Prototype of a JAVA/DICOM image server with integrated findings and data security.

The transfer of medical data within heterogeneous hard- and software infrastructures requires platform-independent standardized protocols and data formats such as DICOM. To avoid costly vendor-specific solutions a DICOM server was implemented in JAVA thereby enabling the data access via internet browser technology. The most important patient and image acquisition information were extracted from the DICOM images and stored into a relational database. For an integrated view patient information such as radiological findings were transferred from the Radiological Information System (RIS) into the data base. Image data were accessed either by a fast preview tool or using a DICOM viewer. Since DICOM does not include inherent data security mechanisms, a second tool allowed the DICOM-conform encryption of DCIOM data for a secure long term storage on CD-R or across unsecure networks.