OpenMedic is a set of open source software building blocks for building computer-based medical instrumentation and controls. Software, including source code, is free for noncommercial use.

Saving Money, Without Sacrificing Quality or Features

Using OpenMedic, basic medical devices, such as ECGs, can be built for a small fraction of the cost of today’s units. This will permit quality medical instrumentation to be used in places currently unable to afford it. Since OpenMedic-based systems are PC based, they can have the features of very high-end instruments.

Better Integration of Functions

Today’s typical OR contains many disparate systems, each with separate displays, cabinets, and cables. This presents several problems:

• Staff often must look around the room to view all relevant data
• Cables and cabinets are a hazard – staff can trip on cables, leading to falls and potential disconnection.
• Equipment often doesn’t interface and “play together” well.

OpenMedic will allow much or most of this equipment integrated into a single box, and the important data from these systems can be integrated into a single “dashboard” for easy observation during a procedure.

Rapid Prototyping and Development

OpenMedic takes a building-block approach to development – thus, in many cases, snapping together a few OpenMedic building blocks will complete most of the “difficult stuff” in building a PC-based instrument.

Extensibility

OpenMedic is designed using sound object-oriented methodology. Thus the functionality of the building blocks (classes) can be readily extended with a minimum of effort and testing. Interfaces are implemented so that brand-new objects that “fit right in” can be built to extend the framework. Perhaps you’ve developed a new algorithm for analysis – with an OpenMedic-based instrument, you can integrate the algorithm right into the instrument for research purposes. Once it’s validated, you can share your algorithm with the world.

Reliability

OpenMedic is designed by engineers with experience in medical devices – we recognize that testability is the key to reliability. Thus, testability is designed into the framework from the beginning.

Easy Interfacing with the Outside World

OpenMedic software is written in C#, a language that is widely supported in the world beyond instrumentation. For example, it’s usually utterly trivial to pull data from, or provide data to, hospital IT systems. An enormous number of libraries are readily available for almost any application - say, to speak HL7, DICOM, or SOAP. OpenMedic can bring us a step closer to the integration of instrumentation, lab, billing, and the patient’s medical record.

Dual License Model

OpenMedic will be available either under an Open Source license (GNU GPL) or through a Commercial License.