European project RETAIN: new approach for IBC in teleradiology and PACS based on a full ATM network

This paper describes the RETAIN project (Radiological Examination Transfer on ATM Integrated Network), which is supported by the European Community, in the frame of the TEN-IBC program (trans-European networks integrated broadband communication). It links mainly two European sites in France (Rennes) and Spain (Barcelona) with an end-to-end 10 Mbits/s ATM network directly connected to local PACS (medical imaging hospital networks). The RETAIN project includes trials of teleworking session between radiologists of Rennes and Barcelona within a clinical and/or scientific context based on ATM equipment performing DICOM transfer of examination, digital remote manipulation within comprehensive dialogue and high quality visiophony on ATM adaptation layer (AAL) type 1. The paper gives the first results obtained through the trials