Driving CT developments the last mile: case examples of successful and somewhat less successful translations into clinical practice

Aaron D. Sodickson

doi:10.1117/12.2260235

9 March 2017 Driving CT developments the last mile: case examples of successful and somewhat less successful translations into clinical practice

Aaron D. Sodickson

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Proceedings Volume 10132, Medical Imaging 2017: Physics of Medical Imaging; 101320S (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2260235
Event: SPIE Medical Imaging, 2017, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

CT technology has advanced rapidly in recent years, yet not all innovations translate readily into clinical practice. Technology advances must meet certain key requirements to make it into routine use: They must provide a well-defined clinical benefit. They must be easy to use and integrate readily into existing workflows, or better still, further streamline these workflows. These requirements heavily favor fully integrated or automated solutions that remove the human factor and provide a reproducible output independent of operator skill level. Further, to achieve these aims, collaboration with the ultimate end users is needed as early as possible in the development cycle, not just at the point of product testing. Technology innovators are encouraged to engage such collaborators even at early stages of feature or product definition. This manuscript highlights these concepts through exploration of challenging areas in CT imaging in an Emergency Department setting. Technique optimization for pulmonary embolus CT is described as an example of successful integration of multiple advances in radiation dose reduction and imaging speed. The typical workflow of a trauma “pan-scan” (incorporating scans from head through pelvis) is described to highlight workflow challenges and opportunities for improvement. Finally, Dual Energy CT is discussed to highlight the undeniable clinical value of the material characterization it provides, yet also its surprisingly slow integration into routine use beyond early adopters.

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Aaron D. Sodickson "Driving CT developments the last mile: case examples of successful and somewhat less successful translations into clinical practice", Proc. SPIE 10132, Medical Imaging 2017: Physics of Medical Imaging, 101320S (9 March 2017); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2260235

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