Philips' SKYLight system consists of a gamma camera that hangs from a steel framework, with two camera lenses placed onto articulating robotic arms that can be moved around a patient, allowing doctors to gather data from longer scan tests for early diagnosis of life-threatening diseases and other critical medical conditions.

The SKYLight system is controlled with sophisticated software programs running on a platform of UltraSPARCR processor-based hardware and SolarisTM Operating Environment (Solaris OE). Two key systems, the JETStream acquisition station and the Pegasys processing station, power the engine and provide diagnostic capabilities for the SKYLight imaging system.

JETStream uses standard networking protocols and a JavaTM technology-based user interface to control and manage the SKYLight network, which connects camera systems with the acquisition server, communicates imaging procedures to the robotic arms, schedules patient procedures, and generates patient records. New code can be added to JETStream with Java programming language.

"In the past, if we wanted to add a small piece of functionality, we would have to verify and validate the entire code base. With Java programming language, we can verify just that one piece and have confidence it will work with the rest of the application. That saves us a great deal of time," said Jeff Hallett, manager of platforms, Philips Nuclear Medicine.

Philips' Pegasys processing station uses the UltraTM 10 workstation with a SunTM Creator3D graphics accelerator and third-party imaging software to render images of the body's internal organs. Philips formerly developed and used its own proprietary graphics cards but now saves time with the Sun cards.

The Sun technologies provide real-time manipulation of patient data, animations and images. Sun graphics accelerator technology allows the Philips SKYLight camera to have three-dimensional rendering. The secure Internet protocols enable network connectivity and support for role-based workflow, including ability to securely share data between nuclear medicine specialists and physicians.

The SKYLight gamma camera uses an embedded SPARCengineR UltraTM AXi workstation motherboard running the Solaris 8 OE to gather data during the imaging procedure. It is critically important that this acquisition system does not falter, since the scanning process relies on gathering data from radioactive chemicals that have been injected into a patient's bloodstream. With reliable Sun technology, systems stay up and running during critical processes such as medical tests. [...read more...]

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