Analysis and Management System of Digital Ultrasonic Image

This paper presents the analysis and management system of digital ultrasonic image. The system can manage medical ultrasonic image by collecting, saving and transferring, and realize that section offices of ultrasonic image in hospital network manage. The system use network technology in transferring image between ultrasonic equipments to share patient data in ultrasonic equipments. And doctors can input patient diagnostic report,saved by text file and case history, digitally managed. The system can be realized by Visual C which make windows applied. The system can be brought forward because PACS prevail with various hospitals,but PACS is expensive. In view of this status, we put forward to the analysis and management system of digital ultrasonic image,which is similar to PACS.     

Analysis and Management System of Digital Ultrasonic Image

This paper presents the analysis and management system of digital ultrasonic image. The system can manage medical ultrasonic image by collecting, saving and transferring, and realize that section offices of ultrasonic image in hospital network manage. The system use network technology in transferring image between ultrasonic equipments to share patient data in ultrasonic equipments. And doctors can input patient diagnostic report, saved by text file and case history, digitally managed. The system can be realized by Visual C ＋ ＋ which make windows applied. The system can be brought forward because PACS prevail with various hospitals, but PACS is expensive. In view of this status, we put forward to the analysis and management system of digital ultrasonic image, which is similar to PACS.     

MRIdb: Medical Image Management for Biobank Research

Clinical picture archiving and communications systems provide convenient, efficient access to digital medical images from multiple modalities but can prove challenging to deploy, configure and use. MRIdb is a self-contained image database, particularly suited to the storage and management of magnetic resonance imaging data sets for population phenotyping. It integrates a mature image archival system with an intuitive web-based user interface that provides visualisation and export functionality. In addition, utilities for auditing, data migration and system monitoring are included in a virtual machine image that is easily deployed with minimal configuration. The result is a freely available turnkey solution, designed to support epidemiological and imaging genetics research. It allows the management of patient data sets in a secure, scalable manner without requiring the installation of any bespoke software on end users’ workstations. MRIdb is an open-source software, available for download at http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/bioinfsupport/resources/software/mridb.     

Picture Archiving and Communication System and its Impact on Image Viewing in Physical Therapy Practice

Imaging plays an increasing role in physical therapy (PT) practice. We sought to determine if picture archiving and communication system (PACS) deployment would increase the proportion of imaging studies viewed by physical therapists (PTs) at the point of care and to assess PTs' perception of the value of access to imaging information. The study was performed in a 720-bed urban teaching hospital where an average of 2,000 rehabilitation visits per month are performed by 12 PTs. We compared the proportion of imaging studies viewed by PTs before and after PACS implementation. We surveyed PTs to assess their perception on the value of access to imaging studies. Film library records pre-PACS and web server audit trail post-PACS implementation were reviewed to measure access. Chi-square was used to compare proportions and trends. During the 3-month period before PACS usage, PTs viewed 1% (6/505) of imaging studies, citing time as the primary barrier. Post-PACS, the proportion of imaging studies viewed rose from 28% (95/344, second month) to 84% (163/192, fifth month) (p < 0.0001, chi-square). Most PTs believed that access to imaging studies has high value and has a positive impact on clinical practice. Physical therapists rarely viewed imaging studies before PACS due to time barriers. They viewed more imaging studies (84%) post-PACS and felt that access to imaging studies has a positive impact on clinical practice. Further studies are needed to assess whether PACS enhances PTs' clinical decision making and improves patient outcomes.     

A Study on Image Quality Management in PACS Used by Korean Hospitals

This study evaluated a method to maintain the optimal image quality in clinical practice for image quality management in a picture archiving and communication system (PACS) that uses typical technology for digital medical images. This study conducted a survey of 25 hospitals in Seoul and metropolitan areas that had installed PACS to examine the reality of image quality management. Sixteen diagnostic monitors were used as calibration tools to compare and analyze the external illuminance uniformity and grayscale standard display function (GSDF) values at each frequency. According to the survey results, most of the hospitals did not have any particular rules or standardized methods for image quality control. In a PACS, the calibration frequency was examined within the allowable limits of error for each week and month. The calibration was not affected by the difference in brightness of the environment for reading an image. The GSDF measurement values were quite different from the standard values. In conclusion, to improve the image quality of the digital system, it is important to make good use of the system and maintain the image quality. Therefore, it is critical to capitalize on the method suggested in this study and maintain the optimal image quality to guarantee a high level of observer satisfaction.     

