iPhone Can Now Broadcast Diagnostic Images of Heart

According to a press release from Heart Imaging Technologies (HeartIT), the iPhone is now able to do something most consumer devices can't: broadcast a beating heart diagnostic image.

Usually sending a diagnostic image of a beating heart requires someone to transport themselves to a special facility. From there, the patient would have to have his heart captured on expensive equipment that costs in the thousands of dollars range. Those pictures are then processed through a multi-million dollar machine known as proprietary picture archiving communications storage (PACS), another development of HeartIT. and then sent to a machine where the physician would come to work and view it. Pretty expensive work for a heart.

Now, according to HeartIT, a system has been set up utilizing the iPhone and its advanced technology. A physician only needs to do a couple of steps. The doctor can log onto the web, register his password and receive the images to be viewed on his iPhone, therefore cutting down the diagnostic time to almost instantaneous. Also, images on the iPhone are much clearer than traditional medical images broadcast over the internet, therefore giving doctors more accurate information to work with. Even the movies are remarkable with their level of clarity. Combine the video technology with the iPhone's speakerphone capability and you'll be able to view and discuss the images with your doctor and his colleagues all at the same time.

One of the challenges the medical world faces with internet diagnosis has always been the privacy of the patient. However, officials from HeartIT have already dealt with that concern. "Patient privacy is obviously a critically-important issue on the internet," said Brent Reed, HeartIT's Director of Software Development. "Fortunately, medical privacy concerns can be addressed using the same encryption technologies employed by online banking and credit card transactions." HeartIT's systems currently provide secure web browser access to over 50 million medical images to facilities all over the world. The headquarters is in Durham, North Carolina and has been opened since 200.

The iPhone's debut to the public caused quite a stir with long lines that began up to a week before its release. Two different versions of the iPhone went on sale on June 29, 2007, with the prices of $499 for the 4 gigabyte version and $599 for the 8 gigabyte model. The iPhone boasts a liquid touch-screen, built-in WiFi capability, multimedia features and e-mail capability.

Source: Heartit.com

URL for Press Release:

http://www.heartit.com/news.html#july_16_2007