DICOM Metadata Timing Extraction for Medical Procedure Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Medical Data Acquisition Systems (MDAS) lack detailed timing information for substeps of medical procedures, making it difficult to generate accurate efficiency data and schedules for technicians and devices.
Innovation Solution
The method involves receiving and analyzing Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) metadata to extract timing data for each stage of medical procedures, combining it with HL7 feed data to determine granular timing intervals, and using this information to calculate technician efficiency and device performance, thereby optimizing scheduling and resource utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If only overall procedure timing data is collected, then data collection is simple, but efficiency analysis precision is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the overall medical procedure into multiple substeps (e.g., patient positioning, scan acquisition, image reconstruction) and collects timing data for each substep separately. This segmentation enables precise measurement of timing information at the substep level while systematically managing the complexity through structured data collection from DICOM metadata tags specific to each procedure phase.
2Loss of information
If detailed substep timing data is collected, then efficiency analysis precision is improved, but data processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal data processing framework that handles multiple types of medical procedures (CT, MRI, X-ray) and their various substeps through a common analysis system. The system processes DICOM metadata from different procedure types using standardized methods, enabling comprehensive workflow information analysis while managing complexity through reusable processing routines and unified data structures.
3Measurement precision
If granular timing data is extracted from DICOM metadata, then technician efficiency evaluation is improved, but data extraction complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system extracts timing data from DICOM metadata, analyzes technician performance against established benchmarks, and provides feedback for performance improvement. The system continuously refines its data extraction and analysis processes based on accumulated performance data, making the extraction process more efficient over time while maintaining high measurement precision for technician efficiency evaluation.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method determines efficiency data of a technician performing a Medical Data Acquisition Procedure (MDAP), using a Medical Data Acquisition System (MDAS). The method includes receiving timing data including Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) metadata obtained during the MDAP by the MDAS. The DICOM metadata includes time duration information relating to each of a plurality of stages of the MDAP. The method includes determining the efficiency data of the technician as a function of the timing data and predetermined efficiency data defined for the MDAP using the MDAS.