Picture, Archiving and Communication System in the Italian NHS: A Primer on Diffusion and Evaluation Analysis

This contribution focuses on picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) in the Italian National Healthcare System (NHS). It finally aims to test the Chiefs Radiology Department’s perceptions about PACS along the main evaluation dimensions emerging from the literature. First, a brief review of the main literature concerning PACS evaluation leads the authors to classify the different approaches undertaken and highlight the main variables of investigation. Second, the evidence emerging from a survey is presented and discussed in the light of the literature review. The survey aims to: (a) map out the degree of PACSs diffusion and their main features in the Italian NHS; (b) verify whether and how PACS impact the dimensions analyzed in many evaluation studies carried out to date; (c) test the relationship between some measured impacts and specific PACS features. This work was made possible by funding from SDA Bocconi Research Division     

Tools for Managing Image Flow in the Modality to Clinical-Image-Review Chain

Web-based clinical-image viewing is commonplace in large medical centers. As demands for product and performance escalate, physicians, sold on the concept of any image, anytime, anywhere, fret when image studies cannot be viewed in a time frame to which they are accustomed. Image delivery pathways in large medical centers are oftentimes complicated by multiple networks, multiple picture archiving and communication systems (PACS), and multiple groups responsible for image acquisition and delivery to multiple destinations. When studies are delayed, it may be difficult to rapidly pinpoint bottlenecks. Described here are the tools used to monitor likely failure points in our modality to clinical-image-viewing chain and tools for reporting volume and throughput trends. Though perhaps unique to our environment, we believe that tools of this type are essential for understanding and monitoring image-study flow, re-configuring resources to achieve better throughput, and planning for anticipated growth. Without such tools, quality clinical-image delivery may not be what it should.     

iScout: An Intelligent Scout for Accessing and Navigating Large Image Sets in a PACS

A new software tool for PACS, called iScout (intelligent scout), has been developed and optimized for a radiology workstation. The purpose of iScout is to display an overview of a large image series, allowing the user to select images for priority downloading from a PACS server to a PACS workstation. This allows radiologists to reduce the delays that are associated with downloading hundreds or even thousands of images. Several schemes that semiautomatically manage the download process are presented along with tests to measure performance. The results of the tests confirm that priority downloading provides faster access to images in large image series and that the time savings increase in proportion to the study size.     

关于基于可扩展PACS的医学影像处理科研教学实验室建设的设想

目的：提出了在高校医学影像工程专业建设一个先进的医学影像处理科研教学实验室的设想,以促进医、工、教、研的结合,并方便医学图像处理科研、教学乃至产业化。方法：首先建立基于可扩展PACS系统的研究平台,并在此基础上构建可扩展影像数据库和相关软硬件技术研发平台．逐步形成实验室科研教学所需要的硬环境,同时建立必要的管理制度、项目培育和激励机制以及研究生和优秀本科生能力培养机制等软环境．然后随着实验室与医院和产业界合作程度的加深以及学生毕业后走向社会的“滚动式”的反馈和影响,使得实验室的运作逐步形成良性循环和长效机制。结果：建立这样的实验室不但会方便科研、教学,还可紧扣医院的临床需求把医学影像产品的研发与产业化密切联系在一起,能够形成一个医、工、教、研交叉融合的良好平台和媒介。结论：充分体现卓越工程师教育的新思想和理念,通过不断增强实验室基础职能及其平台和媒介作用,可逐步形成一种范式。可以预见该类实验室建设和良性运作必将同时受到实验室师生、医院相关医生和产业界涉众的欢迎和支持。其对产学研密切结合的教研模式的研究不失为一种有益的试验和探索。     

Integrated Image Data and Medical Record Management for Rare Disease Registries. A General Framework and its Instantiation to the German Calciphylaxis Registry

Especially for investigator-initiated research at universities and academic institutions, Internet-based rare disease registries (RDR) are required that integrate electronic data capture (EDC) with automatic image analysis or manual image annotation. We propose a modular framework merging alpha-numerical and binary data capture. In concordance with the Office of Rare Diseases Research recommendations, a requirement analysis was performed based on several RDR databases currently hosted at Uniklinik RWTH Aachen, Germany. With respect to the study management tool that is already successfully operating at the Clinical Trial Center Aachen, the Google Web Toolkit was chosen with Hibernate and Gilead connecting a MySQL database management system. Image and signal data integration and processing is supported by Apache Commons FileUpload-Library and ImageJ-based Java code, respectively. As a proof of concept, the framework is instantiated to the German Calciphylaxis Registry. The framework is composed of five mandatory core modules: (1) Data Core, (2) EDC, (3) Access Control, (4) Audit Trail, and (5) Terminology as well as six optional modules: (6) Binary Large Object (BLOB), (7) BLOB Analysis, (8) Standard Operation Procedure, (9) Communication, (10) Pseudonymization, and (11) Biorepository. Modules 1–7 are implemented in the German Calciphylaxis Registry. The proposed RDR framework is easily instantiated and directly integrates image management and analysis. As open source software, it may assist improved data collection and analysis of rare diseases in near future.     

