PACS Framework

LEADTOOLS High Level PACS Framework

The LEADTOOLS High Level PACS Framework builds upon the LEADTOOLS DICOM Communications classes by implementing high-level client (SCU) and server (SCP) classes.

Overview of High Level PACS Framework SDK Technology

The LEADTOOLS High Level PACS Framework requires very little knowledge of the internal workings of DICOM communications. Because the framework handles all of the low level communications, developers are free to devote more time to user interface and database queries. Still, developers have access to the low level DICOM communications layer, providing the power and flexibility to handle any situation.

DICOM PACS Client

The LEADTOOLS High Level PACS Framework provides classes to do common operations including
C-ECHO, C-STORE, C-FIND, and C-MOVE. The framework handles all of the low level DICOM communications such as connection, association, and message handling processes internally.

DICOM PACS Server

With the service based architecture of the LEADTOOLS High Level PACS Framework, developing a PACS server hosting SCPs is done with minimal time and code. Multiple SCPs may be hosted on the same server, each one running as an individual Windows Service, providing isolation and security. Each framework service handles all of the low level communication, freeing the developer to implement system specific logic for services such as C-FIND, C-MOVE, and C-GET. Developers may even further divide the framework service add-ins by SOP class and transfer syntax for more flexibility to implement specific business logic. For example, the add-ins may be segmented to store CT and MR images into different databases. The LEADTOOLS PACS Imaging SDK includes fully functional sample add-in implementations for security, C-MOVE, C-FIND, MWL, C-STORE, and Storage Commit.

DICOM PACS High Level Framework Add-ins

The following is a list of framework add-ins included with the LEADTOOLS High Level PACS Framework. These framework add-ins may be used as is or modified to meet the specific needs of any system. Additionally, developers may create completely new custom add-ins.

C-MOVE
C-STORE
C-FIND
MWL - Modality Work List.
MPPS - Modality Performed Procedure Step.
Storage Commit
DICOM Router - Route images to one or more PACS based on user-defined business rules.

DICOM PACS Server Application

The LEADTOOLS DICOM PACS Framework Server application uses the LEADTOOLS high level PACS Server Framework as service application (daemon) and implements following DICOM Services as service class provider (SCP / Server):

Verification service (C-ECHO or DICOM Ping)
Different level of Study Root Query/Retrieve Information Model – FIND service.
Different level of Study Root Query/Retrieve Information Model –MOVE service.
Full Level 2 DICOM Storage Service for all Standard SOP Classes
Storage Commitment Service
Modality Work-list (MWL) Service
Modality Performed Procedure Steps (MPPS) service

In addition the LEADTOOLS DICOM PACS Server also implements the following real-world functionalities:

Handling simultaneous TCP/IP client connections,
Detail logging
On-the-fly transfer syntax re-encoding based on established association.

All the above mentioned features and services are implemented using the extensible interface (i.e. add-ins) of LEADTOOLS PACS Server Framework. The source code (project) for the LEADTOOLS DICOM PACS Server application are included with the toolkit for rapid customization to meet the requirement of specific install site or OEM branding.

DICOM Routing Add-in:

The LEADTOOLS DICOM Routing Add-in implements rule based image routing or forwarding to any local or remote DICOM listening service. The Add-in provides a DICOM Storage provider service for all DICOM Storage objects. It processes the images it receives from a client according to preconfigured rules. Based on the outcome, it forwards the images to configured PACS or Workstations.

A rule script editor is provided to help define custom rules based on source application or attribute value(s) in any DICOM tags in the receiving object. The service also allows secure image forwarding using the TLS security profile of the DICOM standard.

The LEADTOOLS DICOM Routing Add-in uses the LEADTOOLS high-level PACS Server Framework and implements the routing and proxy storage via the extensible add-in interface.

LEADTOOLS SDK Technology Related to the LEADTOOLS High Level PACS Framework

LEADTOOLS SDK Products that Include the LEADTOOLS High Level PACS Framework

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