3. Rise of ultrasound: Given its low cost, mobility and non-ionizing nature, practitioners today use ultrasound for many clinical examinations that 10 years ago would have involved a more cumbersome and possibly dose-intensive procedure. While equipment evolution prompted much of this increased use, advances in image-enhancement software have made increased diagnostic capabilities possible. First developed to reduce noise in MRI imaging, advanced image processing software has revolutionized ultrasound imaging, with noise reduction and sharpening of organ boundaries, propelling ultrasound to major diagnostic tool status. And stakeholders will continue to push the modality forward.

4. Individual preferences require customization: Clinicians in different hospitals and regions typically have specific preferences in terms of image capture and analysis. Certain individuals or groups prefer soft edges while other users find the elimination of speckle to be the most important image-enhancement task. As successful equipment manufacturers serve a huge number of centers and hospitals, it is critical that they can tailor their equipment for success worldwide. Manufacturers can use software to customize their equipment based on end-user preferences, increasing sales and maximizing the ROI of each product. Ultimately, this customization will deliver improved diagnostic value.


Moore's law

Ten years ago, standard imaging equipment could not support the most advanced developments in software. New imaging technology that relied on complex algorithms to enhance images had to be developed in tandem with the hardware to support it. Because of the significant advances made in standard hardware since 2002, many types of imaging equipment can be upgraded by only replacing the software. Given this change, many medical device manufacturers can access the latest imaging advances without significant capital investment, or bothersome installation requirements of hardware upgrades and work with an independent developer to modify existing tools.

Moore's law, named after Gorden E. Moore, an Intel co-founder, states the processing power of an integrated circuit doubles every 18 months or so. According to the current Moore's Law Wikipedia entry, "Moore's law describes a driving force of technological and social change in the late 20th and early 21st centuries." Consider the proliferation of multi-core GPUs and other powerful hardware. This specific advance has enabled a range of image-processing operations that were impractical in the past, literally adding a new dimension to medical image processing. The real-time adaptive filtering of 3-D ultrasound image volumes possible today gives a superior image quality compared to what we once considered state-of-the-art 2-D filtering. With advanced 3-D rendering software, clinicians can produce the "babyface" images that parents love, adding a whole new chapter to medical imaging history and family photo albums.

Järvinen joined ContextVision in 2011, for the second time. He first joined the company in 1984, having earned degrees in image processing at the University of Linköping and Stanford University. He has held numerous management and consulting positions, including management consultant at a global management consultancy, chief quality officer for a global PACS company and managing director for a medical device company. His expertise includes system development methods, operational excellence, medical device regulations and management of high-tech companies in general.


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