Connecting the intraoral
camera to the computer in the operatory offers the following advantages:
1. Images can be permanently stored instead of just viewed.
2. Images can become part of the patient’s record for future reference.
Disadvantages include:
1. Camera use is more complex since computer must be manipulated as well.
2. Images require a lot of disk storage space.
3. Incompatible equipment can make integration problematic.
4. The camera & computer companies may refuse to service the integration.
ANY CAMERA CAN BE COMPUTER INTEGRATED
In theory, any camera can be connected to a computer. The camera is simply a video source. If the computer is outfitted with a video capture card & appropriate software, then the image should be displayed & captured on the computer. However, reports from clinicians indicate that problems are often encountered, problems such as: computer not fast enough to handle video capture; video signal not compatible with capture card; capture card not capable of handling live video; & software does not support hardware, etc.
Clinicians stand the best chance of success if the capture hardware & imaging software are specified, sold, & serviced by the camera company. Examples include: Dentsply-Gendex (AcuCam camera, VixWin software, specified capture card), & Dicom Imaging Systems (Compucam camera, Dental Imaging Suite software, specified capture card).
Although any camera can be computer integreted, simply capturing the video on the computer does not necessarily mean that the images are stored by patient name, or in the patient’s file.
TOTAL COMPUTER INTEGRATION
The ultimate goal is to integrate the practice management software, the imaging software, the computer hardware, & the camera, so that images are stored right into the patient’s file with all the associated information. If all these pieces come from the same company, then installation, troubleshooting, & service may be less of a problem as well. Currently, only Dentrix offers this solution, other cameras must "bridge" into another companies practice management software.
SOFTWARE BRIDGES
In order to store images in patient files within the practice management software, the imaging software doing the video capturing must use a "bridge" or "link". A software bridge is a program which shares information between two or more other software packages. Before attempting to integrate a camera, a clinician should check to see if the camera company offers imaging software & a bridge to the clinician’s practice management software.
MAKING COMPUTER INTEGRATION EASIER
Several camera companies offer products which simplify computer integration.
MULTI-OP CAMERA NETWORKS
If the computers in an office are already networked, then computer integration results in a multi-op camera network without additional wiring. Each operatory computer gets a capture card & camera docking station installed. One camera is shared between ops. All images are saved through the network to the server.
Computer networks typically have only a single, flexible line running between ops. This is much more simple than the old camera networks which had a central printer & video multiplexer, with multiple, stiff video lines running out to each op.
COMPUTER INTEGRATED CAMERAS IN THE MARCH 2001 CRA NEWSLETTER
The four cameras evaluated in the current study were chosen because they represent four different methods for achieving computer integration.
Compucam 575: Camera, capture card, & imaging software all supplied &/or specified by camera company.
CygnaScope: FireWire output connected to FireWire enabled computer
ImageCam: Camera, capture card, & imaging software integrated with practice management software, all from same company.
QuickCam PC: Camera mounted within computer & integrated with imaging software from same company.
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