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RSNA DICOM Demonstrations
The RSNA DICOM demonstrations have been based on efforts of the MedPACS section of NEMA and the RSNA Electronic Communications Committee. The demonstrations have evolved since first conceived and implemented in 1992. Highlights of the demonstrations are given below.
- 1992 - The first demonstration was designed at a time when only Part 8 of the Standard had been balloted. This provided the basic networking layer, but the other sections were still in committee. In this demonstration, vendors and the CTN used the networking layer defined in Part 8 and a dummy "Storage" class defined specifically for this demonstration. This storage class allowed vendors and the CTN to transmit CT, MR, US and digitized film in a "push-only" mode. Simple image objects were defined for each of the modalities.
The demonstration included 20 companies and was contained entirely within the infoRAD area at the RSNA. Up to three vendors shared one CTN computer, and vendors only communicated with their assigned CTNs. Vendors did not communicate with each other (in order to simplify testing).
- 1993 - The second demonstration was again contained within the infoRAD area. Vendors were assigned booth space by the RSNA near the CTNs and were able to discuss the demonstration with attendees while describing their equipment. The network to the infoRAD demonstration was also connected to the technical exhibits, so vendors could communicate between their booths and the CTNs in the infoRAD area. To simplify the demonstration, vendors in the infoRAD area only communicated with CTNs.
This demonstration included a wider set of services. In 1993, the DICOM standard was available in draft and ballot forms throughout the year. The 1993 demonstration used these draft and ballot versions. The CTN supported storage by vendors and query/retrieve operations as defined in Part 4 of the Standard. In addition, the CTN operated as a Print SCU to drive vendor DICOM print servers.
- 1994 - The third demonstration was distributed throughout the technical exhibits in both the East and North Buildings. The CTNs were still located in the infoRAD area, but the RSNANet allowed vendors to remain in their booths. This demonstration was based on the printed DICOM 3.0 Standard. A set of medical images were stored on the CTNs that vendors could retrieve via the DICOM query/retrieve classes. Vendors could run a print client application on the CTN that would drive vendor print servers. The CTN also provided applications for worklist management and results reporting that drove vendor modalities and workstations.
In 1994, attendees could have their pictures taken at DICOM digigraph booths. The pictures were stored in DICOM format on the CTNs and were available for vendors to retrieve and display in their booths. This proved to be an effective demonstration of a live network-based retrieval in contrast to pre-caching at the display station.
- 1995 - The CTNs were again located in the infoRAD area. Vendors accessed the CTN from their booths and had the same functionality as defined in 1994. The highlights for 1995 were:
- A well-documented set of medical images that were submitted by vendors and selected by our institution.
- More robust CTN software.
- Participation by over 40 vendors.
