Method and system for distributing and accessing diagnostic images associated with diagnostic imaging report

Abstract

Methods and systems for distributing and accessing diagnostic images associated with a diagnostic imaging report are disclosed. A DICOM server is configured to receive diagnostic images and diagnostic information from an imaging facility based on a diagnostic imaging study. The received diagnostic images and diagnostic information are stored at a DICOM storage of the server. A diagnostic imaging report is generated based on diagnostic report input parameters related to the received diagnostic images and the diagnostic information. The generated diagnostic imaging report includes a barcode containing an embedded file path to one or more of the received diagnostic images.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of distributing diagnostic images associated with a diagnostic imaging report, comprising:
 receiving and storing at a DICOM server a diagnostic image and diagnostic information based on an imaging study, wherein storing the diagnostic image comprises associating the diagnostic image with an original file path;   receiving diagnostic report input parameters based on the received diagnostic image and diagnostic information; and   generating a diagnostic imaging report based on the input parameters, wherein the generated diagnostic imaging report comprises a barcode comprising an embedded file path to the stored diagnostic image.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the received diagnostic image is a DICOM persistent object. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the file path is an original URL and wherein the embedded file path is a shortened URL. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein generating a diagnostic imaging report based on the input parameters comprises constructing the shortened URL from the original URL by applying predefined rules based on Web Access to DICOM persistent objects. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the shortened URL is constructed based on a unique identifier from the DICOM Tag Study Instance UID. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the barcode further comprises embedded file path access information for accessing the diagnostic image at the file path. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the barcode is a Quick Response (QR) code. 
     
     
         8 . A DICOM server for distributing diagnostic images associated with a diagnostic imaging report, comprising:
 a connectivity interface configured to receive and store at a DICOM storage a diagnostic image and diagnostic information based on an imaging study, wherein storing the diagnostic image comprises associating the diagnostic image with an original file path to the DICOM storage;   a DICOM database configured to store the original file path; and   a DICOM diagnostic report module configured to generate a diagnostic imaging report based on diagnostic report input parameters received from a medical workstation, wherein the generated diagnostic imaging report comprises a barcode comprising an embedded file path to the stored diagnostic image.   
     
     
         9 . The DICOM server of  claim 8 , wherein the received diagnostic image is a DICOM persistent object. 
     
     
         10 . The DICOM server of  claim 8 , wherein the file path is an original URL and wherein the embedded file path is a shortened URL. 
     
     
         11 . The DICOM server of  claim 10 , wherein the DICOM diagnostic report module constructs the shortened URL from the original URL by applying predefined rules based on Web Access to DICOM persistent objects. 
     
     
         12 . The DICOM server of  claim 11 , wherein the shortened URL is constructed based on a unique identifier from the DICOM Tag Study Instance UID. 
     
     
         13 . The DICOM server of  claim 8 , wherein the barcode further comprises embedded file path access information for accessing the diagnostic image at the file path. 
     
     
         14 . The DICOM server of  claim 13 , wherein the barcode is a Quick Response (QR) code. 
     
     
         15 . The DICOM server of  claim 8 , further comprising a security module configured to authenticate the medical workstation before receiving the diagnostic report input parameters from the medical workstation. 
     
     
         16 . A scanning device for accessing a diagnostic image associated with a hardcopy diagnostic imaging report, comprising:
 a camera;   a barcode reader application configured to:
 scan a barcode in the hardcopy diagnostic imaging report using the camera; and 
 extract a file path embedded in the scanned barcode, wherein the file path is a file path to the diagnostic image; 
   a network connectivity interface configured to access the diagnostic image at the extracted file path; and   a display configured to display the content of the extracted file path, wherein the content comprises the diagnostic image.   
     
     
         17 . The scanning device of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the extracted file path is a URL;   the barcode is a QR code; and   wherein the URL is automatically loaded on a web browser of the scanning device when the URL is extracted.   
     
     
         18 . The scanning device of  claim 17 , wherein the diagnostic image is a DICOM persistent object. 
     
     
         19 . The scanning device of  claim 18 , wherein the barcode reader application is further configured to extract from the barcode embedded URL access information for accessing the diagnostic image at the URL. 
     
     
         20 . The scanning device of  claim 19 , wherein the URL is a shortened URL constructed from an original URL by applying predefined rules based on Web Access to DICOM persistent objects. 
     
     
         21 . The scanning device of  claim 19 , wherein the barcode reader application further comprises a DICOM reader configured to display the diagnostic image stored at the URL.