| Medical imaging systems are requiring higher | | | | are important requirements. In an ultrasound system, |
| bandwidth. With the emphasis on real-time | | | | latency is critical because the technician uses the |
| performance and higher resolutions, the amount of | | | | real-time image to properly position the transducer. |
| data processing needed may soon reach staggering | | | | Latency is less critical in CT scan equipment, although it |
| levels. Using input sensors to receive large amounts of | | | | is still an important factor. Both systems require the |
| information along with digital signal processors (DSPs) | | | | performance to scale as processing elements are |
| to turn that analog input into digital data, medical | | | | added to a system. If all of the processing boards are |
| systems are leaning toward backplane-based chassis | | | | contending for a common bus, performance could |
| with high performance. Traditionally, many systems use | | | | actually degrade as the number of processing nodes |
| standards-based architectures like CompactPCI bus or | | | | increases. |
| VMEbus. But with backplane performance hitting the | | | | Bus-based architectures are running out of bandwidth |
| limitations of standard architectures, medical industry | | | | for today's medical imaging solutions. The migration to |
| system designers are looking to new switched-fabric | | | | switched-fabric systems is the natural evolution path. It |
| technologies that offer high performance and high | | | | is important that a switched-fabric architecture already |
| reliability at a reasonable cost. | | | | have all of the necessary hardware and software |
| Medical imaging systems—such as magnetic | | | | components. A switched-fabric system should also be |
| resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) | | | | compatible with PCI-based systems, so that much of a |
| scanning, and positron emission tomography (PET) | | | | manufacturer's previous investment in the system can |
| scanning—are the most in need of higher | | | | be preserved. Regardless....sufficient bandwidth for |
| performance. The intrachassis traffic between the | | | | operating the total facility system (all |
| processor boards, communications boards, display, | | | | applications) is critical. At a minimum the system |
| sensor device, and storage is vast. For real-time | | | | load will require DS3 bandwidth or OC3 bandwidth .... |
| information and clearer, higher-resolution images, the | | | | in larger medical facilities even an OC12 or OC48. To |
| data need to travel at high speeds without errors. Not | | | | assist in determining exact requirements it's highly |
| only is the data rate important, but the processing must | | | | recommended to engage the services of an |
| be reliable. With redundancy and inherent reliability, the | | | | independent technical consultant such as Bandwidth |
| system can be highly available, with up to 99.999% | | | | Solutions. The support provided by Bandwidth Solutions |
| uptime. | | | | is no cost ... and will save you time, effort, money, and |
| In many medical applications, latency and throughput | | | | aggravation. |