With medical treatment being increasingly provided in a filmless environment, the demand is for monitors that can provide a new level of reliability. Under the banner of "Optimum Image, Same Image", EIZO has applied its know-how and extensive experience as a specialist monitor manufacturer to deliver this reliability. The result is exceptionally precise, stable image display that accurately reproduces the original image, and unifies image display between multiple monitors.
Quality control is vital for monitors.
Does monitor quality remain unchanged?
Monitor quality is determined by luminance, grayscale and luminance uniformity characteristics that change slowly over time.
What happens when monitor quality changes?
In a hospital, when viewing two or more monitors side by side or the same image on different monitors during diagnosis, any changes in individual monitor displays or difference between monitors pose a serious problem.
What can be done to maintain monitor quality?
Monitor quality control (QC) is required to detect and take suitable steps to calibrate slight changes in characteristics.
Are there any standards for monitor QC?
Monitor QC assessment and judgment criteria have been standardized and put forward by organizations worldwide such as AAPM, DIN, JIRA, and IEC.
QC Standards
■ AAPM On-Line Report No.03
“Assessment of Display Performance for Medical Imaging Systems” formulated by Task Group (TG) 18 of American Association of Physicists in Medicine.
■ ACR “Practice Guideline for Determinants of Image Quality in Digital Mammography”
This guideline was formulated collaboratively by specialists in mammography and medical physics who represent the American College of Radiology (ACR), the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM), and the Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine (SIIM).
■ EUREF “European Guidelines for Quality Assurance in Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnosis Fourth Edition”
This guideline was issued by the European Commission in cooperation with EUREF (European Reference Organisation for Quality Assured Breast Screening and Diagnostic Services), EBCN (European Breast Cancer Network), and EUSOMA (European Society of Mastology).
■ IEC 61223-2-5
“Evaluation and routine testing in medical imaging departments - Part2-5: Constancy tests - Image display devices” formulated by the International Electrotechnical Commission.
■ IPEM Report 91
“Recommended Standards for the Routine Performance Testing of Diagnostic X-ray Imaging Systems” formulated by the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine in the UK.
■ DIN V 6868-57
“Image Quality Assurance in X-ray Diagnosis - Part 57: Acceptance testing for image display devices” formulated by the German Institute for Standardization (Deutsches Institut für Normung e.V).
■ QS-RL “Qualitätssicherungs-Richtlinie”
“Guideline for implementing quality assurance of the X-ray systems for diagnostic and medical treatment purposes according to the chapter 16 and 17 of the X-ray Ordinance”. This defines the details of the quality assurance of general X-ray systems obliged by the X-ray Ordinance.
■ PAS 1054
“Requirements and Testing of Digital Mammographic X-ray Equipment” formulated by the German Institute for Standardization (DIN) in cooperation with the German Radiology Society (DRG) and others. This standard defines the details of the quality assurance obliged by the X-ray Ordinance as well as the QS-RL for general X-ray systems and DIN V 6868-57 for image display devices.
■ JESRA X-0093
“Quality Assurance (QA) Guideline for Medical Imaging Display Systems” formulated by Japan Industries Association of Radiological Systems (JIRA).
What's required to start utilizing monitor QC?
You need software that can detect changes in monitor characteristics and perform the appropriate calibration timely.