Displays: Megapixels Away!
Displays and monitors continue to offer more and more versatility and functionality as imaging modalities produce images that are larger and increasingly more detailed. At RSNA, vendors are offering up some incredibly advanced displays, with powerful and diverse capabilities to meet nearly any viewing challenge. Smart software running in the background is making calibration and display management easier, too.Double Black Imaging (Booth #3365) is showcasing its complete line of LCDs with retractable front sensors and a comprehensive software package for auto-calibration.
The company's WIDE "M"series of displays feature an electronic front sensor that emerges from the bezel then retracts when calibration is complete, eliminating any permanent protrusion into the active area of the LCD. In addition, all WIDE LCDs have integrated backlight sensors that assure backlight consistency and minimize fluctuations in brightness caused by internal and environmental temperatures. The display line consists of 1.3 megapixel (MP), 2MP and 3MP color LCDs as well as a 2MP monochrome, 3MP monochrome and 5MP monochrome with retractable front sensors for automatic calibration.
Double Black's LumiCal calibration software works in conjunction with the WIDE "M" Series. This software and hardware combination allows each display to be remotely calibrated and monitored from a central workstation, send notifications to the central workstation or administrator when the LCD requires service and allows the administrator to adjust and perform DICOM 3.14 calibration on each LCD from the remote location.
Eizo Nanao Technologies Inc. (Booth #5535) is showcasing its RadiForce R31, a 3 megapixel LCD monitor for CT, MRI, PET and 3D rendering. Each color (RGB) is supported with a 10-bit color input compatibility, which displays up to 1,064,330,000 colors simultaneously, providing a high-crisp image perfect for 3D color rendering and fusion images.
EIZO is offering the RadiForce R31 as an addition to a total medical imaging monitor system, ranging from 5MP to 1MP monochrome and color monitors. All RadiForce monitors are DICOM-calibrated. The R31 comes with EIZO's image rotation technology, which allows for easy switching between landscape or portrait modes. Furthermore, the display eliminates the need for special software, ensuring grayscale rendering without banding or color seepage.
The R31 contains all the advanced features and capabilities as the RadiForce 2 MP color monitor R22, including the DICOM part 14 calibration along with quality control software RadiCS, and QC Management software RadiNET Pro.
Matrox Graphics (Booth #5508) is featuring the AuroraVX Series of display controller boards, which powers up to three displays from a single low-profile PCI Express board. In addition, Matrox is demonstrating its MED Series and RAD Series display controller boards designed for PACS, RIS/HIS and patient monitoring stations, plus its TheatreVUE Series of display projection controllers designed for large screen presentation. Information on Matrox OEM solutions for medical imaging modalities such as x-ray, mammography, CT and MRI will be available and upcoming technology will also be on display.
National Display Systems (Booth #6542) is introducing the PrimeVue high brightness 2, 3 and 4 megapixel (MP) color displays, with dual link support on 3 and 5 MP AXIS (monochrome) and 3 or 4 MP PrimeVue displays. The company's built-in DICOM calibration with six factory Display Viewing Protocols (DVP) and one user-definable response simplify setup and reconfiguration to new ambient conditions.
The PrimeVue 3MP provides 400cd/m2 peak luminance with a 400:1 contrast ratio and a grayscale pallet derived from 6,631 gray levels from 12-bit precision tables. The DICOM reference and display response are stored in non-volatile memory along with the six factory presets. The seventh DVP is generated by the panel without the need for a light meter based on user inputs (peak luminance and CR desired). The PrimeVue 3MP can be used as a primary reading device for all cross-sectional and fusion images.
The PrimeVue 4MP delivers 250 cd/m2 peak luminance with a 450:1 contrast ratio on an HDTV (16:9) format of 2560 x 1600.
NEC Display Solutions (Booth #2373) is featuring a number of its latest display solutions, including the SpectraView LCD2180WG LED monitor. The monitor features a light emitting diode (LED) backlight technology which is able to produce high detail and nuances for digital images. The company's super-fine TFT technology, in combination with the backlight system, reaches more than 100 percent of the Adobe RGB and NTSC color scales. The monitor also reduces color/contrast shift problems.
The MultiSync large-screen LCD monitor series includes the 32-inch MultiSync LCD 3210, the 40-inch MultiSync LCD 4010 and the 46-inch MultiSync LCD 4610. Available in a full-function AV version, a basic feature IT version is also available for PC output applications. Additional components in the new feature suite include the patented Tile Matrix feature that creates a near-seamless display for multi-unit applications.
Additionally, NEC is highlighting the MD Series diagnostic displays - the 2 megapixel MD21GS-2MP and the 3 megapixel MD21GS-3MP and LCD2180UX.
Planar Systems Inc. (Booth #8308) is showcasing additions to its Dome series of medical displays at RSNA. The new Dome E4c is a 4 MP color, wide-screen, High-Bright, bezel-less diagnostic display for use in radiology, cardiology, nuclear medicine, PET/CT, dermatology and in the operating room. Color applications include 2D color images, image fusion, and 3D reconstruction in which images from multiple modalities and false coloring create volumetric and multi-plane images. Its 30-inch screen and 4MP resolution eliminates image split caused by the bezel of a dual-head monitor.
The new Dome E3c offers 3 MP High-Bright color or grayscale imaging with DICOM conformance. The E3c is intended for use as a diagnostic display in radiology, cardiology, dermatology and in the OR. With its High-Bright color, E3c enhances visualization of 2D color images, fusion images, and 3D reconstruction where images from multiple modalities and false coloring create volumetric and multi-plane images.
Planar also is showing another new display, the Dome E2c for diagnostic viewing in PACS workstations, modality review, and multi-specialty clinical such as surgical OR, ER and ICU.
RealVision Inc. (Booth #2779) is unveiling its upgraded Graphics Controller Card VREngine/SMD-Adv series, taking advantage of PCI-Express, Dual-Link, high-speed 512MB memory, 30 bit LUT, and huge off-screen spaces enough for more than 500 CT slices. They drive both color and monochrome up to 9MP, as well as offer compatibility with DirectX and OpenGL technologies.
The company also is displaying its newly released DICOM calibration SW LumiCal Client ver2.0 and remote calibration and monitor management SW LumiCal Server ver2.0. LumiCal Client ver2.0 supports all external pods as well as front-sensor on LCD monitors and provides all functions compliant with DICOM pt14. LumiCal Server ver2.0 allows hospital IT engineers to remotely and automatically execute DICOM calibration on all monitors in hospitals.
Finally, RealVision will be displaying its RoHS (Lead-free) graphics controller card VREngine/SMD-Std series.
Siemens Display Technologies (Booth #4337) is highlighting the newest in its SMD product line of high-resolution grayscale displays. The SMD 21302 supports resolutions of up to 3MP and incorporates a number of key features, including continuous backlight control, the built-in CIE/DICOM-compliant grayscale response and Integrated Look-up-Table Storage (ILS) system. With ILS, Siemens displays can store up to five user-defined look up tables, which can be freely selected to tailor the display light levels to the reading and viewing environment at the installation site. With the LUTs stored directly in the display, Siemens displays do not require a specific graphics controller, and changes on the workstation or the graphics card can be performed without having to recalibrate the display. All Siemens displays include a gamma response which is calibrated at the factory to ensure consistent image quality, and each display is fully supported by the company's family of SMfit ACT calibration and conformance tools, allowing users to make local adaptations as needed.
The SMD 21302 is available with an optional protective glass panel for use in environments in which frequent cleaning and sterilization are required.