Zero-Client Web App for Remote DICOM Cine Viewing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical image viewing technologies require specialized web browser plug-ins or add-ons to display and stream medical images, which can be cumbersome and non-compliant with patient privacy regulations, especially when accessing images stored in non-web browser compatible formats like DICOM.
Innovation Solution
A zero-client web application that executes within a standard web browser without plug-ins or add-ons, communicating with a web server to convert and stream medical images from a medical image database into web browser compatible formats like JPEG or PNG, allowing remote cine viewing without the need for additional software installations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If specialized web browser plug-ins or add-ons are used to display medical images, then the medical images can be displayed and streamed, but the system becomes cumbersome and complex, and may not be compliant with patient privacy regulations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the image conversion and processing functionality from the client device and places it on the server side. The server receives DICOM images, converts them to web-compatible formats (JPEG, PNG), and streams them to the client browser. This eliminates the need for client-side plug-ins or add-ons while maintaining security and compliance through server-based processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary between the medical image database and the web browser. This server acts as a mediator that converts non-web-compatible DICOM images into web-compatible formats and handles the streaming process. The intermediary server absorbs the complexity of format conversion and privacy compliance, allowing the client browser to function without specialized plug-ins.
2Reliability
If medical images are stored and managed securely within client device memory, then privacy compliance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the image storage and management responsibilities from the client device and relocates them to the server. The server maintains secure storage of medical images in its memory, handling privacy compliance centrally. The client device only receives and displays converted images temporarily, eliminating the need for complex client-side image management systems while maintaining security through server-based control.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for remotely viewing medical images on a client device having a zero-client web application with a buffering module. The zero-client web application receives an image series selection from a user and receives corresponding series details from a web server. The zero-client web application generates an off-screen image array according to the series details. The buffering module outputs image requests based on the series details to a web server. The web server is in communication with a medical image database storing images in a non-web browser compatible format (e.g., DICOM). The buffering module then populates the off-screen image array with converted medical images received from the web server. The zero-client web application further includes an on-screen image and a display module. The display module sequentially sets converted medical images of the off-screen array as the on-screen image to stream the converted medical images.