PACS Image Messaging with DICOM PHI Removal for Secure Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing PACS systems lack anonymous and secure means for sharing medical images, posing a risk to patient confidentiality and violating HIPAA laws, especially in sensitive cases involving high-profile individuals or academic settings.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for generating and sharing de-identified medical images within a PACS using a messaging tool, which involves capturing a snapshot of a medical image, removing protected health information (PHI) from the DICOM data overlay layer, and transmitting the de-identified image to ensure anonymity and security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If medical images are shared through existing PACS messaging tools, then communication efficiency is improved, but patient privacy and confidentiality are compromised due to exposure of protected health information (PHI)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful PHI elements from the medical image data before sharing. The system identifies and extracts protected health information from DICOM overlays and other metadata, then eliminates this sensitive data while preserving the diagnostic utility of the medical images for communication purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a modified copy of the medical image data with PHI removed. Instead of sharing the original images containing sensitive information, the system generates a de-identified copy that maintains diagnostic value while eliminating personal identifiers, patient names, and other protected health information.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If de-identification of medical images is performed, then patient confidentiality is protected, but the complexity of the messaging tool increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs de-identification actions before the medical images are shared through the messaging tool. The system proactively removes PHI from the image data in advance, preparing clean, de-identified versions for transmission. This preliminary processing prevents PHI exposure during communication without requiring complex real-time filtering during the messaging operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing layer between the medical image source and the messaging tool. This intermediary component handles the de-identification task, acting as a mediator that receives original images, removes PHI, and outputs cleaned versions suitable for safe messaging. This separates the complexity of de-identification from the core messaging functionality.
3Reliability
If automatic deletion of sensitive information is implemented, then HIPAA compliance is improved, but the processing time for image sharing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs sensitive information deletion in advance before the image sharing process begins. By pre-processing and removing PHI from medical images before they enter the messaging system, the system eliminates the need for time-consuming real-time filtering during transmission, thereby reducing overall processing time while maintaining compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a de-identified copy of the medical image data that is ready for immediate sharing. This pre-prepared copy contains all necessary diagnostic information without embedded PHI, allowing for rapid transmission without additional processing time during the messaging operation, thus reducing time loss while ensuring compliance.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, system and computer program product for anonymous and secure sharing of medical images through a messaging tool within a picture archiving and communication system (PACS), the PACS comprising medical images captured by a medical imaging apparatus, wherein the medical images include associated digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) data. The method includes: displaying a messaging tool GUI including a dialog thread pane, a message input field, and an icon for capturing a snapshot of a viewer GUI displaying at least one medical image including a DICOM data overlay layer comprising protected health information (PHI) of an imaged subject; capturing the snapshot of the viewer GUI displaying the at least one medical image; generating a de-identified medical image based on the snapshot of the viewer GUI displaying the at least one medical image, wherein the de-identified medical images excludes the PHI.