High-throughput digitization of analog human echocardiography data

Abstract

Echocardiographic imaging has been acquired in historical longitudinal cohorts of cardiovascular disease. Many cohorts were established prior to digital recording of echocardiography, and thus have preserved their archival imaging on Video Home System (VHS) tapes. These tapes require large physical storage space, are affected by physical degradation, and cannot be analyzed using modern digital techniques. We have designed and implemented a standardized methodology for digitizing analog data in historical longitudinal cohorts. The methodology creates a pipeline through critical steps of initial review, digitization, anonymization, quality control, and storage. The methodology has been implemented in the Framingham Offspring Study, a community-based epidemiological cohort study with echocardiography performed during serial examinations between 1987 and 1998. We present this method as an accessible pipeline for preserving and repurposing historical imaging data acquired from large cohort studies. The described technique:•Outlines a generalizable pipeline for digitization of analog recordings of echocardiography stored on VHS tapes•Addresses research concerns including quality control, anonymization, and storage•Expresses the authors' individual experience regarding observed image quality, training needs, and potential limitations to help readers understand the costs and benefits of this method.

Keywords: Cardiovascular disease; DICOM; Data preservation; Framingham offspring study; Historical data; Longitudinal cohort; VHS.

Graphical abstract

Fig. 1

Timeline of Framingham Offspring Cohort and digital storage standards. In 1983 ACR (American College of Radiology) and NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) form ACR-NEMA Committee to create an imaging standard that satisfied the needs of both physicians and medical imaging equipment manufacturers. Three versions of the standard were released. The first in 1985, the second in 1988, and the third in 1993. DICOM = Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine.