DICOM
It is a standard that provides medical data transmission between two computers. As well as data transmission, storage and data sent out to printer, DICOM also specifies an internationally accepted network protocol or file format in medical imaging. This network protocol uses another protocol called TCP/IP to provide the communication between DICOM-compatible computer applications. DICOM-compatibility of two applications mean that they are developed to be capable of sending and receiving DICOM-formatted images and patient information between two computers.
DICOM file format, enables to keep the quality level of images presented, which are gathered from imaging devices we frequently see in hospitals and facilities. DICOM file format, includes parameters like slice space, modality and protocol name.
DICOM standard is consisted of services like “Store” that enables images to be stored on server, “Query/Retrieve” that enables images to be queried on server by workstation and “Printing” that provides images to be sent to printer. Each service has a related task to carry out between computer applications.
When images in DICOM format are converted to frequently used “.jpeg” or “.bmp” picture formats, there is a probability of data loss. Therefore, there is a need for software, as our medical image processing product “Callisto”, that enables files having DICOM extension to be converted to various kinds of file formats, while enabling them to be viewed in their original formats as well. Image quality is important especially in medicine; a small detail that a doctor missed may lead to serious consequences for patient’s life. Thus, keeping the quality level of medical images has a major importance.
Through DICOM standard, imaging devices and workstations which are far from each other or produced by different vendors became capable of communicating quickly and easily as they are in the same location, reducing costs in healthcare sector. In addition, transmitting patient results to medical specialist earlier leads to earlier examination and quicker diagnose of patient results. Through DICOM file format, while keeping the quality level of images, correctness of diagnosis becomes ensured.
Communication According to DICOM Standard
Let’s consider a browser and workstation, transferring image between each other. Initially, images should be encoded by browser in a compatible way with DICOM object. When browser is ready, it starts to send images. The aim is to convert DICOM object to image. An association called “DICOM Communication Session” gets started. At each image transfer, a new session starts. By workstation, decoding the DICOM object, DICOM object turns into an image, leading the image transfer to be successfully completed.
When workstation queries an image via browser, the query, user has entered to workstation, is sent to browser. Browser sends images, which are relevant to query entered, to workstation as a list. User selects an image(s) from the list at workstation and sends a request to browser to retrieve these image(s). Browser sends the image(s) requested one by one. During this process, a service called “DICOM Storage Service” works.
If image transmission is decided to be according to DICOM standard, if sender uses DICOM commands, receiver should also use DICOM commands.
DICOM Conformance Standard
DICOM Conformance Statement certifies that medical image processing software and devices software run on are developed according to DICOM standard. DICOM standard is quite an extensive standard. We, as a company that develops software for the field of medicine, aim to conform only the part of DICOM standard related to the software we develop. Therefore, preparing a document called “DICOM Conformance Statement”, we explain to what extent and how we will conform to DICOM standard.Our “DICOM Conformance Statement” will be available here soon.
