Introduction of New CT Standard at SCAR Annual Meeting 2004

1. SCAR Annual Meeting 2004 Public meeting of NEMA CT-MR Taskforce Saturday, May 22nd, 7:30 – 9:00 AM

2. Introducing the new Standards Presented by Martin von Roden Siemens Medical Solutions Co-Chair CT-MR Taskforce

3. A new CT Standard Implementation After 10+ years of effective DICOM connectivity in MRI and CT introducing a new Image Object poses three challenges:

4. Challenges • Avoid user confusion • Inform about the benefits of the enhanced multi-frame image standard and need to manage coexistence. • Synch-up industry • Facilitate availability of compatible PACS and Workstations along with the release of the MRI and CT scanners. • Reduce incompatibilities • Provide to interested vendors testing tools and opportunities to quickly retire misinterpretations or bugs.

5. How to manage the transition ... • The DICOM Working groups for CT and MR and the DICOM Standards Committee felt the need for an educational program for users and vendors to facilitate the introduction of the new objects.

6. Constitution of CT-MR Taskforce • “Enhanced CT-MR Taskforce” was established in January 2004 by NEMA • Three NEMA Sections sponsor the effort: • Medical Imaging and Informatics (MII) Section • MR Section • X-ray Section (CT Group) • Supported by DICOM Working Groups: • WG 16 (MR) • WG 21 (CT)

7. Members of the CT-MR Taskforce • Co-Chairs: • MR: Kees Verduin, Philips Medical Systems • CT: Martin von Roden, Siemens Medical Solutions • NEMA secretary: • Stephen Vastagh • So far the following companies are involved: • GE • Hitachi • Philips • Siemens • Toshiba • Vital Images

8. Planned activities • Development of CT-MR Tool • Application for display of images and DICOM header tags • Contains sample Enhanced MR Image sets • Contains sample Enhanced CT Image sets • Validation tool for new image sets • Test and Demonstration sessions at SCAR 2005

9. Current Status for SCAR 2005 • SCAR Board has approved cooperation with NEMA for SCAR 2005 • Dedicated education session (1,5 hours) • SCAR overseeing and hosting a testing session open to interested vendors (June 1st and 2nd) • A one day demonstration is under consideration (June 3rd)

10. Current Status of MR Tool • Contract for development of an MR Tool awarded to PixelMed after a public RFP • development costs funded by: • ConVis GmbH • Esaote S.p.A. • GE Healthcare • Hitachi Medical Systems • Philips Medical Systems • Siemens Medical Solutions • Toshiba America Medical Systems • Tool is validated and approved by WG16 members

11. NEMA CT/MR Test-tool

12. Current Status of CT-MR Tool • CT-MR Taskforce specified a RFP for the CT-MR tool • Contract for development of the CT extension to the MR Tool was awarded to PixelMed • Companies committed to support the development: • Agfa • GE • Infinitt • Philips • Siemens • Toshiba • Vital Images

13. Commitments for CT tool extension • Commitment includes a $ 3,000 participation fee + guidance for the creation of test images and active partnership for the acceptance process of the tool

14. Milestones for the Tool (CT part) • June 2004: define test plan • gathering of necessary input images for contractor • specify acceptance test • August / September 2004: review by WG 21: CT • test images will be scrutinized for DICOM compliance • October, 1st 2004: contractor delivers CT Tool • October 2004: evaluation by taskforce members • October, 27th – 28th 2004: acceptance testing at NEMA • face to face meeting at NEMA headquarter • November 2004: final version • tool available for demonstration participants

15. Test and Demonstration • Preliminary Commitment for participation at test and demonstration at SCAR 2005 by: • Agfa • GE • Infinitt • Kodak • McKesson • Philips • Siemens • Vital Images • Final Commitment is due December, 15th

16. Test and Demonstration • Similar to IHE Connect-a-thon, however focused on CT and MR images only Test Session ... ... and Demonstration

17. Test and Demonstration - Costs • To be expected costs: • $1,000 - $2,000 per system for vendors who contributed to the tool development • $3,000 - $ 5,000 per system for other vendors

18. Test and Demonstration - Costs • Costs covered by participation fee • project management for coordination of test and demonstration activities • IT infrastructure (network switches, network drops, ...) • educational materials • Costs to be covered by participants • Own development costs • delivery and setup of equipment

19. Test definitions • Actors • Acquisition Modalities / Image Creators • Image Managers • Image Displays • Transactions • send enhanced image (storage & storage commitment) • query / retrieve enhanced image • display enhanced image

20. Test definitions (2) • Supported options to be stated by participants : • dimensions • concatenations • color images • real world mapping • Added graphics (in Softcopy Presentation States) • Supported Image types to be stated by participants : • CT Cardiac, Perfusion, Whole Body, Localizer, ... • MR Cardiac, Diffusion, Functional Imaging

21. Application for Test and Demonstration • Vendors will apply for different test-scenarios and the options supported in their implementation(s) • Prior to test session vendors have to: • test their implementation against CT/MR test tool • exchange images between creators and display participants • provide screenshots of display screen to project manager

22. Additional promotion at RSNA • RSNA 2004: • announcement of preliminary participants, educate on benefits • RSNA 2005: • possible repeat of SCAR demonstration (no new testing session) • hold educational session

23. How can vendors get involved ? To get involved in the proposed NEMA Initiative Contact Stephen Vastaghat NEMA: ste_vastagh@nema.org Detailed information: See the Flyer in the back of the room