Contact Win

English

This publication can only be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, or translated into any human or computer language with the written consent of the copyright holder.

ContactWin and Contact Digital are Registered Trademarks of Dentalica Spa.

DenOptix and GX-S are Trademark of Dentsply International.

Windows95, Windows98, Windows NT, Windows, and Microsoft are Registered Trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

This manual in English is the original version.

ContactWin is a software program for general dental and maxillo-facial diagnostic imaging. It controls capture, display, treatment, analysis and archiving of x-ray digital images from DenOptix T and Contact Digital / GX-S digital imaging systems by Dentalica . It can also handle other types of image, e.g. images acquired by digitizing film with an optical scanner, or colour images from an intraoral or extraoral dental camera.

When properly installed in your computer, ContactWin lets you:

Control scanning and intake of x-ray images from image plates with the DenOptix scanner (*).

Control the direct capture of x-ray images from the intraoral sensor Contact Digital / GX-S (*).

Intake colour images from certain cameras, such as a dental camera, via a suitable video capture card(*).

Export and import digital images in several standard file formats to and from other programs.

Process images with dental specific tools, to enhance their diagnostic value.

Analyze images in order to gather additional diagnostic information which may not be immediately apparent on initial visual inspection.

Create a database of patients, and easily store images in patient folders. The database can be structured for LAN (Local Area Network) and for multi-volume operation.

Note (*): provided that the relevant hardware is available and properly connected with your computer and configured, of course!

ContactWin works under Microsoft Windows95 Windows98 WindowsNT and takes advantages of the general functions there provided. In order to take full advantage of ContactWin , you need to be familiar with the functionality of the operating system.

On-line instructions about all functions of the ContactWin software are available through the Help function. Please use it to supplement the information provided in this manual.

Explanation of symbols

See the following text for other symbols description.

Software Installation

ContactWin requires Microsoft Windows 95, Windows98 or Windows NT 4 for full operation.

To install ContactWin :

Start Microsoft Windows 95.

Insert the ContactWin installation CD-ROM into the proper drive.

An automatic setup will pop up.

Click on Install WixWin and follow the online instruction.

The installation and set-up program will create a "Dentalica Imaging" folder in the start menu.

To uninstall ContactWin :

Open the control panel. Open Install Applications

Click on ContactWin and on the Add/Remove button. Follow the on line instructions

Networking

Operation of ContactWin in Local Area Network (LAN) is possible and esay to configure. In this way, it is possible to share a common mass memory device (e.g. a large hard disk, or a drive for re-writeable magneto-optical disks) between several computers. A different copy of ContactWin shall have to be installed for each of the computers.

Please refer to the file LAN.DOC in the Manual/Utility directory on the CD Rom for complete installation and configuration information. We recommend that a trained professional install and configure ContactWin in LAN.

Configuration and Preferences

It is very important that you customize ContactWin to best fit your requirements. The default for many options can be configured in the "Options" menu. They can be modified at any time. We recommend that you carefully evaluate the available options. They are:

Language - English is default.

Preferences (default settings)

Dentist / Practice name - Free text that will be printed with images.

Tooth numbering - Select between FDI or US system.

Image folder layout : select default image load page.

Drive for database index. C: recommended for stand alone installation

Database image files disk drive. C: recommended for stand alone installation.

Image file format - See Chapter 6.

Automatic images treatments

Treatments automatically applied to enhance visual quality of newly captured x-ray images. We recommend that you keep these enabled, unless you have a special need to do otherwise.

type of image treatments enabled by default

Intraoral from sensor:   Logarithmic, Equalize, Despeckle.

Intraoral from DenOptix:   Equalize.
Pan / Ceph from DenOptix: Logarithmic, Equalize.

Instructions for installation with special hardware

Intraoral sensor:

You may need to change certain settings in the hardware (i.e. memory address, I/O address) depending on the requirements of the computer system. For instance, it might be necessary to change any of these settings in order to prevent conflict with another system peripheral that uses the same resources. Selection is done in the hardware via dip-switches on the board, and you must match the same settings in ContactWin via the 'Options/CCD sensor hardware' toolbox (See also the CCD sensor Service Manual for hardware set-up).

DenOptix scanner:

Scan Edit button: allows you to modify the default scanning selection.

High Res #2: for scanning size 2 intraoral at 600 dpi.

Automatic range control: always keep enabled, except for eventual technical tests (e.g. to test linearity of output as a function of imparted dose).

Resolution: the higher the d.p.i., the better the image definition, but the longer the scanning time and the bigger the file size. Default values are defined in order to match the requirements for standard clinical use.

