IPI, MEDICOM and DICOM: relations and possible future.

In October 1993, DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) Version 3.0 was approved by the ACR-NEMA committee as an ACR-NEMA standard for medical image interchange. At about the same time, IPI (Image Processing and Interchange) was approved as an ISO standard for general imaging.

Norwegian standardization effort on medical image interchange.

The Norwegian Computing Center is currently performing a project on standardization in the exchange of medical images and related data, with special emphasis on ultrasound images. The project is performed for Vingmed Sound, a Norwegian manufacturer of ultrasound scanning equipment, and much of the work is done in cooperation with the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Trondheim. In the project, we work in close cooperation with the European Standardization Committee, CEN, and also with the DIGICARE (Digital Imaging in Cardiology) group of the European Society of Cardiology.

Standardization of medical imaging in Europe: an integrated initiative.

The successful implementation of PACS (or IMACS) depends on the integration of image and image related data handling systems in an overall hospital information system (HIS) and other departmental information systems (DIS), one of which is radiology information system (RIS). With respect to standardization in the medical imaging field, this integration cannot be looked at separately from the overall prospect of standardization in medical informatics. All relevant standardization work done outside health care should be taken into account.