An Improved Medical Image Fusion Algorithm for Anatomical and Functional Medical Images

In recent years,many medical image fusion methods had been exploited to derive useful information from multimodality medical image data, but, not an appropriate fusion algorithm for anatomical and functional medical images. In this paper, the traditional method of wavelet fusion is improved and a new fusion algorithm of anatomical and functional medical images,in which high-frequency and low-frequency coefficients are studied respectively. When choosing high-frequency coefficients, the global gradient of each subimage is calculated to realize adaptive fusion,so that the fused image can reserve the functional information;while choosing the low coefficients is based on the analysis of the neighborbood region energy, so that the fused image can reserve the anatomical image＇ s edge and texture feature. Experimental results and the quality evaluation parameters show that the improved fusion algorithm can enhance the edge and texture feature and retain the function information and anatomical information effectively.     

图像挖掘技术及医学应用

目的：图像挖掘技术作为图像处理的一个分支,是一门正在受到强烈关注的学科。随着图像获取和存储技术的发展,人们每天都可以获取许多有用的图像信息,但缺乏有效的分析技术分析这些数据,因此如何获取包含许多有用的信息图像数据,并充分利用这些图像数据,是目前图像挖掘技术所讨论的热点。本文就对图像挖掘的研究和应用现状进行了深入研究和分析。方法：通过阐述图像挖掘的概念、主要框架、底层图像挖掘和高层图像挖掘的主要技术,探讨了图像挖掘技术在生物医药和DNA分析中、医学影像数据分析中及法医学中的应用。结果：图像挖掘技术是一种有效分析、获取图像中所隐含的有用信息、图像数据之间的关系和其他隐含的模式的技术,而且,随着工程学和医学学科的交互渗透,图像挖掘技术也开始应用于医学领域中。结论：本文总结了目前比较常用的图像挖掘技术,同时结合我们在该领域所做的工作,对涉及的技术进行了阐述,并指出今后在医学应用中的研究方向。     

Assessment of a Novel,High-Resolution,Color, AMLCD for Diagnostic Medical Image Display: Luminance Performance and DICOM Calibration

This article documents the results of the first in a series of experiments designed to evaluate the suitability of a novel, high resolution, color, digital, liquid crystal display (LCD) panel for diagnostic quality, gray scale image display. The goal of this experiment was to measure the performance of the display, especially with respect to luminance. The panel evaluated was the IBM T221 22.2 backlit active matrix liquid crystal display (AMLCD) with native resolution of 3840 × 2400 pixels. Taking advantage of the color capabilities of the workstation, we were able to create a 256-entry grayscale calibration look-up table derived from a palette of 1786 nearly gray luminance values. We also constructed a 256-entry grayscale calibration look-up table derived from a palette of 256 true gray values for which the red, green, and blue values were equal. These calibrations will now be used in our evaluation of human contrast-detail perception on this LCD panel.     

分子医学实验室仪器设备管理的实践与探索

仪器设备管理是实验室工作的重要内容。分子医学实验室自组建以来，建立健全了仪器设备管理制度．在开放与培训、仪器共享与信息化管理方面进行了探索与实践，提高了仪器设备的使用效益，使实验管理与实验教学工作走上了良性循环、可持续发展的道路。     

Foreign Exam Management in Practice: Seamless Access to Foreign Images and Results in a Regional Environment

A challenge for many clinical users is that a patient may receive a diagnostic imaging (DI) service at a number of hospitals or private imaging clinics. The DI services that patients receive at other locations could be clinically relevant to current treatments, but typically, there is no seamless method for a clinical user to access longitudinal DI results for their patient. Radiologists, and other specialists that are intensive users of image data, require seamless ingestion of foreign exams into the picture archiving and communication system (PACS) to achieve full clinical value. Most commonly, a clinical user will depend on the patient to bring in a CD that contains imaging from another location. However, a number of issues can arise when using this type of solution. Firstly, a CD will not provide the clinical user with the full longitudinal record of the patient. Secondly, a CD often will not contain the report associated with the images. Finally, a CD is not seamless, due to the need to manually import the contents of the CD into the local PACS. In order to overcome these limitations, and provide clinical users with a greater benefit related to a patient’s longitudinal DI history, the implementation of foreign exam management (FEM) at the local site level is required. This paper presents the experiences of FEM in practice. By leveraging industry standards and edge devices to support FEM, multiple sites with disparate PACS and radiology information system (RIS) vendors are able to seamlessly ingest foreign exams within their local PACS as if they are local exams.     

因特网医护信息知识管理系统之建置

本研究旨在研发"因特网医护信息知识管理平台".在此知识管理平台下,建置"知识库"、"知识地图"和"知识社群"三大功能.本因特网医护信息知识管理系统使用IBM公司之Websphere 5.0版网络服务器与DB2数据库、Sun公司之Java Server Page动态网页语法、Structure Query Language结构式数据库查询语法、HTML以及JavaScript使用者端浏览器静态语法等共同开发而成.本因特网医护信息知识管理系统有知识库、知识地图与知识社群三大功能.知识库包含知识库全文检索、知识累积、萃取与分享等功能.知识地图以清楚之树状结构显示各医护专科之大小分类与下属之文章与新知,通过此结构化与条理化之视觉效果更有利于研究者对知识库数据之分类研究与搜寻.凡属于相同知识社群成员,均可在此社群中发表议题相互讨论,也可针对其它成员于知识累积时自动产生之医护新议题加以讨论.知识社群成员利用知识累积、萃取与分享机制,可将得到之医疗新知与电子数据存入数据库中,并提供机制将重要文章之内容萃取出来,通过网络服务以E-mail、手机简讯或其它之网络服务形式来分享.本因特网医护信息知识管理平台之建置形态,适合于各种医疗团队、研究部门与医学教学单位使用,可以提供医护研究之整合与管理、医护知识之累积、搜寻与分享等贡献.     

社区医院电子病历及图像管理系统的设计与应用

目的：针对社区医院的实际需求,设计一套门诊电子病历及图像管理系统。方法：根据系统设计理论和具体医院的需求分析,系统采用Client/Server架构模式,SQL Server 2000作为数据库管理系统,选用Visual C＋＋6.0作为开发平台和ADO数据库访问接口技术,实现了多种病案资料的有序管理及多种医学图像处理功能。结果：利用该系统可以实现多种病案资料的计算机管理,并且系统提供一个拥有丰富的图像处理功能的医学图像处理平台。结论：该系统的应用能够有效解决社区医院面临的病历管理问题,满足社区医院的信息化需要。     

中医色诊图像采集系统的设计与实现及实验研究

研制中医色诊图像采集系统.整体制作为箱体式上下结构,系统选择色温5500K的氙灯模拟日光光源,反射率大于96％的聚四氟乙烯悬浮树脂涂层积分球漫射照明,分辨率为4 752像素×3 168像素的调谐数码相机采集图像.长时间光源稳定性和光线均匀性实验表明:图像采集系统光源稳定性大于99.1％、显色性大于95％,光线均匀性大于98.6％;不同照度下,图像色度偏差小于1.24％;40例中青年和60例老年人面部图像采集实验证明:面部图像采集系统可以用RGB和Lab颜色空间的数据准确定量人脸面部的特征色诊信息,采集的数据可为中医色诊信息的客观化研究提供参考.     

Multidimensional Analysis: A Management Tool for Monitoring HIPAA Compliance and Departmental Performance

Most RIS and PACS systems include extensive auditing capabilities as part of their security model, but inspecting those audit logs to obtain useful information can be a daunting task. Manual analysis of audit trails, though cumbersome, is often resorted to because of the difficulty to construct queries to extract complex information from the audit logs. The approach proposed by the authors uses standard off-the-shelf multidimensional analysis software tools to assist the PACS/RIS administrator and/or security officer in analyzing those audit logs to identify and scrutinize suspicious events. Large amounts of data can be quickly reviewed and graphical analysis tools help explore system utilization. While additional efforts are required to fully satisfy the demands of the ever-increasing security and confidentiality pressures, multidimensional analysis tools are a practical step toward actually using the information that is already being captured in the systems audit logs. In addition, once the work is performed to capture and manipulate the audit logs into a viable format for the multidimensional analysis tool, it is relatively easy to extend the system to incorporate other pertinent data, thereby enabling the ongoing analysis of other aspects of the departments workflow.