Video camera:

You need a video capture board to connect your video camera, compatible with Video For Windows. See chapter 5 for compatibility.

Optical scanner:

Optical image scanners are supported through the TWAIN protocol. See chapter 5 for compatibility.

General features

To start ContactWin click on the ContactWin icon in the Dentalica Imaging folder.

ContactWin lets you work with images on the computer monitor as if they were films on a light box. You can display several images simultaneously, even from different patients. You can move, resize, minimize, and/or cascade them (according to the customary Windows functionality).

However, if you have chosen to work in any of the "n images layout" (View menu), images will always be displayed at pre-defined position on the screen.

Any one image can be selected for treatment, analysis and filing, by clicking on it. The currently selected image is highlighted by a title bar or frame of different colour.

A message bar in the lower part of the screen provides information about the selected Image.

All functions can be executed from the menu bar. The most important are replicated in the toolbar.

Different scale factors can be used to display images. The selectable scale factor (1:8 to 4:1, shown in the image title bar) refers to the relation between the pixels in the original image and those in the scaled image on screen, and bears no direct relationship with the actual size of the radiographic objects displayed.

We advise that you do not over-zoom images in pursuit of better detail discernment. Actually, the detection of diagnostic information is best when a moderate magnification factor is used.

You can also export and import images from ContactWin, to and from another software programs. The most popular file formats are supported: TIFF, BMP, JPEG/JFIF, PCX, and TGA. Images are exported as displayed on the screen, not the original untreated image files. Another way to transfer image files to and from another program is via the "Copy" and "Paste" functions in the Edit menu.

Images can be cleared from screen with the Edit / Close image or Close all functions.

Toolbar, Toolbox & status bar

ContactWin provide a toolbar (horizontal) and a toolbox (vertical) for you convenience. You may hide them, or customise them separately. Use the menu Options / Toolbar and Toolbox to hide or show the tools and to customize both tool bars. Though customization, you may add or remove buttons in order to fit your needs. Customization may be different for both toolbars. Customization is saved when leaving ContactWin.

Default configuration :

Select patient DenOptix

Load image Save image

Video camera Print

Undo Close image

Rotate left Rotate right

Rotate 180 Contrast & Brightness

Logarithimc Emboss

Zoom + Zoom -

Fit to screen Exit

All information in the status bar is related to the active image.

Organizing Patient Files and Assigning Images to Patients

When ContactWin  is started, the "Patient Select" page pops up. To select an existing patient, just click on the patient name, then on the "OK" button. You can look for a patient by using the vertical scroll bar, or, in case of a large database, you can also use the search engine by clicking the "Search" button.

To enter a new patient, click on "New", then fill in the records at the right side. This data is optional (you might enter just the surname). Data can be modified at any time.

To remove a patient (permanently erasing all records and images), use function "Utilities / Delete selected patient".

You can recall the "Patient Select" page at any time simply by clicking on the button with the folder icon. The name of the currently selected patient is shown in the title bar at the top left of the screen.

To save an image and assign it to the current patient, use the "Save Image" function. This opens up an image-saving page where you can graphically associate the image to a specific tooth, or to one of the 3 left or right bitewings. You can also save an image without association to a location if none is applicable, as is the case for panoramic or cephalometric x-ray images and for full mouth camera views.

The image-saving page lets you optionally associate a written note with the saved image, and to change any of the file saving default parameters. Click on the "Save" button to complete, or "Exit" to abort.

You can choose between different file compression to save images (see Appendix A for the features of the available formats). The default format can be changed via the 'Options/Preferences' menu.

The original image, without any of the treatments you may have applied, is retained. You can always undo the treatments and revive the original appearance at any time.

Before quitting ContactWin , make sure that all newly acquired images have been either saved or discarded (e.g. with Edit / Close image or Close all).

Recovering Patient Images

In order to open previously saved images, select the relevant patient (via "Patient Select"), then open the "File / Load image" page. There are two types of load page: "Status" (default) and " Browser". You may toggle between them, and you may change the default via the 'Options/Preferences' menu.

Status

In the "Status" image load page, preview thumbnails of saved images are arranged anatomically according to the tooth to which they have been associated. The preview thumbnails of images without tooth association are displayed in the lower part of the window, the most recent one being to the far left.

Browser

In the "Browser" image load page, the thumbnails of saved images are shown sequentially, the most recent being at the upper left corner. Up to 12 images can be simultaneously displayed. You can browse throughout all images via the scrollbar.

You may select any number of images by clicking on them. A green tick indicates the selected images. The "OK" button will cause the load page to be closed and all selected images to be opened in the viewing layout, for normal viewing. An eye-shaped mark indicates the last selected image. If you see an annotation in the note area, it is associated with this image.

