WHITIA targets lung disease with remote x-ray unit

Nov 26, 2009

The nonprofit World Health Imaging, Telemedicine, and Informatics Alliance (WHITIA) hopes soon to deploy a remotely operated x-ray device for tuberculosis and black lung disease screening in underdeveloped countries.

Remote electronic imaging device (Remi-d). Image courtesy of WHITIA.

To be presented Sunday at the 2009 RSNA meeting, Remi-d is a self-contained digital system that resembles a phone booth, according to the Chicago-based organization. Patients will be able to interact with a live, remote technician who will guide them through the imaging process; patients then will receive an electronic copy of their x-ray images, which they can take to their clinicians.

Remi-d capabilities include:

An automated patient experience via a computer interface that allows patients to self-manage the multilingual registration process and retrieve results.
Patient positioning and equipment operation by a remote x-ray technologist.
Avatar/patient interaction to provide a digital representation of the remote technologist in the booth to guide the patient through the x-ray process.
Use of teleradiology to send Remi-d images to remote radiologists for interpretation and diagnosis.

The group said it developed the system for use in Africa, South and Central America, and Southeast Asia, where radiologists and technologists are in short supply. It will first be sent for use in South Africa, according to CEO Ivy Walker.

The WHITIA group worked with Merge Healthcare of Milwaukee and the Sociedad Española de Electromedicina y Calidad S.A. to develop the prototype; funding was provided by a foundation grant. The prototype has not yet been submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for clearance, and Walker estimated it will take 18 months before the device can be shipped for use overseas.

SIIM aligns with WHIA to expand imaging worldwide, June 5, 2009

Digital technology sparks revival of global x-ray project, April 15, 2009

World Health Imaging launches global mission, April 6, 2009