Biomedical subjects

C H Peng

Publications and source records attributed to C H Peng.

20 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

An economical, personal computer-based picture archiving and communication system.

Taichung Veterans General Hospital has been developing a hospital-wide picture archiving and communication system (PACS) since 1993. A personal computer-based environment was implemented to reduce costs (only $2,500 for each view station) and take advantage of distributed system techniques. Other features of the PACS are automatic image acquisition, hierarchic storage management, efficient image transmission, robust fault tolerance, and user-friendly image manipulation. The system is integrated with the hospital information system so that Chinese-language patient data can be automatically transferred. A four-tier storage hierarchy and a multipath search strategy are used to improve reliability and efficiency. Image compression and efficient image transmission techniques (autorouting and prefetching) are used to reduce the response time. Robust fault tolerance is achieved with fault-tolerant hardware, image replication, and a system watchdog. User-friendly image manipulation features include easy adjustment of the brightness, contrast, or quality of the displayed image; several windows for image display; and image measurement capability. The PACS currently supports computed tomography, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, computed radiography, and digital fluoroscopy; almost all appropriate personal computers in the hospital can be used as view stations. Users are satisfied with the quality, reliability, and performance of the system.

Humans↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Consulting with radiologists outside the hospital by using Java.

A Java-based teleradiology system that makes use of the Internet has been developed. Using this system, an on-call, off-duty radiologist can make diagnoses and perform consultations easily by reviewing the transferred images at home. The image accessibility of the system allows a hospital with such a system to assist an affiliated rural hospital without a full-time radiologist. The system consists of three components: the image server subsystem, the database server subsystem, and the client subsystem. All client subsystems of the system are designed to be symmetric. Users may retrieve images, manipulate them, and perform remote consultations. In addition, a user may add annotations to an image area of interest. Screen synchronization is achieved by means of the command-passing technique and local command execution to reduce the network bandwidth and transmission demands; user interaction is achieved by means of a synchronized indicator for pointing out areas of interest and dialog windows for conversation. Because Java programs can run on heterogeneous platforms, the need for system maintenance and user training is minimized. Although the drawback of Internet bandwidth still exists, the system enables platform-independent teleradiology via the Internet and allows easy and cost-effective remote consultation.

Humans↗