Computer Peripherals
Printers: General Office Use
Printers: Patient Treatment Reports
Color Laser Printers
Multifunction Devices: Printer-Scanner-Copier-Fax
Scanners
Input Devices
Monitors
Dual Monitor Cards
Uninterruptible Power Supplies
Label Printers
Patient Education and Entertainment
Printers: General Office Use
Laser printers remain the industry standard for general office printing, whether you purchase a color or monochrome one. This printer will serve as the "workhorse printer." Monochrome laser printers offer unsurpassed reliability with archival printouts for both individual and networked usage. Please consider the following features when deciding which printer to purchase:
1. Printing clarity is determined by the printer's resolution - consider only a laser printer that produces 1200 x 1200 native dots per inch (dpi).
2. Purchase a printer that corresponds to the printer's intended workload. A printer that is rated at 10,000 pages per month and 35 or more pages per minute (ppm) is ideal for the average endodontic office.
3. Buy a printer that performs automatic two-sided printing (duplexing).
4. Consider purchasing a network ready (integrated) printer if two or more users will be sharing the printer.
5. Get the first page fast: in less than 9.5 seconds, data transfer from computer with Hi-Speed USB 2.0.
6. Make sure the printer can accommodate both letter and legal size paper. A printer with several paper trays (500 sheet capacity) may also increase efficiency if both letterhead and plain paper are used.
7. A printer with a larger amount of installed memory will increase printing speed. Consider a printer with 400MHz processor with 48MB of RAM.
The HP LaserJet P3005x is ideal for a single workstation or for a small workgroup where 35 ppm is adequate. It prints at true 1200 x 1200 dpi and comes with two input trays.
A network-ready printer is only needed if you want to be able to print from any computer to one central printer. It is connected to the network switch (hub) and is viewed as a separate network device.
Printers: Patient Treatment Reports
Inkjet printers remain the standard for printing digital radiographs and visible light images in today's endodontic office. Even the laser printer cannot match the image quality of an inkjet printer for digital images. Since radiographic interpretation depends on a high resolution image, the best image quality takes precedence over speed and cost per image.
The Epson Stylus R2880 printer is my current choice for printing digital images in the endodontic office environment. It features
1. Epson UltraChrome K3™ with Vivid Magenta pigment inkset
2. Advanced magenta pigments - astounding reds, blues and purples
3. Advanced Black-and-White Photo Mode
4. Fine art, canvas and roll paper printing
5. Radiance™ technology for smoother gradations
6. Epson PreciseColor™ - no calibration needed
Produce exhibition quality prints with unprecedented control with the Epson R2880 photo printer, the choice for professional and fine art photographers. With its innovative ink set, Epson UltraChrome K3™ with Vivid Magenta, this powerful printer offers an astounding color gamut for brilliant reds, blues and purples.
Designed to easily deliver large-format photos worthy of gallery display, the 13-inch R2880 includes Radiance™ technology, which ensures smooth color transitions, and improved highlight and shadow detail. Its three-level black technology offers exceptional gray balance and outstanding tonal range. And, Advanced Black-and-White Photo Mode ensures precision control for neutral or toned black-and-white prints. Take your creativity further with its versatile media handling capabilities. Print on roll paper, fine art paper or 1.3 mm thick art board. The R2880 always delivers professional performance with its one-inch wide, permanent print head. And, for more consistent printing, it includes Automatic Nozzle Check technology, plus Epson PreciseColor™. Achieve professional results, with the quality, control and versatility of the Epson R2880 photo printer.
This unit will print archival images that are estimated to last up to200 years on media up to 13 x 44 inches. It also includes two high-speed USB2 ports - you can connect two CPUs to the printer at the same time.
Ink: Epson brand inks can be purchased at most large office supply stores via catalog sales but are usually not stocked at store locations. Aftermarket inks can be bought at 4InkJets at your own risk.
Paper: While Epson recommends their heavy weight matte finish paper, most referring doctors don't like the thickness. We use Epson's photo quality ink jet paper "Epson Matte Paper #S041062" (27lb 4.9mil 8.5" x 11" 90 ISO brightness), 3/5 stars. This paper is thinner but is not archival, not recommended by Epson tech support for this printer, but seems to feed smoothly.
Color Laser Printers
These printers can match the best laser printers for black and white, but the color images will prove inadequate. Color forms, however, will look very cool, but this printer and its inks sell at a premium for this advantage.
