Picture archiving and communication system and method for multi-level image data processing

• US 6,529,757 B1
• Filed: 12/28/1999
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: McKone, David, Patel, Maqbol
• Primary Examiner(s): Lateef, Marvin M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lin, Jeoyuh
• Application Number:
  US09/473,390
• Time in Patent Office: 1,162 Days
• Field of Search: 382/128-131, 382/162, 600/407, 600/410, 600/437, 600/425, 600/436, 600/473, 600/476, 430/398, 128/920, 128/922, 128/897, 128/898
• US Class Current: 600/407
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 Computer assisted medical diagnostics
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/922 including image analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/923 by comparison of patient data to other data

Abstract

A Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS) having multi-level image data processing is provided. The system includes imaging a patient with an imaging modality to generate raw digital image data and then sending the raw image data to an acquisition workstation. The acquisition workstation then performs a first level of image data processing to form partially processed raw image data with regard to a predetermined subset of the set of control parameters to form a partially processed image. The subset of control parameters may comprise frequency control parameters or contrast control parameters, for example. The partially processed image may then be sent to an external connection, stored in a database in the PACS, or sent to a display workstation for a second level of image data processing to complete the image processing and display the image. A partially processed image that has been stored in a database in the PACS may be retrieved and sent to a display workstation for complete processing and display. The completely processed image may be sent to an external connection, for example, for transmission through an external network, such as the internet.

Claims

1. A PACS system having multi-level image data processing including:

an imaging modality;

an acquisition workstation receiving raw image data from said imaging modality and performing a first level of image data processing by processing said raw image data with regard to a predetermined subset of a set of control parameters to form a partially processed image file;

a database for storing said partially processed image file; and

a display workstation for performing a second level of image data processing completing the processing of said preprocessed image file to form a completely processed image and displaying said completely processed image.

2. The PACS system of claim 1 wherein said predetermined control parameters comprises frequency control parameters.

3. The PACS system of claim 1 wherein said predetermined control parameters comprises contrast control parameters.

4. The PACS system of claim 1 further including an external connection for transmitting data from the PACS.

5. The PACS system of claim 4 wherein said partially processed image file is externally transmitted through said external connection.

6. The PACS system of claim 4 wherein said completely processed image file is externally transmitted through said external connection.

7. A method for processing images in a multi-level PACS system comprising the steps of:

imaging a patient with an imaging modality to form a raw digital image;

sending the raw digital image data to an acquisition workstation; and

performing a first level of multi-level image data processing of said raw image data at said acquisition workstation with regard to a predetermined subset of a set of control parameters to form a partially processed image.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said predetermined subset of control parameters comprises frequency control parameters.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said predetermined subset of control parameters comprises contrast control parameters.

10. The method of claim 7 further including the step of sending said partially processed image to an external connection.

11. The method of claim 7 further including the step of performing a second level of image data processing completing the image processing and displaying the image at a display workstation.

12. The method of claim 11 further including the step of storing the completely processed image in a PACS database.

13. The method of claim 12 further including the step of sending said completely processed image to an external connection.

14. The method of claim 7 further including the step of storing said partially processed image in a preprocessing database.

15. The method of claim 14 further including the step of sending said partially processed image to an external connection.

16. The method of claim 14 further including the step of completing image processing and displaying the image at a display workstation.

17. The method of claim 16 further including the step of storing the completely processed image in a PACS database.

18. The method of claim 16 further including the step of sending said completely processed image to an external connection.

19. A method for forming a partially processed image for use in a PACS system:

receiving raw digital image data at an acquisition workstation; and

performing a first level of image data processing on said raw digital image data at the acquisition workstation with regard to predetermined control parameters to form a partially processed image file.

20. The method of claim 19, further including performing a second level of image data processing on the partially processed image file at a display workstation to form a completely processed image file.

21. The method of claim 20, further including:

storing said partially processed image file in a preprocessing database; and

storing said completely processed image file in a PACS database.