Filmless multimedia display following cardiac catheterization

In traditional cardiac catheterization laboratories, anatomic images are acquired onto 35-mm cine film and presented in series with related information days, weeks, or months later to an audience of decision-makers. These data are projected onto a convenient light-colored wall or silver screen, while echocardiograms and electrophysiologic data are displayed using small single-user computer monitors. This presentation format is not ideal, because full audience participation is not fostered, image quality may be degraded, and small computer screens can be adequately visualized only by those individuals immediately in front of them. Modern video multimedia systems now make an ideal data presentation format practical, in which all types of media including digitally acquired angiograms can be displayed in parallel with full annotation, using large diagonal multisync color monitors. This communication discusses how to design a multimedia conference center in which remotely acquired filmless digital images can be displayed and processed together with all other pertinent cardiac multimedia to a large audience. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Diagn. 41:456–466, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.