Multifunction Printers: Printer-Scanner-Copier-Fax
Scanners
Scanning documents in the endodontic office affords excellent opportunities such as increasing security, reducing storage space and improving efficiency. Scanners can transmit their documents in a variety of formats, so careful attention should be given to the compatibility with dental management software. The idea is to scan documents into a patient's individual file so that all documents for that particular patient are easily accessible. Accounting and other miscellaneous office documents can also be scanned into a file on the server or client workstation for easy retrieval. Both scanners listed below include native support for Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). PDF file format have become the document exchange standard due to its wide industry acceptance. PDF files can be viewed independently from other application software and they can be viewed as thumbnails in Microsoft Office application software, and each document can be password protected.
PDF: Unlike TIFF and JPEG image formats, PDF encapsulates other compression formats so that documents become application independent. These files have embedded metadata, or data within the image that can authenticate the document. As an open specification, PDF documents also maintain documents in a consistent format which makes PDF the best choice for long-term archiving, preserving the original appearance.
Security: PDF files improve security through digital signatures and document encryption features that improve HIPPA compliance and address general business security demands. All PDF files can be password protected to limit access only to those authorized to view the contents.
Versatility: PDF files can be viewed on every major computing platform including Microsoft Windows, Mac OS and UNIX.
Searchable Images: PDF creates image files that can be searched and indexed by Optical Character Recognition (OCR). Processing a document with OCR produces a searchable bitmap that is hidden behind the image, while preserving the look of the original image.
Fujitsu fi-4120C is a one-button "always-on" scanner which allows duplex color and monochrome scanning. Simplex (one sided): monochrome and grayscale @ 200dpi is 25ppm, and 25ppm for Color @ 150dpi; duplex is 25ipm for monochrome and grayscale @ 200dpi and 25ipm for color @ 150dpi. It uses dual color CCD image sensors with 50-600 dpi (600 optical) resolution. This device includes automatic features such as color, page size and blank-page detection according to the manufacturer. It is a compact size (6.3"H x 11.9"W x6.7"D) and has a 50-page automatic document feeder. The scanner includes a complete version of Adobe® Acrobat® 5.0 software. The interface to your computer can be switched between SCSI-2 and USB 1.1 (box includes a PCI SCSI card and cable, and a 6" USB cable). This scanner supports TWAIN, which is probably the driver that your office management software automatically uses.
Input Devices
Mouse and keyboard combinations have improved in recent years in both reliability and ergonomics. Choosing the cordless keyboard and optical mouse allows easy asepsis in the operatory setting. Application of clear plastic food wrap (Kirkland brand at Costco) around the keyboard and a zip-lock type baggie for the mouse will provide a protective barrier during patient examination and treatment.
The Logitech Cordless Desktop MX for Bluetooth is the ergonomic (split-key keyboard with mouse charger/antenna) choice for cordless keyboards with enhanced function keys, multimedia control, USB and PS/2 connectivity, and extended range of up to 30 feet.
Monitors
The gold standard for administrative and front desk workstations are LCD screens. But all flat screens are not created equal. Here is what to look for when selecting a screen:
1. Does the screen have the VESA standard hole pattern on the back so it can be mounted to an industry standard mounting arm? If it meets this standard, it has a mounting hole pattern in the back shaped like a square that measures 75 x 75mm (3" x 3") or 100 x 100 mm (4" x 4"). Ergotron manufactures many types of articulated support arms for LCD monitors. We use the Neo-Flex® HD Wall Mount Swing Arm, part number: 45-194-194.
2. LCD monitors are measured by the size of the viewable area. Minimum recommended screen size is 24". Most screens list horizontal and vertical viewing angles of at least 140 degrees. The ideal horizontal viewing angle is 160 degrees or more.
3. LCD is a transmissive technology. A fixed-intensity fluorescent white backlight is filtered by the liquid crystals arranged between two finely grooved surfaces. When the backlight finally fails, the screen will have to be repaired with a new backlight. Make sure the screen you purchase has at lease a three year warrantee on the backlight. Most LCD screens will last about 60,000 hours (6.8 years) of continuous use. When the screen burns out, it will go black.
4. If an LCD panel has a native resolution of 1920x1200, it can display other resolutions by using a part of the screen. Most LCD screens can rescale a lower resolution image using rathiomatic expansion, which will work adequately for photographs but not very well for radiographs, text or images with fine detail. Objects become jagged and artifacts fill the extra pixels. When re-sampling for scaling the image up, anti-aliasing will fill the extra pixels resulting in better results. The bottom line is to choose a screen with a clear understanding of the native resolution and plan to use it as specified.
