New Endoscopic Image Documentation System for the Mobile Use for Example on Intensive Care Units and in the Operation Room

Background: Visual documentation of endoscopic examinations on intensive care units or in the operation room is often not satisfying. In most cases visual documentation is only possible on VHS-tape or using a video printer.

Hard- and software: We developed a new endoscopic image and video documentation system for the mobile use to close this gap. Using a foot switch, images and videos are captured and saved on an USB stick. From there they can be easily imported and stored in the regular documentation system of the endoscopy unit.

Image quality: Images and video sequences are saved with 720×576 pixels at 24 bits (16777216 colors). Beside other helpful tools a deinterlacing algorithm to enhance image quality, is integrated. This is very helpful tool, because interlacing artifacts are very common on captured endoscopic images. All digital image enhancing tools can be switched on and off by the user.

Use: The central endoscopic unit of the University hospital of Tübingen uses the system for 6 moths now. We examined a total of 132 patients within this time.

Conclusion: On intensive care units and in the operation room there are quite often clinical interesting and important diagnostic findings. In many cases this findings are even needed for medical opinions. With the new system an easy, cost efficient and quick way of image documentation is now available.

Keywords: image documentation, endoscopy, mobile, intensive care