Data Exchange Standards Flashcards
(38 cards)
What and why are data exchange standards important?
Data communication must be according to a standard protocol in order for every party in the conversation to be understood.
A common language/protocol for data exchange.
Why are open data exchange standards important?
Open standards make it easier for equipment from different manufacturers to communicate with each other.
What are the incentives for manufacturers to use open standards for data exchange?
They get the biggest possible market for their equipment.
What are the incentives for users to use open standards for data exchange?
It is easier to understand how communication takes place and allows for choice of equipment across all manufacturers.
What are the incentives for everyone to use open standards for data exchange?
It makes troubleshooting easier and allows for all stakeholders to work together to develop the standard.
What is DICOM?
Digital Imaging and COmmunications in Medicine:
A data exchange standard covering digital images and associated data. Adherence is voluntary.
What is an open standard?
Standards must be published and available to all interested parties, potentially with conditions for access (e.g. payment). Ideally they would be non-propriety and freely available, with all interested parties contributing to the development.
What is the difference between a standard and the law?
Standards:
- Adherence (generally) voluntary
- The same wherever they are implemented
- Constantly evolving, where several versions can be active at a time
- Interpretation is by who implements it or who assesses against it
Law:
- One version of the law in effect at a time
- Interpretation of the law decided by the courts
What is a DICOM element?
A unit of information with a defined data type and structure which are uniquely indexed by a ‘tag’ and name (e.g. a patient’s name, CT slice position, gantry angle)
What is a DICOM information object?
Set of elements which together describe a physical entity (e.g. CT slice, digital radiograph, radiotherapy plan). A concrete example is an instance.
What is a DICOM service class/group?
An action which can be performed on information objects (e.g. transferring data between systems, archiving, printing).
What is a DICOM SOP?
Service Object Pair:
A defined action (service) which can be performed on a particular object (e.g. storage (service) of a CT slice (object)).
What is DIMSE?
DICOM Message Service Element
What are some DIMSE service classes?
Verification C-ECHO
Storage C-STORE
Query C-FIND
Retrieve C-GET
What subsection of the NHS deals with data standards?
The Data Alliance Partner NHS standards and provides guidance on the use of standards
How is a system uniquely identified in a DICOM data exchange?
IP address
Port
AET (Application Entity Title)
A workstation is used to search for and retrieve images from a PACS. Describe the DIMSE
classes involved in this process. In each case identify which of the workstation and PACS is
acting as the service user and which is the service provider.
C-FIND Workstation: User, PACS: Provider
C-GET/MOVE Workstation: User, PACS: Provider
C-STORE Workstation: User, PACS: Provider
What is a DICOM UID?
Unique identifier which is assigned to a SOP class (contextually unique) or instances of objects (globally unique)
How long is a DICOM UID?
Up to 64 characters
What is the structure of a DICOM UID?
a.b.c.d.e.f.g.h.i.j
a.b = 1.2 - DICOM
c - country
d - root owner (e.g. GE)
e-j - anything as long as it is unique
What is an integration engine?
Performs data mapping or conversions between input feed and outputs
When might an integration engine be used?
Converting HL7 feed into multiple feeds for different versions which are compatible on different systems
Patient IDs if different systems use different master ID
Removing unsupported content
What are the types of DICOM transfer syntaxes?
Implicit VR Little Endian - MANDATORY
Explicit VR Little Endian - OPTIONAL
Explicit VR Big Endian - OPTIONAL
What is a DICOM transfer syntax?
A way of communicating information, and must be agreed upon prior to transfer
