These days I wonder, “Is there anything the iPhone or iPad can’t do?” The FDA just approved a radiology app called Mobile MIM for the iOS devices. The app won Apple’s Apple Design Award for “Best iPhone Healthcare & Fitness Application” in 2008 and now it has the FDA’s blessing for physician use.
The app isn’t intended to replace a dedicated work station in viewing images and slides, but in the event that such workstations aren’t available or physicians aren’t present and need to make an assessment of a patient’s charts, the app will work.
The FDA took quite some time in reviewing the application, but has decided that it is suitable for use when necessary:
“In its evaluation, the FDA reviewed performance test results on various portable devices,” the agency said. “These tests measured luminance, image quality (resolution), and noise in accordance with international standards and guidelines. The FDA also reviewed results from demonstration studies with qualified radiologists under different lighting conditions. All participants agreed that the device was sufficient for diagnostic image interpretation under the recommended lighting conditions.”
It’s really cool to see mobile applications and devices making their way into the medical field to aid doctors in their work. The last one that comes to mind is the EKG app we saw a little over a month ago where the iPhone pairs with an accessory that measures the electrical activity in one’s heart.
[Via: AppleInsider]