Medical Image Processing Server using DICOM. Barberis, Sebastián (1), Graffigna, Juan Pablo (2), Isoardi, Roberto (1) 1 – Escuela de Medicina Nuclear. Mendoza. Argentina. 2 – Universidad Nacional de San Juan. San Juan. Argentina.

Problematic Situation Algorithms developed by research groups present inconvenients that make difficult their validation and clinical implementation. Algorithms developed by research groups present inconvenients that make difficult their validation and clinical implementation. Highly trained medical and technical staff usually work in very demanding environments and cannot employ the developed tools. Highly trained medical and technical staff usually work in very demanding environments and cannot employ the developed tools. For the validation, a selection of studies and its later processing is required. Actually, validations are performed manually. For the validation, a selection of studies and its later processing is required. Actually, validations are performed manually.

Objetive – The implementation of a centralized processing server that allows solving different needs in diagnosis and research. – The development of a DICOM system interact within a PACS. – Quickly associate research processing algorithms to clinical implementation, allowing their validation.

Workstation Network Service Modalities Diagnostic Workstation StorageServer DICOM Printers PACSManager HIS / RIS Processing Server Connecting to a PACS system

Features Communication of studies in clinical environments (DICOM). Communication of studies in clinical environments (DICOM). Different algorithms of processing: Different algorithms of processing: Intermodality/intrapatient registration for radiotherapy. Intermodality/intrapatient registration for radiotherapy. Intramodality/intrapatient registration for treatment monitoring. Intramodality/intrapatient registration for treatment monitoring. Processing of single studies for diagnosis. Processing of single studies for diagnosis. Others. Others. Easy administration and set-up Easy administration and set-up Automatic Function. Automatic Function. Multi-thread. Multi-thread. Stability against failures. Stability against failures. Development with GPL tools. Development with GPL tools.

Tools used Support tools for design: Support tools for design: Notation diagrams in Unified Modeling Language UML. Notation diagrams in Unified Modeling Language UML. Tool box BOUML® release 2.32 Tool box BOUML® release 2.32 Develop Enviroment and compiler: Develop Enviroment and compiler: Code::Blocks 8.02 Code::Blocks 8.02 Compiler MinGW Compiler MinGW DICOM facilities: DICOM facilities: CTN of Mallincrodt Institute of Radiology. CTN of Mallincrodt Institute of Radiology. Database facilities. Database facilities. MySQL 5.0 API for C. MySQL 5.0 API for C. Processing Algorithms Processing Algorithms Research project. Research project.

Implementation model - Application Data Flow

Implementation of the DICOM standard The whole communication and transfer of images with remote application entities is carried out using the DICOM network protocol using the TCP/IP protocol. The functions supported by the entities of the system are: The whole communication and transfer of images with remote application entities is carried out using the DICOM network protocol using the TCP/IP protocol. The functions supported by the entities of the system are: UL services supported are: A-ASSOCIATE, A-RELEASE, A- ABORT, A-P-ABORT and P-DATA UL services supported are: A-ASSOCIATE, A-RELEASE, A- ABORT, A-P-ABORT and P-DATA SCU (Application Entitys ‘Send’) SCP (Application Entitys 1 to N) Storage. Verification.

Implementation of the DICOM standard The reception Applications Entity in this system support a great number of storage service class (listed in its Conformance Statement) and the verification service class. The reception Applications Entity in this system support a great number of storage service class (listed in its Conformance Statement) and the verification service class. As the communication module only supports the storage and verification, the response to other request (as posts C-FIND or C-GET) is reject whit the corresponding response messages. As the communication module only supports the storage and verification, the response to other request (as posts C-FIND or C-GET) is reject whit the corresponding response messages.

Features database 1) Contains the configuration parameters (available processing algorithms, conditions for them, assigned port, etc). 1) Contains the configuration parameters (available processing algorithms, conditions for them, assigned port, etc). 2) Served for recording studies information (general and specific data). 2) Served for recording studies information (general and specific data). Both sets of data are used to making decisions. Both sets of data are used to making decisions. Decision-making system: SQL Query Decision-making system: SQL Query

Thread use Allows opening a listening port for each different processing algorithm (including their capacity of solve one o more association request). Allows opening a listening port for each different processing algorithm (including their capacity of solve one o more association request). Allows the separation of tasks and avoid problems that can halt its overall performance. The latter is important because the imaging techniques can be used in a development phase, causing instability in the process Allows the separation of tasks and avoid problems that can halt its overall performance. The latter is important because the imaging techniques can be used in a development phase, causing instability in the process

Test and application This tool has been implemented in a Medical Imaging and Radiotherapy center, “Escuela de Medicina Nuclear, Mendoza, Argentina” including three image processing algorithms. This tool has been implemented in a Medical Imaging and Radiotherapy center, “Escuela de Medicina Nuclear, Mendoza, Argentina” including three image processing algorithms. Quality control in computed tomography. Quality control in computed tomography. Flip process to prepare PET studies for Radiotherapy Planning. Flip process to prepare PET studies for Radiotherapy Planning. Cropping and segmentation of MRI brain studies. Cropping and segmentation of MRI brain studies.

Test and application Quality control in computed tomography Cropping and segmentation of MRI brain studies. Flip process to prepare PET studies for Radiotherapy Planning.

This work has allowed the development of a Processing Server in accordance with DICOM standard. It is possible to integrate new processing algorithms to clinical environments. The application allows an automatic management of studies. The decision made determines which operation must be executed, which studies take part, and to whom the results must be sent. The system can receive several studies, execute algorithms, or send results simultaneously using different processing threads. Operations, ports, conditions, etc., can be quickly modified by means of a SQL database. Conclusions

For the design and the development of the server, GPL software tools have exclusively been used. A weakness of the system is the necessity of employing automatic algorithms that require no user intervention. Even though there is a tendency to this kind of techniques, there is no possibility to interact with the user during processing tasks. Regarding the implementation of the system in a clinical environment, it is necessary to execute it for a prolonged time in order to evaluate the system and algorithms. It will allow to analyze the organizational changes. Conclusions