We have already been reporting many times concerning Apple efforts to promote Mac hardware and software in Sciences. Today, following a recent update, we want to remind you how medical imaging has been revolutionized by a synergistic alliance of a Mac and OpenSource Application.
Antoine Rosset, a radiologist from the University Hospital of Geneva, has developed an image processing software dedicated to medical images generated from modern medical analytical instruments (MRI, CT, PET, PET-CT, etc...) or from confocal fluorescence microscopy. Its name: OsiriX. We were already talking about one year ago when its was officially launched, but following its worldwide success and the recent version release, it was time to update this story.
Afterwards is a comment from the "Dynamic Imaging Platform" from Institut Pasteur, Paris regarding OsiriX:
Exceptional software for 3D and 4D rendering working perfectly with microscope image files (LSM, TIFF, BioRad format, otherwise use "huygens essentials" to convert other format files). Very high quality rendering images. Surface rendering is significantly better than commercially-available applications. The software is free, based on OpenSource it is evolving rapidly. It works exclusively on MacOSX 10.3. A powerful computer is required (G5).When one look at the quality and contrast of the screenshots, this is quite impressive. A powerful computer is really required only for heavy 3D-4D rendering (PMG5+lot of RAM); but as shown on the official website, one can simply use a Mac Mini or an iMacG5 as a PACS station (Picture Archiving and Communications System).
In addition, an iPod Photo can be used as a mobile archiving device. When associated with iChat AV, OsiriX allows teleconferencing while giving specialists access to the same digital image information.
Another application from SourceForge.net is also available to preview DICOM images: http://irad.sourceforge.net/
