A grid-based model for integration of distributed medical databases

Grid has emerged recently as an integration infrastructure for sharing and coordinated use of diverse resources in dynamic, distributed environment. In this paper, we present a prototype system for integration of heterogeneous medical databases based on Grid technology, which can provide a uniform access interface and efficient query mechanism to different medical databases. After presenting the architecture of the prototype system that employs corresponding Grid services and middleware technologies, we make an analysis on its basic functional components including OGSA-DAI, metadata model, transaction management, and query processing in detail, which cooperate with each other to enable uniform accessing and seamless integration of the underlying heterogeneous medical databases. Then, we test effectiveness and performance of the system through a query instance, analyze the experiment result, and make a discussion on some issues relating to practical medical applications. Although the prototype system has been carried out and tested in a simulated hospital information environment at present, the underlying principles are applicable to practical applications.