John P Finley1, Robert Justo, Maria Loane, Richard Wootton. 1. Children's Heart Centre, Izaak Walton Killam Health Centre and Dalhousie University, 5850 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3J 3G9. john.finley@iwk.nshealth.ca
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Remote access to pediatric cardiology diagnostic services is enabled by real-time transmission of echocardiographic images. Several transmission bandwidths have been used but there has been little analysis of image quality provided by different bandwidths. We designed a study of the quality of transmitted images at various bandwidths. METHODS: Two echocardiographers viewed randomly a series of 13 recorded pediatric echocardiographic images either directly or after transmission using 1 of 4 bandwidths: 256; 384; 512; or 768 kbps. An image clarity scoring scale was used to assess image quality of cardiac structures. RESULTS: Measurable differences were found in image quality with different transmission bandwidths; 512 kbps was the minimum for consistently clear imaging of all cardiac structures examined. CONCLUSION: Bandwidth greater than 512 kbps confers sharper images subjectively although this could not be quantified by our methods.
BACKGROUND: Remote access to pediatric cardiology diagnostic services is enabled by real-time transmission of echocardiographic images. Several transmission bandwidths have been used but there has been little analysis of image quality provided by different bandwidths. We designed a study of the quality of transmitted images at various bandwidths. METHODS: Two echocardiographers viewed randomly a series of 13 recorded pediatric echocardiographic images either directly or after transmission using 1 of 4 bandwidths: 256; 384; 512; or 768 kbps. An image clarity scoring scale was used to assess image quality of cardiac structures. RESULTS: Measurable differences were found in image quality with different transmission bandwidths; 512 kbps was the minimum for consistently clear imaging of all cardiac structures examined. CONCLUSION: Bandwidth greater than 512 kbps confers sharper images subjectively although this could not be quantified by our methods.