Osirix: Imaging Software for DICOM Images

About the Technology

Osirix is imaging software that lets users (doctors, attorneys, others) view DICOM images. These images include those produced by MRI, CT, PET, and other scans. The technology is superior to traditional methods of viewing these images because they allow users to view the information in 2D, 3D, 4D, and 5D. (5D, for example, is “3D series with temporal and functional dimensions”). The software accesses these images on PACS servers (Picture Archiving and Communication System). Images for all patients are stored on these servers and can be viewed by approved users (both inside and outside a given LAN) with software such as Osirix.

Osirix runs on a Mac, and in the last year, the company also released an iPhone application.

Use Case

Primary User: A Doctor (Radiologist)

Goal: Use images to make the most accurate diagnosis and recommend the best treatment; to simplify the process of diagnosis

A Doctor has ordered a series of X-RAYs for her patient. Afterwards, the Radiologist starts up the Osirix program and enters the patient’s name into a search query. All images associated with the patient come up with meta information, including type and date of X-RAY. To evaluate the patient’s condition, the Doctor or Radiologist can combine the images to form multi-dimensional views of the area scanned (as opposed to printing the images - which may number in the hundreds - as film and hanging the images against a light box which offers only a 1-dimensional view). The doctor could then easily request a colleague or outside expert to review the images. The colleague or expert would follow the same steps to access the image server.

Standards

Osirix uses the DICOM standard for images. The program is also able to make images accessible over the HTTP XML-RPC SOAP server of Osirix.

Resources

http://osirix-viewer.com/AboutOsiriX.html

http://osirix-viewer.com/Users.html

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/imaging_3d/osirix.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picture_archiving_and_communication_system