Catherine M. Burzik’s scientific contributions

A fast, easy-to-use, manufacturer-non-specific archival display and filming system was assembled and tested in the clinical environment. In this system, character recognition software decodes patient identification information and the type of examination for the archival data base in a manner that is transparent to the operator. Images are stored on an optical disk jukebox and can be retrieved to soft display for review and/or reprinting. Preliminary clinical evaluations with the system connected to one and/or two CT scanners clearly indicate that such a concept can successfully replace and/or serve as a backup to conventional film libraries. It can easily be attached to multiple devices (currently three) that are manufactured by the same or different vendors. Technologist and physician responses to the system have been favorable.

A system that provides a simple and reliable means for archiving image data from various digital modalities has been developed and tested. In this system, image data are frame-grabbed from the acquisition device (e. g., CT, MR, or ultrasound) during the normal process of filming cases, in a manner which is essentially transparent to the technologist. Text information is derived from the frame-grabebd data by applying character recognition techniques. This system is adaptable to many types of image-generating devices manufactured by a variety of vendors. It allows for easy review and/or reprinting of previous cases and will eventually allow previous cases to be viewed at full resolution on soft displays. We have demonstrated that the system is feasible alternative to the use of film or magnetic tape for the permanent storage of CT, MR, or ultrasound image data.