Abstract:
Accessing image data stored in a first storage unit ( 50 ) at a first location ( 1 ) and a second storage unit ( 50 A) at a second location ( 1 A) is provided by a common server ( 40 ) located at location  1 . Available imaging data is selected by work stations ( 60  or  60 A) based on the identification data stored in server ( 40 ). Selected imaging data is then transferred to a work station from either of the storage units located at the different locations. In case a low speed network is used, transmission of the data from one location to another is facilitated by image transfer servers ( 80  and  80 A).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to picture archiving and communications, and more particularly relates to apparatus and methods which provide access to data stored in multiple image storage units at different locations. 
   Current picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) operate with individual data bases for images, reference data, and so forth, for each individual site or short-term storage (STS) location. While STS&#39;s may be linked, such as in large institutions or hospitals having branches and related organizations, the data bases are nevertheless maintained independently and can only be accessed through a network connection between the STS&#39;s. As a result, a user must have knowledge of an image or a data location and perform a query of the system in order to locate a desired image or data. The present invention addresses this problem and provides a solution. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The preferred embodiment is useful in a picture archiving and communication system and includes techniques for locating and accessing image data stored on a first image storage unit at a first location and a second image stored at unit at a second location. The data is created by generating at a first location first imaging data resulting from a first patient and first identification data identifying the first imaging data. First stored image data is stored on the first image storage unit in response to the first imaging data and first stored identification data is stored at the first location in response to the first identification data. The stored identification data preferably is stored on a server located at the first location. Second imaging data resulting from a second patient is generated at the second location, as well as second identification data identifying the second imaging data. Second stored image data is stored on the second image storage unit in response to the second imaging data, and second stored identification data is stored at the first location in response to the second identification data. The second stored identification data preferably is stored on the server located at the first location. The first and second identification data are viewed at the first location by accessing the first and second stored identification data at the first location. At least a first request for transmittal of the second stored image data from the second image storage unit to the first location is made. A second image is created in response to the second stored image data transferred to the first location from the second image storage unit. The first and second identification data also are viewed at the second location by accessing the first and second stored identification data stored at the first location. A second request for transmittal of the first stored image data from the first image storage unit to the second location also is made. A first image is created at the second location in response to the first stored image data transferred to the second location from the first image storage unit. 
   The creation and viewing of the images preferably is done on work stations located at the first and second locations. The storage of the first and second stored identification data is accomplished preferably by first and second interface units located at the first and second locations. 
   By using the foregoing techniques, the invention alleviates the need to search various data bases for information relating to images on examinations between linked PACs systems and short-term storage for such systems. The invention simplifies access to the information and offers additional flexibility both in storage and in use of images. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic blocked diagram of a preferred form of the invention employing a high speed network for transmitting data between image storage units at different locations. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram like  FIG. 1  employing a low speed network and incorporating image transfer servers in order to transmit data between information storage units at different locations. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a preferred form of the invention includes a group of components located at a first location  1  such as a hospital, and a group of components located at a second location  1 A, such as a clinic which may be several miles from the hospital. The components in locations  1  and  1 A are interconnected by a high-speed network  10 , such as an ATM network operating at about 155 megabytes per second. 
   Referring to location  1 , a computed tomography unit (CT)  20  images a patient and provides imaging data as well as identification data which is transmitted over network  10  to a modality interface unit  30 . The identification data may include the name of the patient, as well as the time and circumstances of the imaging and various identification numbers established by the hospital for identifying the imaging data. 
   Additional imaging data may be provided by a magnetic resonance imaging device (MR)  22  which also supplies identification data similar to CT  20 . The imaging and identification data from MR unit  22  also is transmitted to MIU  30 . 
   MIU  30  sends the identification data through network  10  to an information management server (IMS)  40  which stores the information in any convenient form, including compressed form. MIU  30  compresses the image data and transmits it via network  10  to image storage unit (ISU)  50 . 
   Additional identification data which helps to identify image data also may be provided by a conventional radiology information system (RIS) interface  24 . The information from interface  24  also is transmitted over network  10  to IMS  40  for storage and integration with other identification data. One feature of the invention is that a single IMS for identification data is provided for the entire system at both locations  1  and  1 A. 
