hAPPy Imaging
Technology and medicine continue to collide with a new app that was just cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is called Mobile MIM and it can turn an iPhone or an iPad into a handy diagnostic instrument. It allows practitioners to view CT scans, MRIs, and other technologies when they are away from their work stations. It can also aid physicians by allowing them to review scans with patients.
“The app comes in two versions: Mobile MIM, for physicans, and VueMe, for patients. Both are free, though MIM Software charges on a pay-as-you-go basis for storing uploaded scans on its servers, and for letting people view them.” These charges are very inexpensive. It costs $1 to upload images even if the scan has several parts. It also costs $1 for the doctor to send the images to the patient or along to another physician for a second opinion. The cost becomes $2 when this is done on an iPad instead of an iPhone.
An initial problem that was encountered was that of lighting. Doctors usually read scans and x-rays in rooms with low lighting. They had to combat the problem using the mobile device in areas where the brightness may be greater. To do this, they included an automatic test for poor lighting. It involves the user taping a small rectangle that appears faint on the screen. If it can’t be seen and thus touched, then the light is too bright for optimal use.
This is a convenient and practical application for mobile devices and diagnostic tools. We really can have the whole world in our hands.