System for remotely generating and distributing DICOM-compliant media volumes

• US 8,285,083 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2011
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DatCard Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: DatCard Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Canessa, John C., Canessa, Giancarlo, Canessa, Gino
• Primary Examiner(s): COUSO, YON JUNG
• Application Number:
  US13/026,082
• Publication Number:
  US 20110176748A1
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 382/128, 382/132, 382/305, 705/2, 705/3, 705/4, 705/1.1
• US Class Current: 382/305
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS

Abstract

A system for generating digital image media volumes includes a digital image terminal for receiving, processing, and transmitting digital image data, and being adapted for processing the digital image data into one or more discrete DICOM-standard data objects. The system further includes a media volume production facility remotely located from the digital image terminal, and communicatively coupled to the digital image terminal via a server-operated computer network.

Claims

1. A system for generating digital media volumes for distribution to a recipient, the system comprising:

an interface configured to receive an order to produce a digital media volume containing a user-specified DICOM-standard digital image or set of images for distribution to a recipient;

a storage module configured to receive medical data captured by one or more modalities;

a processor communicatively coupled to the interface and the storage module via a computer connection or network, the processor being configured to process the order and access from the storage module the specified DICOM-standard digital image(s), based on the order;

a data recorder device communicatively coupled to the processor via a computer connection or network, the data recorder device being configured to receive the specified DICOM-standard digital image(s) from the processor and record the specified DICOM-standard digital image(s) to a portable digital media volume that is removable from the data recorder device for distribution to the recipient; and

a first printer configured to receive textual data associated with the specified DICOM-standard digital image(s) and print a label for the digital media volume based on information regarding the recipient parsed from the data,

wherein the processor comprises an accounting module configured to generate accounting data using attributes of the order and transmit the accounting data to a computer terminal, based on the creation of the portable digital media volume by the data recorder device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital media volume is an optically-recordable compact disc (CD) or digital video disc (DVD).

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the textual data comprises patient study information, patient series information, patient personal information, and/or digital image attributes.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer terminal comprises a second printer configured to print a hardcopy containing the accounting data.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the data recorder device is remotely located from the processor.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer terminal is remotely located from the processor.

7. A computer-implemented method for generating digital media volumes comprising:

receiving an order to produce a digital media volume containing a user-specified DICOM-standard file or set of files for distribution to a recipient;

accessing from at least one storage module the specified DICOM-standard file(s) and textual data associated with the DICOM-standard file(s), based on the order;

with a data recorder device, generating a digital media volume that is removable from the data recorder device, the digital media volume containing the specified DICOM- standard files(s);

with a first printer, receiving the associated textual data and printing a label for the digital media volume based on information regarding the recipient parsed from the textual data; and

generating accounting data using attributes of the order and transmitting the accounting data to a computer terminal, based on the creation of the portable digital media volume by the data recorder device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the digital media volume is an optically-recordable compact disc (CD) or digital video disc (DVD).

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the textual data comprises patient study information, patient series information, patient personal information, and/or digital image attributes.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the computer terminal comprises a second printer configured to print a hardcopy containing the accounting data.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the data recorder device is remotely located from the processor.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the computer terminal is remotely located from the processor.