CMInen 2012 Event

Prof. Klink, former Minister of Health, gave a presentation on Why the healthcare system is obstructing innovation and how it can be restored. More and more diagnosis is possible in screening, however, the effects on mortality are marginal. Therefore, anxiety for patients and costs for (unnecessary) treatment are the result. This way of working is advocated by the current healthcare system. However, getting more precision in the diagnosis will decrease the over diagnosis and treatment and reduce the negative effects of current screening. Technological innovation is required to achieve this increase in precision in the diagnosis. However, promising areas for technological break are available but innovations often fail to break through in oud health care system. One of the problems is the fragmentation of healthcare, which hampers investment into innovations. Not only price of treatment should be the focus of research but also the decrease of volume since that is one of the major drivers behind the cost increase in healthcare.

Mr. van Schaik, director healthcare Rabobank, discussed Innovation in high technology health care environments in the perspective of the financial sector. In 2010 a book was published on diagnose 2025 to start the discussion on where the health sector would end up. This resulted in 17 trends in healtcare such as for example individualism, prevention, power to the patient, healthy ageing. The most important drivers for healthcare are the macro economy and politics. In 2010 they concluded at the healthcare system was not sustainable and needed disruptive changes in which technological innovations have to play an important role. Currently, this is further explored in a new initiative called diagnosis technology. This new initiative should provide insight in how and where technology can be used to improve healthcare. Currently we are at a point of a paradigm shift in healthcare from more cost reduction centric to innovation and patient centric.

Fastfourier transform can be performed faster

Computerscientists of MIT have achieved a significant approvement of the fastfouriertranform which was originally developed in the 1960's. The algorithm is the basis for the image acquisition using Magnetic Resonance Imaging. The new algorithm is a smart version of the original one that looses 9 out of 10 frequences of the Fourier Transfer without any loss of quality. This new development could really speed-up image processing in MRI.

RSNA: Philips introduces digital MRI scanner

The digital MRI scanner introduced by Philips at the RSNA already received the Action Award of the High Tech Systems Platform in the Netherlands. The first system is installed at the Catharina Hospital in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. Philips claims that with this novel MRI it is possible to scan faster and more accurate. According to Philips, the signal to noise ratio is improved up to 40% and the scantime is reduced with 30%.

Visualization table for collaborative viewing of 3D datasets

Check out the Sectra Visualization Table. I've played around with it at a conference. Basically, it is a large iPad showing the three-dimensional visualization of your CT or MR dataset. My guess is that the applications can primarily be found in education and teaching. The table works intuitive and after some minor instruction it is very simple to play around with. Great tool that looked like just a gadget in the beginning but clinical applications are starting to be found.