The Spin Browser™ video explorer (VE) within Healthcare:   Current Applications, Future Directions

Introduction

Applications

Background

Cost-Free Evaluation Unit

 

Introduction

TechnoFrolics' Spin Browser technology offers unparalleled image quality, perusal smoothness, and fine control, whether moving through 10 seconds or 10 hours of content, in standard-definition or high-definition (HD) format. This uniquely fluid exploration can occur 100% in parallel with ongoing live capture from an endoscope, ultrasound machine, or camera filming a surgery.

We are extremely excited by the medical education and procedure improvements the Spin Browser VE allows, and very much look forward to making more connections in the healthcare field. In addition to offering system purchases, rentals, and license arrangements, we are interested in collaborations such as co-writing NIH grants, field-testing the technology in different clinical settings, offering a laptop-based Spin Browser system for presenting research findings at national conferences, and extending current Spin Browser functionality.

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Applications

Given the success of the Spin Browser VE within GI teaching contexts and museums, and its obvious many additional medical applications, we are enthusiastic to expand the technology's use. With the recent addition of real-time capture, the possibilities have become extremely exciting not only for medical education, but also as a quality of care enhancement during procedures themselves.

Below we outline some possibilities to stimulate your ideas in the areas of:

• Education.
• Marketing/promotion/outreach.
• Increased quality and speed of endoscopic/surgical procedures due to dramatically enhanced viewing flexibility.

Imagine using the Spin Browser VE:

1. To go back during a colonoscopy to look at previously traversed intestinal footage. Of course the scope can physically be moved back, but the ability to traverse in video is infinitely quicker and less risky/discomforting to the patient. This ability can be of use to both the doctor performing the procedure, and medical students/interns/residents being taught.
   
   
2. To see what has become obscured. Often, fluids (blood etc.) released from surgical procedures cloud the endoscopic/laparoscopic view. In this case, often the only practical way to see things clearly, is to go back in time. In addition, there are treatments that require altering tissue, where being able to go back to view the state of the surgical field before the procedure began is highly beneficial. The Spin Browser VE immediately addresses these issues.
   
   
3. To facilitate high-speed procedure review and allow 2nd opinions, in order to enhance care, avoid costly mistakes, etc.
   
   
4. To accumulate over time a fluidly-perusable teaching library.
   
   
5. As an interactive training tool for teaching doctors how to use endoscopes, stents, and other medical equipment.
   
   
6. As a method for allowing instant review and examination of doctor-patient interactions ("bedside manner") evidenced during the role-playing sessions (sometimes video-ed already) that are often part of teaching sessions.
   
   
7. As a unique trade show attraction and educational/sales tool. The Spin Browser system is simultaneously:
• Highly engaging.
• Allows access to diverse content instantly.
• Makes practical showing lengthy procedure videos in time-limited show settings.


8. In touring form, as a unique educational and marketing medium. Sent inexpensively around the country, the unit reaches busy doctors and medical students at times most convenient to them, offering great audience reach due to word-of-mouth sharing of the highly engaging Spin Browser Experience.

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Background

In addition, and of direct relevance to the medically-focused reader, is the Spin Browser technology's five-year history as a powerful lecture tool at the DDW (Digestive Disease Week) and ACG (American College of Gastroenterology) GI annual conferences. At these meetings, the Spin Browser VE allowed presenting doctors to fluidly and instantly locate relevant sequences from within lengthy endoscopic video when responding to audience questions. More information may be found here.

A whitepaper on the Spin Browser system, geared primarily towards museum and aquarium exhibit developers, but including a section on its use as a medical education lecture tool, may be found here. Throughout the document are interspersed numerous client quotes. [And check out our CT scan flythrough exhibit at the Boston Museum of Science's "Beyond the X-Ray" exhibit. (Just still images on the web - sorry. Please request our free demo for a live interactive experience of this installation!)]

Recently, we added the very significant technological enhancement of continuous real-time capture from a live video stream in 100% parallel with fluid perusal. A page explaining the core technology may be found at here.

TechnoFrolics itself began in 1988 as a science-art studio, creating kinetic dancing sculptures such as composed of iron dust in a choreographed electromagnetic field. Over time, our creations have branched out to interactive educational museum exhibits, medical teaching tools, and high-end commercial attractions. A fun 5 minute video (with audio), introducing our work overall, including a 2 minute clip on the Spin Browser technology, may be found here. We encourage you to watch it with friends and family!

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Cost-Free Evaluation Unit

TechnoFrolics offers a demo unit to qualified, interested parties 100% free of charge. The system takes less than 5 minutes to set up and, in addition to be invaluable for assessing the technology, is a lot fun for both the evaluator and friends and family! More information, including enthusiastic recipient quotes, may be found here.

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