Digital Imaging Is A Broad Term
Digital Imaging Is A Broad Term
Digital Imaging Is A Broad Term
Tomography (CT).
Digital imaging is defined as any image acquisition process that
variety of locations.
Uses storage phosphor plates Uses existing equipment Requires special cassettes Requires a special cassette reader Uses a computer workstation and
Method was slow to be accepted by radiologists. Installation increased in the early 1990s. More and more hospitals are replacing film/screen
from
multiple
modalities(source
machine
types).
Electronic images and reports are transmitted digitally via PACS. The universal format for PACS image storage and transfer is DICOM(Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine).
Early systems did not have standardized image formats. Matching up systems was difficult. Vendors kept systems proprietary and did not share information. DICOM standards helped change this by allowing communication
A PACS consists of four major components: The imaging modalities such as X-ray computed tomography(CT)
the ability to deliver timely and efficient access to images, interpretations, and related data. PACS breaks down the physical and
There are seven basic functions carried out by a PACS system and network:
Image Capture Image Transfer Short Term Storage Long Term Storage Retrieval Image viewing Networking
NonDICOM Modality
Web Server
Film Digitizer
RIS
The first step in typical PACS system is the modality. Modalities are typically computed tomography (CT) ultrasound, nuclear medicine, positron emission tomography (PET), and magnetic resonance
imaging(MRI). Depending on the facility's workflow most modalities send to a quality assurance(QA) workstation or sometimes called a PACS gateway. The QA workstation is a checkpoint to make sure patient
cases reports, measurements and other information that resides with the
images.
Digital medical images are typically stored locally on a PACS for retrieval. It is
the copies won't ever be needed, but, as with other disaster recovery and
business continuity planning, they need to be available if needed. Images may be stored both locally and remotely on off-line media such as tape or
Administrative stations
Archive systems Multiple interfaces to other hospital and radiology systems
departments.
PACS now can be used in multiple departments. Archive space can be shared among departments. PACS reading stations may also have image processing
capabilities.
PACS allows radiologists to reconstruct and stitch images in
their offices.
Orthopedic workstations are available for the following:Surgeons can plan joint replacement surgery. Specialized
software
allows
matching
of
best