System and method for the automatic generation of a query to a dicom server

Abstract

A system and method for automatically generating a query to a DICOM server computer. The system comprises patient identification information encoded in a tangible medium. The system further comprises a reading device to read the encoded patient identification information from the tangible medium. The system also includes a computer-based platform hosting a medical software application. The computer-based platform operationally interfaces to the reading device to receive the read patient identification information from the reading device and to automatically generate a DICOM query, using the medical software application, such that the DICOM query includes at least a portion of the patient identification information. The system further comprises at least one DICOM server computer operationally interfacing to the computer-based platform to receive the DICOM query from the computer-based platform.

1 . A method to automatically generate a query to a Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine (DICOM) server, said method comprising:
 selecting a DICOM query option from a displayed menu, provided by a medical software application hosted on a computer, to initiate displaying of a query window, wherein said query window includes unpopulated data fields;   reading patient identification information using a bar code scanning device, wherein said patient identification information is encoded in a bar code;   automatically forwarding said read patient identification information from said bar code scanning device to said medical software application on said computer;   automatically populating at least one of said data fields of said query window with at least a portion of said patient identification information within said medical software application; and   initiating a search operation to search at least one DICOM server for information related to a patient associated with said patient identification information, based at least on said populated patient identification information, using said medical software application.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said DICOM query option corresponds to a DICOM query/retrieve. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said patient identification information includes at least one of a patient's name, a patient identification number, a patient's sex, a patient's date of birth, and a patient's age. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of initiating a search operation is performed by a user of said medical software application. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of initiating a search operation is performed automatically by said medical software application. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said bar code comprises a one-dimensional bar code. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said bar code comprises a two-dimensional bar code. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising said at least one DICOM server returning at least one search result to said medical software application on said computer in response to at least said search operation. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising said at least one DICOM server returning at least one medical file or data object associated with said patient to said medical software application on said compute in response to at least said search operation. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising said at least one DICOM server returning at least one image file or data object associated with said patient to said medical software application on said computer in response to at least said search operation. 
     
     
         11 . A system for automatically generating a query to a Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine (DICOM) server computer, said system comprising:
 a non-transitory encoded medium including encoded patient identification information of a patient;   a reading device configured to read said patient identification information encoded in said non-transitory encoded medium;   a personal computer hosting a medical software application, said personal computer operationally interfacing to said reading device to receive said read patient identification information from said reading device and to automatically generate a DICOM query, using said medical software application, such that said DICOM query includes at least a portion of said patient identification information; and   at least one DICOM server computer operationally interfacing to said personal computer to receive said DICOM query from said personal computer.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said at least one DICOM server computer operationally interfaces to said personal computer via at least one network. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein said at least one network comprises at least one of a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), and a global informational network. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11  further comprising at least one image data base operationally interfacing to said at least one DICOM server computer and storing digital medical images. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said personal computer includes a central processing unit, a user interface, and a display. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said non-transitory encoded medium comprises a bar code printed on a patient identification card, a patient file, or a patient image. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said non-transitory encoded medium comprises an RFID tag or chip affixed to or printed on one of a patient identification card, a patient file, and a patient image. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said at least one DICOM server computer provides at least one of a digital image, a medical file, and a data object to said personal computer in response to said DICOM query. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said patient identification information includes at least one of a patient's name, a patient identification number, a patient's sex, a patient's date of birth, and a patient's age. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said reading device comprises one of a bar code scanning device and an RFID interrogator/reader device. 
     
     
         21 . A method to automatically generate a query to a Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine (DICOM) server computer, said method comprising:
 reading patient identification information using a reading device, wherein said patient identification information is encoded on a non-transitory medium;   automatically forwarding said read patient identification information from said reading device to a medical software application on a personal computer; and   initiating a DICOM query operation to search at least one DICOM server computer for information related to a patient associated with said patient identification information, based at least on a portion of said patient identification information, using said medical software application.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said DICOM query operation corresponds to a DICOM query/retrieve. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said patient identification information includes at least one of a patient's name, a patient identification number, a patient's sex, a patient's date of birth, and a patient's age. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said step of initiating a DICOM query operation is performed by a user of said medical software application. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said step of initiating a DICOM query operation is performed automatically by said medical software application. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising said at least one DICOM server computer returning at least one query result to said medical software application on said personal computer in response to said DICOM query operation. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising said at least one DICOM server computer returning at least one medical file or data object associated with said patient to said medical software application on said personal computer in response to at least said DICOM query operation. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising said at least one DICOM server computer returning at least one image file or data object associated with said patient to said medical software application on said personal computer in response to at least said DICOM query operation. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said reading device comprises a bar code scanning device. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said reading device comprises an RFID interrogator/reader device. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said non-transitory medium comprises a bar code printed on a patient identification card, a patient file, or a patient image. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said non-transitory medium comprises an RFID tag or chip affixed to or printed on one of a patient identification card, a patient file, and a patient image.