Integration of radiology information into an application service provider DICOM image archive and/or web based viewer

• US 20020133373A1
• Filed: 03/16/2001
• Published: 09/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Information Technologies Incorporated (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Information Technologies Incorporated (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Silva-Craig, Milton, Karras, Thanos, Angst, Greg
• Granted Patent: US 7,386,462 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a method and apparatus for integration of radiology information into an Application Server Provider DICOM Image Archive and/or Web Based Viewer. A preferred embodiment includes a medical information source that includes medical information in a medical information format, a medical image source that includes medical images in a medical image format, a data center for storing medical images and medical information in at least one format, and an interface for transmitting images and medical information between the medical information source and the medical image source and the data center. In a preferred embodiment, the interface simultaneously transmits both medical images and medical information in different formats.

Claims

1. A medical information system, said system comprising:

a medical information source, said medical information source providing medical information in a medical information format;

a medical image source, said medical image source providing medical images in a medical image format;

an interface unit receiving said medical information and translating said medical information into a medical image format-compatible format, receiving said medical image, associating said medical information in said medical image format-compatible format with said medical image, and transmitting said medical information in said medical image format-compatible format and said medical image; and

a data center receiving said medical information in said medical image format-compatible format and said medical image in said medical image format and storing said medical information in said medical image format-compatible format and said medical image.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said data center comprises an archive for storing medical images and medical information.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said data center comprises a viewer for allowing access to medical images and medical information.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said medical image source comprises a picture archiving and communications system.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said medical information source comprises a hospital information system.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said medical information source comprises a radiology information system.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said data center comprises an application service provider.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said data center further comprises an external access interface for allowing users to access medical images and medical information at said data center.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said medical information comprises radiology information.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said interface comprises a broker for translating said medical information format.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said broker translates from Health Level Seven format to Structured Query Language format.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said data center comprises a web server for allowing access to medical images and medical information via at least one web browser.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said data center comprises a DICOM viewing workstation for allowing access to medical images and medical information.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said data center further stores links to said medical information.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said data center further stores links to said medical image.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein said interface unit transmits a link representing the location of said medical information.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein said interface unit transmits a link representing the location of said medical image.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said data center comprises an archive for storing medical images and medical information.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein said data center comprises a viewer for allowing access to medical images and medical information.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein said data center comprises an application service provider.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein said data center further comprises an external access interface for allowing users to access medical images and medical information at the data center.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein said medical information comprises radiology information.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein said interface unit comprises a broker for translating said medical information format.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said broker translates from Health Level 7 format to Structured Query Language format.

26. The system of claim 18, wherein said data center comprises a web server for allowing access to medical images and medical information via web browsers.

27. The system of claim 18, wherein said interface unit transmits a link representing the location of said medical information.

28. The system of claim 18, wherein said interface unit transmits a link representing the location of said medical image.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising storing said medical information in said second format with said at least one medical image in said data center.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising storing said medical information in said second format with said at least one medical image in an archive said data center.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising storing said medical information in said second format with said at least one medical image in a web based viewer in said data center.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein said data center comprises an application service provider.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein said medical information comprises radiology information.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein said first format comprises Health Level Seven format.

36. The method of claim 29, wherein said second format comprises Structured Query Language format.

37. The method of claim 29, wherein said second format comprises a standard text format.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said data center comprises an application service provider.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein said step of retrieving further comprises retrieving said associated medical image and medical information via said data center”

s archive.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein said step of retrieving further comprises retrieving said medical image from a medical image source via said data center.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein said medical image source comprises a picture archiving and communication system.

43. The method of claim 38, wherein said step of retrieving further comprises retrieving said medical information from a medical information source via said data center.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein said medical information source comprises a hospital information system.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein said medical information source comprises a radiology information system.

46. The method of claim 38, wherein said step of displaying further comprises displaying said associated medical image and medical information via a web server at said data center.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein said medical information source comprises a hospital information system.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein said medical information source comprises a radiology information system.

50. The method of claim 47, wherein said medical image source comprises a picture archiving and communication system.

18. A centralized medical information system, said system comprising:

an interface unit receiving medical information and translating said medical information into a medical image format-compatible format, receiving a medical image, associating said medical information in said medical image format-compatible format with said medical image, and transmitting said medical information in said medical image format-compatible format and said medical image; and

a data center receiving said medical information in said medical image format-compatible format and said medical image and storing said medical information in said medical image format-compatible format and said medical image.

29. A method for integrating transmission of medical information and at least one medical image, said method comprising:

converting said medical information from a first format into a second format compatible with said at least one medical image; and

transmitting said medical information in said second format with said at least one medical image to a data center for storage.

38. A method for accessing medical information and images, said method comprising:

retrieving an associated medical image and medical information from a remote data center; and

displaying said associated medical image and medical information.

47. A method for accessing medical information and images, said method comprising:

requesting an associated medical image and medical information from a remote data center;

providing medical information from a medical information source to an interface unit;

providing a medical image from a medical image source to an interface unit;

translating said medical information into reformatted medical information;

associating said reformatted medical information with said medical image; and

providing the associated reformatted medical information and medical image.