Picture Archiving And Communication System (PACS)

PACS is a medical imaging technology which provides economical storage and convenient access to images from multiple modalities (source machine types like MRI, CT, X-Ray, PET etc.).PACS enables x-ray and scan images to be stored electronically and viewed on screens, helping to improve diagnosis methods. Such a system allows a healthcare organization (such as a hospital) to capture, store, view and share all types of images internally and externally. Images from multiple modalities are directly stored in the PACS server. 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. PACS breaks down the physical and time barriers associated with traditional film-based image retrieval, distribution, and display.

Types of imAGES Most PACSs handle images from various medical imaging instruments, including : 1. Ultrasound (US) 2. Magnetic Resonance (MR) 3. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) 4. Computed Tomography (CT) 5. Endoscopy (ES) 6. Mammograms (MG) 7. Digital Radiography (DR) 8. Computed Radiography (CR) Ophthalmology, etc. 9. Additional types of image format are always being added. Clinical areas beyond radiology, cardiology, oncology, gastroenterology, and even the laboratory are creating medical images that can be incorporated into PACS.

WHY NEED PACS Hard copy replacement : PACS replaces hard-copy based means of managing medical images, such as film archives. With the decreasing price of digital storage, PACSs provide a growing cost and space advantage over film archives in addition to the instant access to prior images at the same institution. Digital copies are referred to as Soft-copy. Remote access : One can view the images from anywhere at any time. It provides capabilities of off-site viewing and reporting (distance education, telediagnosis ). It enables the Doctor and Radiologist in different physical locations to access the same information simultaneously for teleradiology. Handling of case from anywhere at any time. Electronic image integration platform : PACS provides the electronic platform for radiology images interfacing with other medical automation systems such as Hospital Information System (HIS), Electronic Medical Record (EMR), Practice Management Software, and Radiology Information System (RIS). Radiology Workflow Management : PACS is used by radiology personnel to manage the workflow of patient exams.

PACS digital images allow you to zoom in on images and manipulate them for better viewing and analysis PACS can help reduce the number of duplicate images since previous results are available electronically, improving data management efficiency. PACS facilitates quick and easy access to patient images and reports.

PACS Network We Provide complete support to build the PACS Network . PACS network includes : PACS Server : Computer with a lot of hard disk space and a PACS Server software. The PACS Server software needs to be robust, working flawlessly 24/7, with a powerful database engine, capable of storing millions of DICOM images. 2. PACS Clients : A computer with a DICOM viewer software, like Osirix ( For Mac Users) or IQ( For Windows users). These PACS Clients can query and retrieve the DICOM images from the PACS server, by using the DICOM network protocol (DICOM C-Move, C-Store, C-Get, C-Find, WADO) The important qualities of a DICOM viewer is : Fast transferring time (only limited by the network bandwidth). Fast loading time to be able to load and browse 1000 images in less than few seconds. Complete DICOM protocol supports to handle all different types of DICOM images. Powerful 2D imaging functions to analyze the images (ROIs, window levels, zooming, ....). 3D post-processing functions to view the datasets in volume rendering, MPR or MIP. Image fusion support to multi-modal modalities like PET-CT, PET-MR, SPECT-CT studies.

SIMPLE VIEW OF PACS NETWORK

Sole Network is speciAliZed in installation, integration and support of medical imaging software PACS “Sole Network Forever to be Sole”