You can individually and permanently erase an image from the database with the Delete button.

Presenting images on a full mouth mount

In order to display intraoral images on screen as film were mounted, use the menu View / Full Mouth. ContactWin will ask you to select a mount type. All images of the patients are them loaded and display on a specific place on screen, based on the mount type.

Different images may be assigned to the same location. Use the arrows to switch images. Images are stacked chronologically, the last image is presented first.

Click on an images to zoom it. Click again to reduce it. Use the menu image to modify for all images the brightness and contrast or to apply the logarithmic.

Use print to print the full mouth as it is on screen, including patient and practice information.

Acquiring Images by Scanning Image Plates with DenOptix

Whenever ContactWin is booted, it checks whether a DenOptix scanner is properly connected, interfaced, and powered, and runs an initializing routine, lasting approximately 45 seconds.

The "File / DenOptix Scanner" function causes a window that controls the scanning of Image Plates to open. Note that this window can be toggled open and close without affecting operation.

The scanner will first check the carousel type inserted, and offers then 4 scanning options. These options are designed to allow the operator to select the area of the carousel that will be scanned. The more accurate your selection, the more efficient and quick the scan will be. You may choose to scan the entire carousel as well.

Note that the Edit button (If enable in the Options / DenOptix scanner) allows you to customize the default scanning options.

Click on start to launch the scan. A windows will display the remaining time. This windows may be closed or opened at any time without any effect on the scan. When the scan is finished, the newly captured images are displayed on the screen.

If enable in the Options / DenOptix scanner, the Hi Res #2s button will scan the first row of intraoral at high resolution (600 dpi)

Do not open the scanner door during this process. If you do so, the scanning will be immediately interrupted. The partially scanned image will be anyway made available. You may try to re-scan the imaging plates to recover the entire image. (Please refer to the DenOptix user manual).

Acquiring images with the intraoral sensor.

To capture a new intraoral x-ray image with the intraoral sensor, you only need to position the sensor in the patient's mouth (paralleling technique and the use of the specific positioning and aiming device is recommended), position your dental radiographic generator and emit x-ray. You shall use from 2 to 4 times less exposure time and dose than with film. No connection or synchronization is needed between the x-ray generator and CCD sensor: approximately 1 s after detection of the x-ray irradiation by the sensor, ContactWin will automatically cause the image to appear on the screen (unless you have disabled the sensor). You can immediately examine the image, or use any the various facilities for enhancement and analysis.

Tools: image treatments

Images can be subject to various treatments in order to enhance their appearance and, potentially, the diagnostic information that can be elicited. Some treatments can be automatically applied to the image at acquisition (see Configuration and Preferences), others are only applied when manually selected. At any time, you can undo both the automatic and manually applied treatments, via the "Edit / Undo treatment" function, thus restoring the original display appearance. The Undo function (button with  icon) removes the last-applied treatment only.

Rotate : by 90-degree steps. Use it for properly watching and saving an image according with the real orientation in the mouth (e.g. maxillary or mandibulary).

Mirror/ Flip: sidewise or up-down, to correct an image that has been scanned the wrong way. It is disabled for images from a CCD sensor as these cannot be wrong.

Reverse: converting negative into positive and vice versa, i.e. white to black and black to white.

Brightness & Contrast (button with icon): this lets you control, via two separate scrollbars, the entire gray scale of the image.

Equalize: this enhances image contrast by maximizing the use of the available gray scale.

Logarithmic: this refers to the way the x-ray images are displayed. It lets you take images, with a given overall density, using an imparted dose about 40% lower than if a linear display scale is used. In addition, a logarithmic grayscale visualizes radiographic objects in a fashion that fits the human eye perception better than a linear scale, and is similar to what film radiography provides.

Emboss: this is a spatial filter providing a simulated 3D image.

Sharpen: this enhances the edges at the expense of increased grainy look (it is a high pass spatial filter).

Smooth: a soft blurring filter (it is a low pass spatial filter).

Despeckle: this reduces the 'grainy' or speckled appearance that is typical of x-ray images, at the expenses of a small loss in resolution.

Tools: image analysis

A number of software tools are available to help analyzing images. They are:

Colours: this momentarily produces a pseudo-colour image. This may enhance the detection of subtle differences in radiographic density.

Isodensity: momentarily replaces a (selectable) range of gray shades with a colour. This may be used to better visualize areas of uniform radiographic density.

Histogram: graphically returns the gray scale histogram of a rectangular area.

Gray Section: returns a diagram with the gray levels distribution along any line selectable.

Angle measurement: returns the angle between any pair of segments.

Length measurement: returns the total length of a set of segments. A distance calibration versus an object of known size can be done.

Area measurement: returns the area, in mm square, of any polygon drawn on the image. Clicking the mouse right button closes the polygon and returns the measure. The calibration done for Length also holds for Area measurements.

Printing images

Clicking on the Print button in the toolbar or toolbox print directly the selected image on the default printer.

Operating the "File Print" function opens a printing dialog box, with allows you to resize and move the image on the page, using the General tab, and to add or modify notes (free text) to be printed with the images, using the Note tab.

In order to print multiple images, select the images in the Browser or Status load page, then click on the print button. The print dialog box will be opened, allowing you to select the number of images by pages, to resize or move the images on the page, using the margin and scale fields.

Using the Note tab, you may, for each image, add or modify a note field which will be printed. Use the Next and Previous buttons to switch images.

For all pages, the Dentist/practice name with the patient name will be printed. For each image, the date & time of capture with the notes are also printed.

Operating a dental camera

If a supported video capture board is present and recognized by ContactWin, the Camera function is enabled. By operating this function, you open a window that displays in real time the image fed from the camera. You can freeze the image and, if you decide that it is worth retaining, capture it into the main ContactWin screen. When finished, close the camera window.

The captured images are like any other newly acquired image for ContactWin , you can decide to discard it or to assign it to the selected patient and save it.

See Chapter 5 for compatibility.

Keep floppies and CD Rom in a dry and clean storage, avoiding direct sunlight, hot or humid environment or any electromagnetic field.

PC minimum requirements

Operating system : Windows95, 98 and NT4.

Processor :  Pentium 200 Mhz

Memory :  32 MB

Hard Disk :  4 GB

Video Board :  2 MB video memory, 800x600 true color

Peripheral hardware Compatibility

Intraoral sensor driver : DLL Version 4.1

DenOptix driver : OCX version 2.1

TWAIN : DLL Version 1.5 or greater (32 bits only)

Video camera : Video For Windows : version 1.1 (Windows95)

Printer : Windows driver.

Image file format and compression

ContactWin use different file format to save images in the database, using the following compressions :

TIFF UNCOMPRESSED: Lossless format, fast but using more disk space than other format.

TIFF JPEG LOSSLESS : Jpeg lossless format, slower but using about 30% less space than uncompressed files. Default for x-ray images.

JFIF 100%, 75%, 50%: JFIF compressed format, the percent figure refers to the amount of information that is theoretically retained after compression. Lossy format, however the loss of information on a dental x-ray image is virtually undetectable by the naked eye. JFIF 100% and 75% formats are very practical for saving hard disk space, unless otherwise dictated by the need for very fast filing, or by legal consideration prohibiting the use of lossy format in filing of medical x-ray images. A Medium or High compression format is always recommended for colour camera images.

Typical image sizes (data are indicative and approximate only), in kilobytes:

Size of colour images from cameras is variable, depending upon the features and options of the specific camera.

Applicable standards

IEC 601.1.4 (Medical Electrical Equipment. Collateral standard : Programmable electrical medical systems).

93/42 EEC, European Directive concerning medical devices

Backing up of database

You may want to duplicate the entire database (image files and patient database files) on a back up volume (i.e. LAN, removable hard disk, magneto-optical disk, etc.) in order to be able to restore the information, e.g. in case of a computer crash or fault.

All ContactWin  database files are saved in the Root:VXDATA directory (by default C:VXDATA). In multi-volume configuration, files are saved on different media (floppies, magneto optical disks, LAN etc.) but always in the Root:VXDATA. To back up the database, you need to copy all VXDATA directories from all volumes to the back-up volume.

In order to keep track of the volumes architecture in multi-volume configuration, as necessary for the database, you can create sub-directories on the back-up volume, named for the volume drive letter. For example, copy the directory E:VXDATA in the directory VXDATAE on the back-up volume. For removable media (floppy disks, magneto-optical disks, removable hard disks, data tapes, etc.) create directories VXDATAXyyyyyyyy , where X represents the drive letter (for example A for the floppy) and yyyyyyyy represents an identification code of the removable media.

Restoring a database

In case of the loss of a database, you can restore it by copying back the whole set of VXDATA directories.

WVIXTEST diagnostic utility.

A utility software program is automatically installed at the set-up, to permit testing of the proper operation and hw/sw configuration of the intraoral sensor, when this is installed, independently from ContactWin .

Through self-explanatory, WVIXTEST is meant to be used only by a trained technician, not by the end user.