5. Digital or analog? Buy only LCD monitors that support both digital (binary pulse) and analog (wave form) signal inputs. That's because LCD screens process information digitally, so having your computer send digital information to the video card and converting to analog, sending to the LCD screen, and then converting back into a digital signal can result in fluttering and ghosting. Newer LCD screens and computes use special graphics boards with digital connectors to keep the images sharp, like HDMI, Display Port and DVI-D digital connectors with high-bandwidth. Composite and component connections, will be helpful to connect older equipment, and the 4 USB ports and a media card reader allow easy connection of peripherals like cameras.
6. Refresh rates are an important indicator of how well your screen will depict moving images. A refresh rate (or how fast the screen paints the image) of 6 milliseconds is a minimum standard.
7. Pay special attention to dynamic contrast ratios - to help depict a large range of light and dark tones. A contrast ratio of at least 80,0000:1 should help paint an image with excellent appearance quality.
8. Several products are available for cleaning your LCD screens. Companies that sell these products are Clean Sweep Supply (www.cleansweepsupply.com) and Keysan (www.keysan.com)
The Dell UltraSharp U2410 is my recommendation for all of your screen needs, Designed to handle graphics-intensive applications with ease, this high-performance 24" monitor delivers stunning detail, depth and responsiveness.
1. 24" Display and 1920x1200 (max) WUXGA Resolution: Experience stunning high-definition detail and the ability to view more onscreen content.
2. 16:10 Wide Aspect Ratio: View wide documents with ease and work in multiple windows with less scrolling and toggling between applications.
3. 6-Millisecond Response Time (Typical): Discover responsive, lifelike video playback with minimal ghosting and streaking.
4. 80,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio: Enjoy blacker blacks, razor-sharp graphics and text, brilliant color and near-microscopic detail.
5. Wide Viewing Angle: 178°/178° viewing angle minimizes color deviation and delivers vivid, lifelike video images.6. Extensive Connectivity: Enhance sound and picture quality with HDMI, Display Port and DVI-D digital connector with high-bandwidth Digital Copy Protection (HDCP) Ready. Composite and component connections, 4 USB ports and a media card reader allow easy connection of peripherals like cameras and game consoles. This screen does not have an S-Video connector.
7. Zero Bright Pixels: Under Dell's Premium Panel Guarantee, you will receive a replacement UltraSharp monitor should even one bright defective pixel appear on the screen.
Dual Monitor Cards
To create more "real estate" for your computer monitors, try adding a dual monitor card. The dual monitor card allows you to use the same computer (CPU) and connect two monitors simultaneously. You can even select which programs open on each screen, and mouse between each pane. This also works well in the operatory, so that you can have one monitor in front of the patient with their chart, digital radiographs or visible light images, and one behind the patient with the day's schedule out of the patient's sight-line. Note that these cards should work best with commercial grade Microsoft products like Win 2000 Pro and Win XP Pro. Two readily available cards are listed below:
Matrox Electronics Systems
ATI Technologies
Uninterruptible Power Supplies
Every business computer should be connected to a reliable power source. The number one reason for data loss is hard drive failure secondary to power spikes. UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supplies) devices provide full time EMI/RFI filters which prevent electrical line noise, lightning and surge protection and unattended shut-down to protect unsaved data during a power failure.
The APC (www.apc.com) brand of UPS devices uses a USB or serial port connection to your workstation or server to automatically save open files and down your computer. The batteries will generally last about five years and are user replaceable.
Label Printers
These small specialized printers are handy for printing envelope labels for mailing purposes.
The two most popular brands are Dymo and Seiko; they require special label paper but make the job of printing envelope labels a breeze. Check with your software vendor to see which brand is recommended.
Patient Education and Entertainment
Many patients appreciate the opportunity to learn more about their endodontic treatment by watching their procedure on a flat-screen monitor positioned above the dental chair. Still others will enjoy DVD entertainment with in-room speakers while undergoing their endodontic treatment. The following equipment recommendations are easily available by internet or phone purchase:
Flat panel adjustable ceiling adapters are available from Premier Mounts 800-368-9700 or www.premiermounts.com. A recommended unit is the AST-2446, which accommodates VESA-standard LCD flat panels and will allow adjustment of up to ± 90º from center, 360º swivel and cable access. For attachment to a concrete ceiling slab, a professional carpenter will be required.
LCD flat panel monitors are available in almost every size and configuration. If you are using the industry standard S-Video output from the microscope or hand held camera, or from a DVD player, be sure to order a monitor that will accept a standard S-Video input.
Adding an S-Video splitter will allow the video signal from the microscope to be sent to both the computer capture board and the LCD patient monitor, so capture of images into image management software can be accomplished while viewing the images on both the chairside computer workstation and the ceiling-hung LCD flat panel.