Rapid prototyping of clinical software assistants

Abstract

Computer assistance in image-based diagnosis and therapy are continuously growing fields that have gained importance in several medical disciplines. Today, various free and commercial tools are available. However, only few are routinely applied in clinical practice. Especially tools that provide a flsupport of the whole design process from development and evaluation to the actual deployment in a clinical environment are missing. In this work, we introduce a categorization of the design process into different types and fields of application. To this end, we propose a novel framework that allows the development of software assistants that can be integrated into the design process of new algorithms and systems. We focus on the specific features of software prototypes that are valuable for engineers and clinicians, rather than on product development. An important aspect in this work is the categorization of the software design process into different components. Furthermore, we examine the interaction between these categories based on a new knowledge flow model. Finally, an encapsulation of these tasks within an application framework is proposed. We discuss general requirements and present a layered architecture. Several components for data- and workflow-management provide a generic functionality that can be customized on the developer and the user level. A flexible handling of is offered through the use of a visual programming and rapid prototyping platform. Currently, the framework is used in 15 software prototypes and as a basis of commercial products. More than 90 clinical partners all over the world work with these tools.

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