Development of a prototype of the tele-localisation system in radiotherapy using personal digital assistant via wireless communication.

Journal of medical imaging and radiation oncology · 2013 · Unclear · Insufficient evidence

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UnclearInsufficient evidencePaper 3171

Study snapshot

PublicationJournal of medical imaging and radiation oncology · 2013

Study typeengineering

Reported directionUnclear

Evidence ratingInsufficient

Abstract

In localisation of radiotherapy treatment field, the oncologist is present at the simulator to approve treatment details produced by the therapist. Problems may arise if the oncologist is not available and the patient requires urgent treatment. The development of a tele-localisation system is a potential solution, where the oncologist uses a personal digital assistant (PDA) to localise the treatment field on the image sent from the simulator through wireless communication and returns the information to the therapist after his or her approval. Our team developed the first tele-localisation prototype, which consisted of a server workstation (simulator) for the administration of digital imaging and communication in medicine localisation images including viewing and communication with the PDA via a Wi-Fi network; a PDA (oncologist's site) installed with the custom-built programme that synchronises with the server workstation and performs treatment field editing. Trial tests on accuracy and speed of the prototype system were conducted on 30 subjects with the treatment regions covering the neck, skull, chest and pelvis. The average time required in performing the localisation using the PDA was less than 1.5 min, with the blocked field longer than the open field. The transmission speed of the four treatment regions was similar. The average physical distortion of the images was within 4.4% and the accuracy of field size indication was within 5.3%. Compared with the manual method, the tele-localisation system presented with an average deviation of 5.5%. The prototype system fulfilled the planned objectives of tele-localisation procedure with reasonable speed and accuracy.

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeengineering

Effect directionunclear

PopulationNot supplied

Sample size30

ExposureNot supplied

Evidence strengthInsufficientConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

A tele-localisation prototype using a PDA connected to a server workstation via a Wi-Fi network was tested on 30 subjects across neck, skull, chest, and pelvis regions. Average localisation time using the PDA was under 1.5 minutes; average image physical distortion was within 4.4%, field size indication accuracy within 5.3%, and average deviation versus the manual method was 5.5%.

Outcomes measured

Localisation time using PDA
Transmission speed
Image physical distortion
Accuracy of field size indication
Deviation vs manual method

Limitations

No health outcomes assessed; study focuses on technical performance (speed/accuracy).
Wi-Fi exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, power, SAR, duration) not reported.
Population characteristics and selection criteria not described in the abstract.

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "engineering",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "wi-fi",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": 30,
  "outcomes": [
    "Localisation time using PDA",
    "Transmission speed",
    "Image physical distortion",
    "Accuracy of field size indication",
    "Deviation vs manual method"
  ],
  "main_findings": "A tele-localisation prototype using a PDA connected to a server workstation via a Wi-Fi network was tested on 30 subjects across neck, skull, chest, and pelvis regions. Average localisation time using the PDA was under 1.5 minutes; average image physical distortion was within 4.4%, field size indication accuracy within 5.3%, and average deviation versus the manual method was 5.5%.",
  "effect_direction": "unclear",
  "limitations": [
    "No health outcomes assessed; study focuses on technical performance (speed/accuracy).",
    "Wi-Fi exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, power, SAR, duration) not reported.",
    "Population characteristics and selection criteria not described in the abstract."
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "tele-localisation",
    "radiotherapy",
    "personal digital assistant",
    "PDA",
    "wireless communication",
    "Wi-Fi",
    "DICOM",
    "treatment field localisation",
    "prototype",
    "accuracy",
    "speed"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1111/1754-9485.12016
PubMed: 23374563

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