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Case study: OpenBlockS266

DBOX - Medical imaging system based on the OpenBlockS266

Resource One Inc.

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A DICOM server is a computer used in hospitals to process image data for X-ray, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and other medical imagery. Previously, these servers were big expensive rack computers, too costly for a small clinic. But this was only until Resource One developed the DBOX, a compact, reliable and cost-effective DICOM server based on the Plat'Home OpenBlockS266.

DICOM (= Digital Imaging and COmmunications in Medicine) is a standard for the transmission, storage, display and printing of medical images. To operate a DICOM system, a DICOM server is necessary for a handling the images. It performs image transmission and searches, and delivers the data to the display viewer.

Conventional DICOM servers cost around 10 million yen just for the installation, with high expenses for operation and maintenance in addition. As these systems are designed for large hospitals, with several hundred or thousand beds, they were rack mount units with a fast CPU and a RAID system for storage.

The DBOX concept

For smaller clinics and practicing physicians, these systems are hard to afford, but they are also much larger then necessary. This is where Resource One comes in, with their DBOX concept. It is a small-sized, low cost, highly reliable and maintenance-free DICOM server solution.

The DBOX is very compact, measuring only 125 mm x 80 mm x 40 mm (5″ x 3″ x 1.5″). To make it maintenance-free, it contains no components with moving parts like a harddrive or a fan. For data storage, it uses an easy-to-manage off-the-shelf NAS (network added storage) instead of an internal harddisk.

For easy configuration, the DBOX offers a Web administration interface.

All features are aimed at small-scale environments, but with a cluster of several DBOXes and a large NAS, it can also be used in a larger-scale environment.

The implementation of all features of the concept was made possible by the hardware base, the Plat'Home “palm-sized MicroServer” OpenBlockS266.

The advantages of the OpenBlockS266

The DBOX is based on the OpenBlockS266, with an additional LCD display, a heat dissipation fin and a custom case, and with the DICOM server software installed.

Plat'Home's OpenBlockS266 was a perfect fit for the DBOX concept. With its disk- and fanless architecture, web administration functionality, reliability and durability, and its astonishing cost performance it was best suited to the requirements for medical use.

Of course, prototypes were also built from machines of other companies, but none of these could provide satisfactory results. “With other products, Linux and kernel updates were often uncertain,” says Masashi Goto, President of Resource One.

With the OpenBlockS, hardware and software come from one source, and Plat'Home offers unified support. This was valued highly by the DBOX development team.

“Since hardware and software are one for the OpenBlockS, it fits together as an exciting product. This is what I would call ‘Open Hardware and Software’. I think this is great.”

During development, Resource One kept close contact to doctors and clinics, its future customers. This helped to customize the design to the customers' needs. It also fostered strong sales, and the DBOX is now found in many clinics across Japan. Customer satisfaction is extraordinarily high.

The spirit of invention

Plat'Home and the OpenBlockS series receive a high evaluation from the Resource One development team. Looking at the customer satisfaction with the DBOX, Plat'Home and the OpenBlockS266 have absolutely fulfilled the expectations of the development team. In the words of Mr. Goto:

“As somebody in our staff said, ‘I would want (an OpenBlockS) for my home’. That means, it tickles the spirit of the engineer. It's is a really good product. A techie's toy. And for the user, it is a reliable product. That's how I see it.”

But the true reason for the appeal of the DBOX is the indefatigable spirit of invention of the Resource One development team.

Mr. Goto's high evaluation comes from Plat'Home's full support for curiosity and challenging spirit of the engineer. The Resource One DBOX is an example where Plat'Home's stance has really beared fruit.