Clinical Messaging Server Routing Image Reports
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical images are often not readily accessible to ordering physicians, who may need them to verify findings or understand reports, due to storage in picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) that may not be easily accessible, and sending large images is impractical.
Innovation Solution
A server system that connects ordering physicians with completed image reports and images by routing reports through a clinical messaging network, embedding links to access images stored in an image viewer, and allowing authentication and pre-authorization processes for imaging procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If images are stored in PACS system, then image storage capability is improved, but image accessibility to ordering physicians deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A server is introduced as an intermediary component between the PACS system and ordering physicians. The server receives image data from the PACS system, processes it, and makes it accessible to ordering physicians through a user interface, thereby resolving the accessibility issue without compromising the storage capability of the PACS system
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into distinct functional modules: the PACS system for storage, the server for processing and management, and the user interface for access. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specialized function efficiently, with the server acting as a bridge that improves accessibility without affecting the core storage function
2Loss of information
If images are sent with the report, then physician's understanding of findings is improved, but data transmission efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential information (report findings) for immediate transmission to the physician, while separating the large image data and making it available through a linked interface. This allows the report to be transmitted efficiently without the bulk image data, while still providing physicians access to images when needed for verification or deeper understanding
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a two-dimensional transmission model (report only or report with images) to a multi-dimensional access model where the report is transmitted efficiently and images are accessible through a separate dimension (linked interface), allowing physicians to access images on-demand without impacting transmission efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for routing image reports. One method includes receiving a completed report for the image study from a report source, establishing a unique identifier for a set of images associated with the completed report and stored in an image repository accessible through an image viewer, storing the unique identifier and an identifier of the image viewer in an image directory, and automatically creating a link associated with the completed report, the link based on the unique identifier. The method also includes identifying a report destination for the completed report, and transmitting the completed report and the link to the report destination. In addition, the method includes, when a recipient selects the link, automatically identifying the image viewer based on the image directory, and automatically providing the recipient with access to the image viewer.