Introduction into Computer Applications in Imaging

By

Dr. Mohsen DashtiComputer Applications 466

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Key terms

• Course description.

• Course objectives.

• Information management.

Course description

• Computer management of information in imaging departments.

- Image storage.

- Image archiving.

- Patient information.

- Teleradiology.

Course description

• Computer acquisition and processing of images in Radiology and Nuclear Medicine.

- Automatic processing of images.

- Analogue radiography.

- Computed radiography.

Course description

• Student projects will be conducted in the areas of teleradiology, enhancing image processing, information management and related topics.

- Internet.

- Medical journals.

- Innovative ideas.

Course objectives

1. Describe the importance of computers, including the PACS System, in Radiology and Nuclear Medicine.

2. Describe the architecture of computers, their storage capabilities and their advantages over analogue systems.

3. Use appropriate search engines to search for and retrieve relevant information and images from the Internet.

Course objectives

4. Explain computer reconstruction techniques in computed tomography & MRI, and the factors affecting final image quality.

5. Describe the various subtraction schemes used in digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and their advantages/disadvantages.

6. Discuss the various enhancement techniques used in Radiology and Nuclear Medicine.

Course objectives

7. Explain the usefulness of ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curves in evaluating the performance of an imaging system or diagnostic test.

8. Explain the principles of emission tomography, and the reconstruction algorithms used.

9. Report effectively the results of a computer/internet-based project.

Information management

• Information management?.....

- Information management: the collection & management of information from one or more sources and the distribution of that information to a specific outlet.

• Management???.....

- Management: the organization of and control over the structure, processing and delivery of information.

Information management• Past, since then & future:- Past: Throughout the 1970s this was largely limited to files,

file maintenance, and the life cycle management of paper-based files, other media and records.

- Since then: Starting in the 1970s, the job of information management took on a new light, and also began to include the field of data maintenance.- By the late 1990s when information was regularly disseminated across computer networks and by other electronic means, network managers, in a sense, became information managers.

- Future: Sky is the limit. - 1st assignment (Discuss the future of information management). 2 typed pages……..

Information management

• What role does information management play in radiography?

- Information management entails organizing, retrieving, acquiring and maintaining information. It is closely related to and overlapping with the practice of Data Management.

Information management

• What is data management?

- Data management: Data management is the development, execution and supervision of plans, policies, programs and practices that control, protect, deliver and enhance the value of data and information assets.

• How is data management related to radiography?

Information management

• Data management in radiography:

1. Developing the x-ray department.

2. Supervising the department personnel & policies.

3. Controlling the programs and practices.

4. Protecting the department & patient information.

5. Enhancing the data & utilizing it.

Information management

• Standard for digital image data management:

- The standard defines goals, qualifications of personnel, equipment guidelines, specifications of data manipulation & management, and quality control & quality improvement procedures.

Information management

• Standard for digital image data management:1. Goals:

A- Initial acquisition or generation and recording of accurately labeled and identified image data.B- Transmission of data to an appropriate storage medium from which it can be retrieved for display for formal interpretation, review, and consultation.C- Retrieval of data from available prior imaging studies to be displayed for comparison with a current study.D- Transmission of data to remote sites for consultation, review, or formal interpretation.E- Appropriate compression of image data to facilitate transmission or storage, without loss of clinically significant information.F- Archiving of data to maintain accurate patient medical records.

Information management

• Standard for digital image data management:

2. Qualifications & responsibilities of personnel:

A- Radiographers utilizing the image data management system should understand the basic technology of image acquisition, transmission, manipulation, retrieval, and display, including the strengths, weaknesses, and limitations of these processes.

B- Radiographers should be trained to properly operate those portions of the image data management system with which he/she must routinely interact.

Information management

• Standard for digital image data management:

3. Equipment guidelines:

- Equipment guidelines cover two basic categories of

digital image data when used for rendering the official interpretation: small matrix size (e.g., computed tomography [CT], magnetic resonance imaging [MRI], ultrasound, nuclear medicine, digital fluorography, and digital angiography), and large matrix size (e.g., digital radiography and digitized radiographic films).

Information management

• Standard for digital image data management:3. Equipment guidelines:

A- Acquisition or Digitization:

A.1- Direct image capture: image matrix size and pixel bit depth should be transferred to the image management system.

A.2- Secondary image capture: small-matrix images should be digitized to a bit depth of 8 bits per pixel or greater. Large-matrix images should digitized to a bit depth of 10 bits per pixel or greater.

A.3- General requirements: at the time of acquisition (small or large matrix), the system must have annotation capabilities (e.g., patient name, ID number, date & time, type of examination, anatomic part orientation).

Information management

• Standard for digital image data management:3. Equipment guidelines:

B- Data compression: should be performed to facilitate transmission and storage.- No reduction in clinical diagnostic image quality should be paid as a price for compression.

C- Transmission: the type and specifications of the transmission devices used will be determined by the environment in which the studies are to be transmitted.- The transmission system shall have adequate error-checking capability.

Information management

• Standard for digital image data management:3. Equipment guidelines:

D- Display capabilities: Display workstations used for official interpretation and for small-matrix and large-matrix systems should be capable of the following:

1. Selection of image sequence.2. Accurately associating the patient and study demographic characterizations with

the images of the study performed.3. Window and level adjustment.4. Zoom (magnification) functions capable of meeting guidelines for display of all

acquired data.5. Rotating or flipping the images, provided labeling of patient orientation is

preserved.6. Calculating and displaying accurate linear measurements and pixel value

determinations in values appropriate for the modality (e.g., Hounsfield units for CT images), if those data are available.

7. Displaying the total number of images acquired in the study.

Information management

• Standard for digital image data management:3. Equipment guidelines:

E- Archiving & retrieval: - Digital imaging data management systems should provide storage capacity capable of complying with all facility.- Each exam data file must have an accurate corresponding patient and examination database record.- Prior examinations must be retrievable from archives in a time frame appropriate to the clinical needs of the facility and medical staff.- Each facility should have policies and procedures for archiving and storage of digital image data.

Information management

• Standard for digital image data management:3. Equipment guidelines:

F- Security: Digital image data management systems should provide network and software security protocols to protect the confidentiality of patients’ identification and imaging data.

G- Reliability & Redundancy: Written policies and procedures must be in place to ensure continuity of care at a level consistent with those for hard-copy imaging studies and medical records within a facility or institution. This should include internal redundancy systems, backup telecommunication links, and a disaster plan.

Manage your brain

• Next lecture will be on Sunday 26/9/2010 in LT1-96 from 2-4 pm.

• 1st assignment due Thursday 7/10/2010.