What is PACS?

Computers are invading all areas of our lives. Over the next few years there will be major changes in radiology departments around the UK. The invading system is known as PACS (picture archive computer/communication systems). These PACS allow X-rays and other diagnostic images to be captured, distributed and stored in a digital format (DICOM file) viewable on computer screens around the hospital.

PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System )

A picture archiving and communication system (PACS) is a medical imaging technology which provides economical storage of, and convenient access to, images from multiple modalities (source machine types).

That is, PACS is a digital X-ray system.

Electronic images and reports are transmitted digitally via PACS; this eliminates the need to manually file, retrieve, or transport film jackets. The universal format for PACS image storage and transfer is DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine). Non-image data, such as scanned documents, may be incorporated using consumer industry standard formats like PDF (Portable Document Format), once encapsulated in DICOM. A PACS consists of four major components: The imaging modalities such as X-ray plain film (PF), computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI), a secured network for the transmission of patient information, workstations for interpreting and reviewing images, and archives for the storage and retrieval of images and reports. Combined with available and emerging web technology, PACS has the ability to deliver timely and efficient access to images, interpretations, and related data. PACS breaks down the physical and time barriers associated with traditional film-based image retrieval, distribution, and display.

DICOM

DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) is a standard for handling, storing, printing, and transmitting information in medical imaging. It includes a file format definition and a network communications protocol. The communication protocol is an application protocol that uses TCP/IP to communicate between systems. DICOM files can be exchanged between two entities that are capable of receiving image and patient data in DICOM format. The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) holds the copyright to this standard.[1] It was developed by the DICOM Standards Committee, whose members[2] are also partly members of NEMA.

DICOM enables the integration of scanners, servers, workstations, printers, and network hardware from multiple manufacturers into a picture archiving and communication system (PACS). The different devices come with DICOM conformance statements which clearly state which DICOM classes they support. DICOM has been widely adopted by hospitals and is making inroads in smaller applications like dentists' and doctors' offices.

DICOM is known as NEMA standard PS3, and as ISO standard 12052:2006 "Health informatics -- Digital imaging and communication in medicine (DICOM) including workflow and data management".

The DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine) format describes how to compose messages to send between imaging modalities (e.g., Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance (MR), and ultrasound devices) and defines a set of operations for transmitting them across a network. These messages can also be written to files for offline storage on a picture archiving system, CD, or other type of storage device. DICOM-formatted messages combine images and metadata to create a rich description of a medical imaging procedure. This format is extremely detailed, with a specification that is more than 2,500 pages long.

DICOM file workflow diagram (Doctors can see DICOM files by using DICOM Viewer)

DICOM Viewer, free

If we want to see DICOM images, we have to use a DICOM viewer program.

MicroDICOM viewer is the one of the fastest DICOM viewer program.

Download Free DICOM Viewer : http://www.microdicom.com

MicroDicom-0.7.8-win32.exe

Download Sample DICOM File

micro_dicom_chest.dcm

A DICOM file is displayed on the MicroDICOM viewer.

What services do we provide?


There are many DICOM viewers at free for use, so we don't provide DICOM viewers.
We will provide DICOM files that are converted from Xray films in a hospital.
The DICOM files are seen by using computer in hospitals.
So, no devices except PC computer, are needed to use the DICOM files.
The Xrays are converted to DICOM files through our solutions.
Usually a worker of experience with our solutions produces about 3,000 ~ 5,000 DICOM files 8 hours a day.
Our solutions consists of PC connected to digital camera, a simple view box and a dedicated software.
If you want to know more about out above solutions, let me inform by email : cwiskykim@gmail.com
Thanks a lot.