Sciences – Health
Orthanc? Fans of the “Lord of the Rings” will perhaps recall that this is the name given to the tower of the sorcerer Saruman … So, admittedly, Sébastien Jodogne, fascinated by the story and the world of Tolkien was inspired when we had to name her … medical imaging software (MRI, PET scans, etc.). Orthanc is effect is the name of a computer software for the hospital. Free software, “open source”, to be precise.
If we talk about it is that this doctor of computer science from the University of Liège and researcher in the Department of Medical Physics at the University Hospital Liège (CHU) was awarded this weekend in Boston (USA), the most prestigious international distinction in the development of free software. This “award” was bestowed by the Free Software Foundation’s famous Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). This award is given annually to an individual who has made “a major contribution to the progress and development of free software.”
Jean-Claude Marcourt, Minister responsible for Research and Innovation in his ministerial responsibilities, was one of the first to rejoice in “the incredible work done (by Sébastien Jodogne) at the transmission of medical images and its contribution to the development of free software” .
Before joining the University Hospital of Liège, in November 2011, Sébastien Jodogne had worked for companies specializing in the image and the development of computer applications (Jomago, EVS, Euresys).
Without going into details, free software Orthanc – that is to say free – improves and automates the flow of medical imaging between departments of the same hospital, but also between hospitals, and thus helps overcome obstacles related to the interoperability of software often “owners”.
Sébastien Jodogne program has already been downloaded more than 9,000 times. Our colleagues from the “Last Time” interviewed him.
What does this award in the field of free software?
“This is the highest award in the field of free software worldwide. It annually recognizes an individual for his work on free software.”
You are obviously moved …
“This award confirms my that I made the right choice for Orthanc, ie make it freely available to all hospitals for the benefit of the health system and patient. More generally, I am convinced that free software is the tool that will reconcile technology and humanism. It is often feared that technological change will dehumanize medical treatment, and patients will reduce to mere objects. But I think that the continued development of free software in our societies is a great opportunity for patients to resume control of their health, not be under the control of giant and US companies. “
Could you explain what a free software for non-specialists?
“For simplicity, it is a software that any citizen, any association, company or any public authority can legally download and use freely. “
What is the function of Orthanc, its potential?
” I often describe Orthanc taking a plumbing image. In a hospital, there is a large number of pipes that connect its imaging devices. Orthanc acts as an expansion tank in the plumbing, which allows to see what happens in these tubes, puncture images in these pipes, or to re-inject them automatically in other pipes. “
Free software, it is a concept that you defend?
“Free software is a great tool. First, because it is free use by any individual. This helps to reduce the digital divide. Then, the free software is the heart of our digital economy. In 2012, one study estimated the turnover of the free software industry in France at € 2.5 billion, or 6% of the IT software and services industry. “
Already 9,000 downloads for Orthanc is a lot?
“For a niche area such as medical imaging, yes, it is a huge success. Medical imaging is indeed dominated by a few large players (Philips, Siemens and GE) and hospitals have little access to IT developers to automate imaging flows: Download this number implies a need societal. Moreover, a global community gathered around Orthanc. This software is used all over the world, from the United States to India, to Brazil and Russia. Two weeks ago, I learned qu’Orthanc example was used in a Malaysian hospital to show images of patients in multidisciplinary medical consultations … all, of course, benefit the patient! “
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