Multi-Format Viewer for Simultaneous DICOM and Non-DICOM Image Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current healthcare image management systems cannot display DICOM and non-DICOM images simultaneously within the same viewer, nor can they be accessed from a patient's electronic medical record, making it difficult for clinicians to view a comprehensive history of clinical images.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that allows for the simultaneous display of DICOM and non-DICOM healthcare images by converting DICOM images to JPEG format and displaying them side-by-side in a single viewer, along with a timeline feature for presenting multiple healthcare studies, enabling clinicians to access and view a comprehensive patient history.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate viewers are used for DICOM and non-DICOM images, then each image type can be viewed with its dedicated viewer, but clinicians cannot view both image types side-by-side within the same viewer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate DICOM and non-DICOM viewing capabilities into a single unified viewer interface. The system merges multiple image format handling, timeline navigation, and study selection functionalities into one integrated application, allowing clinicians to view both DICOM and non-DICOM images side-by-side without switching between separate viewers.
Solution Approach 2:
The viewer is designed with universal functionality to handle multiple image formats (DICOM and non-DICOM) simultaneously. The system implements a multi-functional architecture that can detect, load, display, and navigate through different image types using a single interface, making the viewer adaptable to various healthcare image sources.
2Ease of operation
If DICOM images are stored in their native format, then they maintain full compliance with DICOM standards and metadata integrity, but they cannot be displayed side-by-side with non-DICOM images in the same viewer
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the format parameter of DICOM images by converting them to JPEG format. This parameter transformation allows DICOM images to be displayed in the same viewer as non-DICOM images, achieving uniformity in display capabilities across different image types while maintaining visual quality sufficient for clinical review.
3Ease of operation
If images are stored in separate archives (PACS for DICOM, other storage for non-DICOM), then each archive can optimize storage for its specific format, but images cannot be accessed from the patient's electronic medical record in a unified manner
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a universal access mechanism that can retrieve images from multiple separate archives (PACS and other storage systems) through a single interface. The viewer integrates with the electronic medical record to provide unified access to both DICOM and non-DICOM images, eliminating the need for separate access procedures for different image types.
Solution Approach 2:
The viewer acts as an intermediary layer between the electronic medical record and multiple image archives. It mediates the retrieval and display process by receiving image requests from the EMR, accessing appropriate archives based on image type, and presenting all images in a unified manner to the clinician.
4Loss of information
If clinicians use separate tools to access DICOM and non-DICOM images, then each tool can be optimized for its specific image type, but it becomes difficult to understand the entire clinical story associated with the patient
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the clinical narrative by combining all patient images (DICOM and non-DICOM) into a single chronological timeline within one viewer. This integration allows clinicians to see the complete clinical story by viewing all images together in sequence, rather than piecing together information from separate tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary organization of images by automatically arranging them in chronological order within the timeline. This preliminary action of sorting and sequencing images before presentation to the clinician enables immediate understanding of the patient's clinical progression without requiring manual organization.
Data Source
AI summary
The systems, methods, and GUIs of the present invention not only have the ability to display DICOM and non-DICOM images simultaneously, side-by-side in a single viewer, but also display a timeline corresponding to more than one healthcare study. A selection of more than one healthcare study from different sources, without requiring a single storage repository or single PACS system, is received and a viewer is launched for the selected studies. Any DICOM images are converted to a non-DICOM format such that non-DICOM images from the more than one healthcare study side-by-side in the viewer. A timeline corresponding to more than one healthcare study for a patient is provided. From the timeline, images from different sources can be selected and displayed side-by-side in the viewer in a non-DICOM format.