IBM, Mayo Clinic partner on imaging research

A chip that's mostly known for powering the Playstation 3 console will soon be put to use in new medical imaging applications. Under a new partnership, IBM is working with the Mayo Clinic to find new ways to use the Cell chip in advanced medical imaging systems. Researchers are looking at how the Cell, which was jointly developed by Sony, IBM and Toshiba, could use its raw computational power to make imaging systems work far more quickly than existing technologies. The new Medical Imaging Informatics Innovation Center, based in Rochester, MN, doesn't expect to have any practical designs available anytime soon--participants are at the early idea generation stage. But they're optimistic that they can produce next-gen technology that could turn scans that take minutes into seconds-long processes.

To find out more about the project:
- read this Computerworld article

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