Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
(a)
(b)
(c)
Fig. 22 Ultrasound images. Ultrasound images of the spine. Sagittal a and axial b image of the
lower spine showing the bone (solid arrows), spinal canal, caudal aspect of the spinal cord (dashed
arrow), and the cauda equina nerve roots (open arrow), and c Doppler ultrasound longitudinal
image at the level of the cervical spine showing the vertebral bony spinal elements (shadowing)
and color indicating flow in the vertebral artery
structures. Figure
21
shows a typical ultrasound scanner. Examples of ultrasound
images are shown in Fig.
22
, including images to examine lower spine in a newborn
infant, and color Doppler to show blood
fl
flow in a vertebra artery segment in the
cervical spine.
9 CAD Computer Systems and Image Quality
Once formed on the medical imaging scanners, these electronic images of varying
modalities are securely transmitted to a computer network system for storage,
display, manipulation, and analysis. These medical image data systems consist of
multiple components, and are termed picture archiving and communication systems
(PACS), and include software subroutine libraries for image storage and handling
[
21
]. A simpli
ed view of the main components of the PACS is that of a central
server, with element components of archiving capability, viewing workstations,
image processing workstations, and ancillary equipment for study distribution
through removable media, typically via CD/DVD burning or printing of study
images to photographic
film. A current generation diagnostic workstation is shown
in Fig.
23
.
Medical imaging examinations typically consist of multiple images, grouped
into series based on some common imaging characteristic, such the reconstruction
plane, or MR imaging sequence. The images in these studies are stored electroni-
cally in Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) format on the
PACS, a standardized
file format developed by National Electrical Manufacturers
Association (NEMA) and the American College of Radiology (ACR) for to facil-
itate communication of images between equipment of different manufacturer origins
[
22
es the representation and
network transmission of image data, as well as of associated metadata and
24
]. The DICOM software integration standard speci
-
