Operating Systems Versus Medical Image Applications

Image for a US Philips Envisor, System Operating Windows XP, being recovered with the help of distribution Backtrack Linux specializes in network security.

Most modalities have architecture of a operating systems based on Windows.

In many cases we see that operating systems for embedded hardware itself, illustrating these cases we have the Windows XP Embedded in some US's VIVID line of GE.

As we all know the Windows platform is known worldwide for its classic errors where the only solution to this problem is the formatting of the entire operating system.

Siemens Mangetom Concerto RM with Windows XP

When working with medical images, we have concerned not to lose the clinical data of patients, in such cases of a lost data the junction with PACS systems guarantee the integrity of data, but in many cases is not possible for lack of PACS systems and backup.

The most part of modalities have a operating systems and a application manager of aquisition of medical images. The operating system that in many cases is hidden to the operator only and is base for a application main in modality.

Some manufacturers have seen the need to have a more consistent operating system for your applications. This is seen in some ways advanced in technology like Magnetic Resonance GE, GE Tomography 64 channels where the same operating platform is Linux Red Hat.

Envisor Philips with Linux Backtrack 2

The choice to Linux plataform is not only to integrity, security and stability, but more by the high level of image processing and consumption of processing.

Particularly I think the Linux plataform adds more features, processing power and stability to image medical systems. Native services such: file transfer protocol, Secure Shell and others allow several ways of interaction and control not to mention the small number of failures and errors in system.