Research PACS De-identification Scripting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current medical diagnostic imaging systems face challenges in efficiently de-identifying patient information for research purposes, as existing systems are costly, error-prone, and limited by the DICOM data model, making it difficult to organize, search, and retrieve data for research projects, and they lack a unified platform for image processing and analysis.

Innovation Solution

A Research Picture Archiving and Communication System (RPACS) that includes a clinical subsystem for de-identifying image data, a de-identification subsystem to generate and apply scripts for removing personal information, and a virtual file system for flexible data organization and retrieval, enabling secure and efficient data sharing and analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual de-identification process is used to remove personal information from PACS data, then patient privacy is protected, but the process is costly and error-prone

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvede-identification accuracyVSAvoidde-identification efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of de-identification with an automated computational system that uses software algorithms to remove personal information from DICOM images and metadata, eliminating human error and significantly improving both accuracy and efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service de-identification through automated scripts and tools that can be executed without manual intervention, allowing the system to perform de-identification tasks independently while maintaining high reliability through built-in validation mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If traditional clinical PACS is used to store research images, then data storage is provided, but the ability to organize and search data flexibly is limited due to DICOM data model constraints

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata organization flexibilityVSAvoiddata model constraints

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the data storage system into two distinct layers: a clinical PACS layer that maintains DICOM compliance for regulatory purposes, and a research data lake layer that provides flexible, schema-free storage using modern data formats, allowing each layer to operate independently with appropriate complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediary components including a de-identification subsystem that acts as a mediator between clinical and research systems, and a unified API layer that provides flexible data access without requiring changes to the underlying DICOM-constrained clinical PACS infrastructure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If DICOM standard is followed for data transmission and storage, then interoperability is ensured, but programmatic and automated retrieval is difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprogrammatic retrieval capabilityVSAvoidsearchability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a unified research platform that provides multi-functional access to data through standardized APIs, enabling both programmatic automated retrieval and flexible ad-hoc querying simultaneously, while maintaining DICOM compliance for clinical interoperability requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Productivity

If clinical PACS is used for research data storage, then data security is maintained, but data sharing and collaboration are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata sharing efficiencyVSAvoidpatient privacy protection

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts personal identifiable information from the data through automated de-identification processes, removing the privacy risk while retaining the research value of the data, and separates clinical data management from research data sharing functions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a unified research platform as an intermediary layer between clinical PACS systems and research collaborators, enabling secure data sharing through standardized interfaces while maintaining patient privacy through automated de-identification and access control mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10204117B2Research picture archiving communications system

Publication Date: 2019.02.12 SYNAPTIVE MEDICAL INC

AI summary

A system for de-identifying images and metadata containing personal information. A clinical subsystem connects to a clinical picture archiving and communication system (PACS) containing image data including metadata with personal information. The clinical subsystem includes an image data editor for de-identifying image data by deleting or altering the personal information in the image data according to instructions specified in a de-identification script. The de-identification subsystem includes an image metadata database and runs an edit script generator that can be used by a user to generate a de-identification script based on metadata stored in the image metadata database, without access to the associated image data.