KayPENTAX DICOM Compliance Module

Creative Solution for Digital Image Exchange and Archiving

Available as an add-on module for KayPENTAX Digital Swallowing Workstation and Digital Stroboscopy systems
Fully compatible with DICOM 3.0 standard
Supports DICOM compatibility requirements outlined by VA VistA
Allows DICOM image creation with or without external PACS
Enables patient data retrieval from hospital networks
Extensive configurability

KayPENTAX is pleased to offer the DICOM Compliance Module (KDCM) as an optional add-on for the company's acclaimed Digital Swallowing Workstation and Digital Video Stroboscopy System. The KDCM is designed to satisfy hospital network connectivity requirements including the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) requirements for image acquisition systems.

Introduction to DICOM

In response to the growing need for a standard method of exchanging and archiving electronic images and related data in a medical setting, the DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) Standard was created. Developed by the American College of Radiology (ACR) and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) on the basis of their experiences with the earlier ACR-NEMA Standard, DICOM has as its main objective the creation of an open (vendor-independent) platform for the communication of medical images and related data. The DICOM Standard guarantees interoperability between PACS (picture archiving and communication systems) networks and DICOM devices and programs.

The DICOM Standard

The DICOM Standard defines an exchange format for medical image data. DICOM defines:

Data structures/formats for medical images and related data
Network-oriented services, such as:
- Image transmission
- querying of an image archive (PACS)
- work list integration with hospital networks
Formats for storage media exchange
Requirements for conforming devices and programs

DICOM data structures

A DICOM image consists of a list of data attributes specifying image-related information:

Patient information (name, sex, identification number)
Modality and imaging procedure information (device parameters, calibration, radiation dose, contrast media)
Image information (resolution, windowing)

Conformance Statement

DICOM requires that a Conformance Statement be written for each device or program claiming DICOM conformance. The statement explains which DICOM services and options are supported, which extensions have been implemented by the vendor, and how the device communicates with other DICOM systems. (Please contact KayPENTAX to receive the KDCM Conformance Statement.)

DICOM network services

The DICOM network services work in the client/server mode. DICOM applications must establish a connection and negotiate and agree on various communication parameters. The connection can only be established if both applications agree on a common set of parameters.

KayPENTAX DICOM Compliance Module (KDCM)

The main features supported by KDCM module are:

Modality Work List - Finding and updating patient and work list information for a modality from hospital network server
Network Storage - Sending exam images and video to DICOM Server
Local Media Exchange - Creating local DICOMDIR (Part 10) format media distribution
Structured Reports - Creating and storing Structured Reports

Once installed, the KDCM adds DICOM menus and functionality to the Digital Swallowing Workstation and Digital Video Stroboscopy System.

Work List: Retrieving patient data from hospital network

The DICOM modality work list can be used to automatically download up-to-date work list information including patient demographic data from hospital information systems (HIS/RIS).

The KDCM modality work list also allows the user to specify various query criteria. The user can choose the "Basic Search" criteria for simple queries or select the "Advanced Search" tab to incrementally build a query with multiple search criteria. In addition, the work list module can be integrated with a bar-code scanner (sold separately) to enable "Patient ID or "Accession Number" bar-code scanning. Such integration simplifies and automates the patient entry mechanism.

KDCM Query Customization

Since various facilities need support for different patient demographic fields and parameters, the KDCM query mechanism comes with an extensive, built-in, customization feature. This customization allows facilities to configure their modality to request specific fields from the hospital servers as part of the query results.

Network Storage: Storing images on hospital network

The DICOM image transmission service (or in DICOM terminology, "Storage Service Class") allows modalities to upload selected images/videos to image archival servers (PACS).

Local Media Exchange: Creating DICOMDIR (Part 10) format removable media

The DICOM media exchange defines the standard for storing DICOM data and images on removable media (e.g., CDR). The DICOM media exchange format was integrated into the DICOM standard in 1996. In order to ensure that DICOM storage media are truly interchangeable, the Standard defines "application profiles" which explicitly delineate the following:

Images form which modalities may be present on the medium
Which encoding formats and compression schemes may be used (e.g., only uncompressed or loss-less JPEG)
Which storage medium is to be used (e.g., CD-R with ISO file system)

Aside from the image files, each DICOM medium contains a DICOM directory. This directory contains the most important information (patient name, modality, unique identifiers, etc.) for all images captured on the medium. With this directory structure, it is possible to quickly browse or search through all images on the medium.

Structured Reports: Storing Structured Reports on hospital network

DICOM Structured Reports (SR) provide the capability of linking the clinical document to the DICOM images and waveforms. The SR is in "databaseable document" format that facilitates computer search analysis for various purposes, such as scientific research, education, training, clinical trials, performance evaluation, and eventually integration with data mining applications. The KDCM allows the user to create SR documents and to upload to the hospital network for storage.

KDCM Configurability: Enabling workflow integration

In addition to its core features described above, KDCM supports extensive configurability. This capability enables easy integration of the KDCM with different hospital networks. The KDCM also provides integrated help to guide users and facilitate various operations.

For further information on the KDCM, or other KayPENTAX products, please contact a product specialist or e-mail sales@kaypentax.com.

Click here for PDF file of DICOM brochure