OSPACS: Ultrasound image management system

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Data Management

Background:

• Ultrasound imaging utilizes the DICOM format for storing scan data.
• Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) are common in healthcare but unsuitable for large, anonymized ultrasound trial datasets.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an automated system for managing large collections of anonymized ultrasound images from clinical screening trials.

Main Methods:

• Developed a Windows application integrating an open-source DICOM viewer and a relational database.
• Automated bulk import of DICOM files, including patient data cross-validation and anonymization.
• Stored image data as database records for efficient retrieval and display.

Main Results:

• The system enables accurate archiving and management of ultrasound images.
• Automated processes ensure data anonymization and error-free import.
• Image records are retrievable for display or export.

Conclusions:

• The developed system offers reliable, automated ultrasound image archiving for clinical trials.
• An open-source project has been initiated to foster ongoing system development and improvement.