   Conventional work stations  60  are located at various departments in the hospital in order to view images resulting from the image data and the identification data. 
   From time to time image data is transmitted from ISU  50  over network  10  to a conventional archive storage unit  70 . 
   At location  1 A, components like those described in connection with location  1  also are provided. The corresponding components of location  1 A are indicated by the letter A following the identification numeral. 
   In operation, imaging data resulting from the imaging of a patient, as well as identification data identifying the imaging data, are received from CT  20  and MR  22  through network  10  by MIU  30 . MIU  30  transmits the identification data to IMS  40  for storage. MIU  30  also compresses the image data and transmits it to ISU  50 . 
   At location  1 A, CT  20 A, MR  22 A, MIU  30 A, and ISU  50 A operate in the same manner previously described for the foregoing components at location  1 . However, all identification data is stored in IMS  40  located at location  1 . The image data from location  1  is stored in ISU  50 , whereas the image data created at location  1 A is stored in ISU  50 A. 
   In order to view image data stored either on ISU  50  or ISU  50 A, a user at the hospital may use any of workstations  60  in order to access the identification data in IMS  40  over network  10 . In a well known manner, the identification data is organized by a convenient means, such as alphabetical order or numerical order so that the image data desired for viewing may be quickly identified from the identification data. The user at the work station then causes the work station to transmit a request to ISU  50  and/or ISU  50 A for desired image data. The user at one of work stations  60  does not necessarily know the location at which the image data is stored. In response to the request, ISU  50  and/or ISU  50 A causes data to transmit to one of work stations  60  for viewing by the user. 
   After the desired image data is transmitted to one of work stations  60 , the work station converts the data into a viewable image which can be interpreted by the user. 
   Viewing of an image resulting from image data stored in ISU  50  from one of work stations  60 A operates in a similar manner. Work stations  60 A are able to view the identification data stored in IMS  40  over network  10  until the desired image data is located. One of work stations  60 A then generates a signal which requests the desired image data from ISU  50  over network  10  to one of workstations  60 A. At one of work stations  60 A, the desired image data is converted into an image viewable by the user. 
     FIG. 2  shows components like those illustrated in  FIG. 1  by like numbers.  FIG. 2  differs from  FIG. 1  in that a low speed network  5  is used in place of high speed network  10 . Network  5  may comprise, for example, a T1 telephone line. Because of the slow speed of network  5 , image data transfers between locations  1  and  1 A are handled by an image transfer server (ITS)  80  at location  1  and a corresponding image transfer server (ITS)  80 A at location  1 A. 
   In order for a user at one of work stations  60  to access image data stored on ISU  50 A, the user causes the work station to interrogate the identification data in IMS  40  in order to locate the desired image data. The work station then causes a request signal to be sent to IMS  40  which, in turn, requests the desired image data from ISU  50 A over network  5 . The actual transfer of data takes place from ISU  50 A to ISU  50  over network  5  via ITS  80  and ITS  80 A in a well known manner. After the information is fetched to ISU  50 , the image data is transferred over network  5  to one of work stations  60 . 
   Work stations  60 A operate in a similar manner in that they view the identification data in IMS  40  in order to select the desired image data which may be stored in ISU  50 . A request is sent from one of work stations  60 A to IMS  40 , which in turn, causes the desired image data to be transmitted over network  5  by means of ITS  80  and ITS  80 A into ISU  50 A. Once the desired image data is located in ISU  50 A, it may be quickly transmitted to one of work stations  60 A for creation of an image for review by the user. 
   Examples of CT  20 , MR  22  and RIS interface  24  are well known to those skilled in the art. An example of MIU  30  is model number 2223612 manufactured by General Electric Company. An example of IMS  40  is model number 2244014 manufactured by General Electric Company. An example of ISU  50  is model number 2223622 manufactured by General Electric Company. Work station  60  and archive  70  are also well known in the art. An example of ITS  80  is model number 2244004 manufactured by General Electric Company. 
   Those skilled in the art will recognize that the preceding has described the preferred embodiments which may be altered and modified without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.