Facilities The CMR Unit has three dedicated cardiovascular magnetic resonance systems:
All three CMR systems are linked to a computer network with image viewing and analysis available from any PC within the Unit. The department provides a mini-PACS system based around a Linux RAID system which stores DICOM images directly from the scanners enabling fast image analysis from anywhere in the building. The images are reviewed and analysed using in-house developed software, in conjunction with the VIP department at Imperial College, named CMRTools. CMRTools is a PC Windows based program, leading on from the previous in-house software, RGBWin, which will be used to quantify mass and volumes, velocity, flow, perfusion and lipid values. Image analysis, display and comparison is simple to learn in this environment with familiar pull-down menus and mouse operation. The provision of access of images from PCs means that all fellows can review clinical and research scans at any time without requiring heavily booked time at the scanner consoles. Fellows will attend daily reporting sessions of cases with consultants, the weekly CMR clinical review seminar, the weekly congenital disease review meeting and the weekly cardiology grand-rounds of Royal Brompton Hospital. All the other academic events of NHLI and Imperial College are also available. Fellows will be able to make use of a study area equipped with computers, video viewing facilities, library of major cardiology and imaging journals and an extensive CMR case library. The CMR CD-Rom of the European Society of Cardiology will be available for study as well as the ACCSAP CD-Rom of the American College of Cardiology. There is a seminar room in the CMR Unit, as well as seminar rooms and lecture theatre accommodating regular clinical cardiovascular teaching sessions in the main hospital and adjacent National Heart and Lung Institute, where there is also an extensive medical library. |