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In a study published on January 2009 in the 'Journal of Digital Imaging', the authors have developed a 'wireless LAN-based PACS device' and showed that it will reduce the time interval for storage of images and thus enables faster management of patients imaged with portable devices.

The main authors of the study were Hak Jong Lee, Kyoung Ho Lee, Sung Il Hwang, Hyun-Chul Kim, Eun Hee Seo, Tae Gee Kim and Kyoo-Seob Ha from the Department of Radiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

The abstract of the study is as follows:

• Aim: To develop wireless Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) device and to analyze its effect on image transfer from portable imaging modalities to the main PACS server.
• Using a laptop computer equipped with wireless local area network (LAN), the authors developed a wireless PACS device with DICOM modality worklist and DICOM storage server modules. This laptop computer could be easily fixed to portable imaging modalities such as ultrasound machines.
• From May to August 2007, 112 portable examinations were evaluated.
• Of these, 62 were done with wireless LAN-based PACS device, and 50 were done without wireless PACS device.
• To evaluate the impact of the wireless LAN-based PACS device on productivity and workflow, the researchers analyzed the mean time delay and standard deviations (SD) both in cases where wireless LAN-based PACS device was used and in cases where it was not used. Statistical analysis was performed using a t test.
• The mean time interval from image acquisition to storage in the main PACS when the wireless LAN-based PACS device was used was 342.4 s (5 min and 42.4 s, SD = 509.2 s). When the wireless PACS was not used, the mean time interval was 2,305.5 s (38 min and 25.5 s, SD = 1,371.8 s). The mean time interval was statistically different between the two groups (t test, p < 0.001).
• Conclusion: The wireless LAN-based PACS device could help in reducing the storage intervals of images obtained by portable machines and in promoting effective and rapid treatment of patients who have undergone portable imaging examinations.

Source: The Journal of Digital Imaging.

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