PACS Flashcards
what is PACS
- way of storing, backing up + recalling all images that are produced in medical imaging
what are PACS made up of
- made up of storage servers and workstations
what is a PACS
- a system for acquisition, storage, transmission + display of medical images from various sources
- incl. CR/DR, CT, MRI + ultrasound
what would PACS systems include
- storage servers
- high resolution displays
what are PACS systems completely reliant upon
network software
examples of viewing systems
- diagnostic
- radiographic
- clinical
- web browsers
- home PC’s
when is tape media used in imaging
used as remote back up for a lot of PACS systems due to high storage capacity + low maintenance cost
tape media in event of fire/explosion
back up keeps data safe
single hard drive use in imaging
- single hard drives use magnetic data on a spinning
- advantages; cheap, good support, universal, small, portable types
- disadvantage; prone to catastrophic failure
most commonly used data storage devices in medicines
single hard drive
what are hard drives arranged in
RAID systems
what are hard drives arranged in RAID systems
typically used for on-site hospital data storage + access due to their high storage capacity
what is interoperability
- ability of different types of computers, networks, operating systems + applications to work together effectively without prior communication
each hospital has its own
combination of RIS/HIS and PACS
how do system interfaces work
- each system relies on information from other systems to work correctly
what are RIS/HIS and PACS connected by
dedicated computer systems called interface engines
- use HL7 (health level 7) messages to communicate with one another
HL7
international health communications protocol
image size formula
matrix size x bit depth
DICOM
digital imaging and communication in medicine
what are DICOM images
an image format that complies with IHE (integrating healthcare initiative) standards
what type of images do DICOM contain
contains an image that can be different sizes, aspect ratios and header information
is DICOM raw data format
- NO
- every modality has raw data that is normally deleted
advantages of DICOM format
- files can be windowed + manipulated with appropriate software
- file includes header info eg patient name + DOB
- file encrypted = more secure
disadvantage of DICOM
- can be a type of lossy compression (cant recover raw data once converted)
- raw data of image isnt preserved
VNA’s
vendor neutral archives
what are VNA’s
- separation of PACS vendor + image storage provider
- image data can be stored on ‘cloud’
- hospitals in charge of own data - can change PACS supplier without migrating image data
advantage of VNA’s
allows for more flexible use of image data
pros of post processing
decreases risk by improving image quality and reducing dose to patient
troubleshooting (user error)
- day to day
- user will never admit fault
- requires tact by systems admin
advantages of PACS
- no loss of data
- quick access
- findability
- good contrast resolution
- more structured management
- VNA
- international reporting
disadvantage of PACS
- hospital at risk of catastrophic failure
- more complex tech
- IT service suppliers have little understanding to clinical needs + urgency
- risk of security breaches
future of PACS
- integration with other ‘ologies’
- wireless handled modalities + image access
- quantum computing
- advanced systems
