REANNZ demonstrates cutting-edge telemedicine technology

REANNZ demonstrates cutting-edge telemedicine technology

REANNZ is demonstrating cutting-edge ‘telemedicine’ technology using its newly established world-first 100Gbps research network across the Pacific as part of the global REANNZ-hosted GLIF gathering in Queenstown this week (26-30 September).

REANNZ has worked in partnership with global networking organisations, universities and research institutes in California (see note to editor below for details) to deliver the demonstration of a global three-way 4K telemedicine application allowing viewers in Queenstown to watch a live stream video of a patient in San Diego being diagnosed by a doctor in Chicago.

“REANNZ is showing the massive potential of high-speed networks to not only extend the reach of New Zealand’s medical experts in providing highly specialised remote care, but also where we’re heading with telemedicine-assisted clinical education and research,” says REANNZ Chief Executive Steve Cotter.

To support the demonstration, REANNZ has constructed the world’s first 33-megapixel ‘Scaleable Adaptive Graphics Environment’ (SAGE) OptIPortal using a two-by-two matrix of 4K displays. Based in Queenstown, this will be connected to Qualcomm Institutes’ 64-megapixel SAGE OptIPortal and EVL’s 74-megapixel installation over the 100Gbps research network.

“This is an unprecedented use of network and media for cutting-edge healthcare, delivered regardless of patient or physician location,” says CineGrid President Mr Laurin Herr.

“The real revolution is not the technology itself - that’s been around for some time - but that now the price of cameras and displays has dropped by several orders of magnitude, these new applications can be made available in areas such as healthcare education and certain medical areas such as dermatology, where viewing is critical.”

The proof-of-concept demonstration will highlight SAGE OptIPortal remote collaborative technology and uncompressed ultra-high definition 4K and HD video for use in dermatology clinical education; cancer epidemiology; and for remote examination, diagnosis, dermatopathology and patient counselling of skin cancers.

“It’s amazing that we can have a patient in San Diego, a Doctor in Chicago and an audience in Queenstown, New Zealand, all experiencing the event as if they were in the same place, with video that’s better than being there,” said Jeffrey Weekley, GLIF Program Committee member.

This Telemedicine Application allows for:
Non-expert medical personnel to perform telemedicine-assisted screenings for skin cancers using remote telemedicine technology
Expert diagnosis and prognosis of patient outcomes from remote sites
Telemedicine-assisted clinical education of medical professionals for issues surrounding skin cancer
Assessment of pathology and diagnostic materials by remote experts
Skin cancer epidemiological review and trend analysis for returning veterans
This demonstration will highlight commercial-off-the-shelf and open source technology that is generalisable for other remote telemedicine applications, clinical education and patient intervention across a wide range of medical necessities.

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