DICOM Integration Device for Medical Record Number Conversion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Different medical institutions use varying organizational architectures for medical record numbers, making it inefficient to integrate medical data across institutions using the DICOM protocol, as the medical record numbers do not conform to each other's systems.

Innovation Solution

A data integration system with an integration device that includes a storage circuit to receive and convert DICOM data objects' attribute items, ensuring compatibility with the receiving institution's organizational architecture by searching for corresponding attribute items and modifying medical record numbers to match the target institution's format.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If DICOM data objects are transferred between medical institutions with different organizational architectures, then data transfer capability is maintained, but data usability and integration efficiency deteriorate due to incompatible medical record number formats

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transfer capabilityVSAvoiddata integration efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an integration device as an intermediary component between medical institutions with different organizational architectures. This device receives DICOM data objects, converts their attribute items according to the target institution's architecture, and outputs converted data objects that are compatible with the receiving system, thereby enabling efficient data integration across heterogeneous institutions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by systematically transforming the attribute parameters of DICOM data objects. Specifically, it converts medical record numbers and other attribute items from the source institution's organizational architecture format to the target institution's format, changing the data parameters to ensure compatibility without altering the underlying medical image data

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If medical record numbers are converted to match different organizational architectures, then data compatibility and usability improve, but system complexity increases due to the need for attribute mapping and conversion mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata compatibilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The integration device is designed with universal functionality to handle multiple types of DICOM attribute items and support conversions between different organizational architectures. By implementing a generalized conversion mechanism that can process various attribute types (medical record numbers, patient identifiers, etc.) through a unified approach, the system achieves broad compatibility without proportionally increasing complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The integration device serves as a dedicated intermediary that centralizes the conversion logic and attribute mapping functionality. By concentrating the complexity management in a single intermediate component rather than distributing it across multiple systems, the overall system complexity is contained and managed more effectively

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3907740A1Data integration system
Publication Date: 2021.11.10 EBM TECH
  • EP3907740A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3907740A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3907740A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A data integration system including an integration device (10) is provided. The integration device receives a first DICOM data object including a first attribute item, searches for a second attribute item corresponding to the first attribute item, and convert the first attribute item of the first DICOM data object to the second attribute item. When the first DICOM data object is transferred from one medical institution (Ha) to another medical institution (Hb), the integration device converts a medical record number that complies with one medical institution organizational architecture into another medical record number that complies with another medical institution organizational architecture to efficiently integrate medical data even if different medical institutions adopt different medical institution organizational architectures.