VIRTUS - Remote Videoconsulting for Healthcare
High-quality audio-video medical consulting
The VIRTUS Project provides a solution for real-time communication over voice and video as well as distribution of audio/video content acquired during important medical events. VIRTUS has a wide range of potential applications when it comes to creating high-quality connections between medical and training facilities. For example, doctors in disadvantaged areas can communicate with consultants in centres of excellence, or practical demonstrations can be provided for training purposes.
The VIRTUS system can be connected to a variety of audio/video and biomedical devices in consulting and operating rooms. The medical staff can start real-time videocommunications synchronised with the content transmitted. VIRTUS can be configured and used both by the consultant and by the medical or para-medical staff.
The VIRTUS system is based on well-established standards and has been developed with Open Source systems and technologies, as recommended by the Italian Ministry of Health.
MBI's role
VIRTUS has been developed by M.B.I., which has long-standing experience in high-performance encoding systems and content transmission. Pilot tests were carried out in 2006 in health centres in Emilia Romagna linked to the network "Lepida Sanità". MBI has designed and developed the whole solution focusing attention on high audio-video quality and low latency times while limiting the bandwidth usage. These features are essential to guarantee a good standard of quality during remote medical consultation when using the communication resources currently available within the health structures.
The Partners
VIRTUS has been co-financed by the Tuscan Regional Authorities under the programme DOCUP 1.8.1 “Aiuti alla ricerca industriale e precompetitiva” (Support to Industrial and Precompetitive Research) 2000-2006. VIRTUS has been developed with the co-operation of the Information Technology Department of the University of Pisa, which has contributed to the optimisation of the network management and the quality of service, in order to make the best use of the available resources. The test phase has been carried out with the participation of doctors from USL5 (Publich Health Agency) of Pisa.