[Data processing in radiology: summary and prospects]. / Datenverarbeitung in der Radiologie: Resümee und Ausblick.

The technical aspects of radiology are particularly suitable for electronic data processing. In addition to automation of radiological apparatus and tumour registration, there are three areas in radiology particularly suitable for electronic data processing: treatment planning, dose calculations and supervision of radiotherapy techniques in radio-oncology. It can be used for word processing in the office and for documentation, both in diagnostic and therapeutic radiology, and digital techniques can be employed for image transmission, storage and manipulation. Computers for treatment planning and dose calculation are standard techniques and suitable computers allow one to spot occasional and systematic errors during radiation treatment and to eliminate these. They also provide for the automatic generation of the required protocols. Word processors have proved particularly valuable in private practice. They are valuable for composing reports from their basic elements, but less valuable for texts that are stereotypes. The most important developments are in digital imaging, image storage and image transmission. The storage of images on video discs, transmission through fibre-optic cables and computer manipulation of images are described and the consequences and problems, which may affect the radiologist, are discussed.

A charge coupled transversal filter for biomedical signal conditioning.

The analysis and processing of biological signals is often hampered by the contamination of these low frequency, often low amplitude waveforms by motion artifact in fluid-filled catheter systems and skin electrodes, power line hum, and so on. Although noise suppression techniques have relied upon low pass filtration of the analog signals with active or passive RLC filters, even the most recent active RLC filter implementations display operational characteristics not entirely satisfactory for low frequency applications.

Modern Healthcare celebrates the 25th anniversary of the magazine's ownership by Crain Communications.

In many ways it's been a quarter-century of change. But in some ways it's been just the opposite. To mark Modern Healthcare's silver anniversary under its current ownership, the magazine's staff took a trip through time, looking at pivotal events in healthcare during the past 25 years and the people who helped shape the industry.

[Computer-aided radiation therapy. Requirements and criteria demonstrated by an example (author's transl)]. / Rechnergestützte Bestrahlungsplanug. An einem realisierten Beispiel erläuterte Anforderungen und Einsatzkriterien

Based on recognition of computer-aided radiation therapy planning the possibilities of this concept are described. Important aspects for program quality and performance are emphasized.

[Measurement of electric impedance as a screening method for diagnosing haemorrhagic diatheses (author's transl)]. / Messung der elektrischen Impedanz als Suchmethode in der Diagnostik hämorrhagischer Diathesen

Changes in electrical impedance during blood clotting have been previously described. Personal measurements on blood of 18 healthy donors and 29 patients with various disorders of clotting gave reproducible results with this method. There was a marked difference between normal subjects and those with bleeding diatheses regardless of type. There was good correlation between impedance changes and the thrombelastogram, the former being more sensitive in diagnosing haemorrhagic disorders. Further studies are required to evaluate its place as a screening method in these conditions.

Ultrasonic tagging of light: theory.

A theory is provided for the detection efficiency of diffuse light whose frequency is modulated by an acoustical wave. We derive expressions for the speckle pattern of the modulated light, as well as an expression for the signal-to-noise ratio for the detector. The aim is to develop a new imaging technology for detection of tumors in humans. The acoustic wave is focused into a small geometrical volume, which provides the spatial resolution for the imaging. The wavelength of the light wave can be selected to provide information regarding the kind of tumor.

High predictive accuracy for detection of left main coronary artery disease by antilog signal processing of two-dimensional echocardiographic images.

Two-dimensional echocardiography has been used to image the left main coronary artery. We have successfully imaged the left main coronary artery in 16 of 19 patients with left main coronary artery disease (LMCAD) and in 14 of 18 control patients using a dynamically focused 3-1/2 MHz experimental phased array sector scanner. Images were displayed with standard logarithmic compression grey scale allocation and with a modified antilog curve which enhances high intensity echoes. All of the 16 patients with LMCAD were identified from the antilog processed image. Only 1 of the 18 control patients had a false positive study. Modified antilog processed images provide high sensitivity (100%) and specificity (93%) for detecting LMCAD. This noninvasive technique could be used to screen patients for the presence or absence of LMCAD.