Radiology on Handheld Devices: Image Display, Manipulation, and PACS Integration Issues1

doi:10.1148/rg.241035127

Radiology on Handheld Devices: Image Display, Manipulation, and PACS Integration Issues1

¹From the Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Dr, Stanford, CA 94305-5105. Presented as an infoRAD exhibit at the 2002 RSNA scientific assembly. Received May 6, 2003; revision requested June 5 and received August 22; accepted September 15. Supported in part by a seed grant from the Office of Technology and Licensing, Stanford University, Stanford, Calif. Address correspondence to C.F.B. (e-mail: beaulieu@stanford.edu).

Abstract

Handheld personal digital assistants (PDAs) have undergone continuous and substantial improvements in hardware and graphics capabilities, making them a compelling platform for novel developments in teleradiology. The latest PDAs have processor speeds of up to 400 MHz and storage capacities of up to 80 Gbytes with memory expansion methods. A Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM)–compliant, vendor-independent handheld image access system was developed in which a PDA server acts as the gateway between a picture archiving and communication system (PACS) and PDAs. The system is compatible with most currently available PDA models. It is capable of both wired and wireless transfer of images and includes custom PDA software and World Wide Web interfaces that implement a variety of basic image manipulation functions. Implementation of this system, which is currently undergoing debugging and beta testing, required optimization of the user interface to efficiently display images on smaller PDA screens. The PDA server manages user work lists and implements compression and security features to accelerate transfer speeds, protect patient information, and regulate access. Although some limitations remain, PDA-based teleradiology has the potential to increase the efficiency of the radiologic work flow, increasing productivity and improving communication with referring physicians and patients.

Footnotes

Abbreviations: DICOM = Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine, GUI = graphical user interface, HIPAA = Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, HTML = HyperText Markup Language, IIS = Internet Information Services, JPEG = Joint Photographic Experts Group, LCD = liquid crystal display, PACS = picture archiving and communication system, PDA = personal digital assistant, SQL = Structured Query Language, VPN = virtual private network, 3D = three-dimensional