For the last months, I assisted at the development of several mobile applications very useful for remote diagnostic, second opinion and emergency situations. Based on innovative software, such as Waaves, allowing lossless compression, medical images can be send using simple GSM connection and visualized in high definition on Windows mobile phones.

Sample images compressed with Waaves:

Waaves is available now on Windows Mobile 6.1 and 6.5 and used on a variety of phones. It has been tested on ACER phones (S200 and GSMART S1200) and the results are astonishing. I also tested them and the navigation is easy, the decompression time is very reduced (2-6 seconds). The images are clear, the details can be magnified and the contrast and gray level modified by simple touch of the screen…  Here are some pictures of the ACER S200 that I tested:

The most important feature remains the possibility to send the medical images in seconds from a hospital or a clinic to a remote specialist. Annotations and Bluetooth communication with other devices is also possible. Waaves is also available on PCs, Netbooks, USB Keys and ADSL Routers. All these devices are distributed by PARTELEC in France. See coordinates here.

Such devices have been tested by a French company (Nazounki Global Medical Network) ensuring medical repatriation and remote second opinion in Africa. A case study has been developed by Microsoft and can be found here… Moreover, my colleague Dr Bill Crounse, Senior Director from Microsoft, introduced this case study on Microsoft Health Tech Today program.  This month’s program features a segment with Nazounki Global Medical Network.  Here is the link to that segment:  http://www.microsoft.com/industry/healthcare/healthtechtoday/default.aspx#0-4

And here is the link to our full show:  http://www.microsoft.com/industry/healthcare/healthtechtoday/default.aspx#0-0

I truly believe that these devices will allow better care, avoidance of errors and orientation of a diagnostic in emergency situations. Moreover, in developing countries, such devices will allow to reach a specialist when such persons are unavailable in certain areas…

Dr Octavian Purcarea

Global Solutions Manager

WW Health

Microsoft EMEA