup that can be adapted to their needs. Whether medical professionals want to introduce second opinions or inbox features, the system is highly versatile. It includes secure user authentication and seamlessly integrates with hospital systems, imaging equipment and patient data systems for a more connected digital experience.
Multimorbidity diagnostics
A system that encompasses different types of images and documents and therefore various illnesses and injuries is highly valuable when it comes to multimorbidity diagnosis. It is notoriously difficult to diagnose multimorbidity accurately and defining patients with multiple chronic conditions is inherently complex. Access to Omda Medialab, which allows easy document sharing and comparison, could make this considerably simpler. Likewise, Omda Medialab’s straightforward integration with the Omda ECG solution further improves medical professionals’ ability to investigate multimorbidity.
Omda medical imaging solutions
At Omda, we believe well-designed and highly specialised digital solutions transform the way healthcare organisations and medical professionals provide care. By improving accuracy, cutting costs and driving new efficiencies, we can create more effective healthcare services that guarantee superior patient outcomes. Omda Connected Imaging portfolio achieves exactly that by simplifying imaging processes, improving accessibility and image sharing, and streamlining medical imaging workflows.
For information on innovative medical imaging solutions or to learn more about Omda Connected Imaging, head to our dedicated solution page or reach out to the Omda team.
