PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | March 13, 2009
Proc. SPIE. 7264, Medical Imaging 2009: Advanced PACS-based Imaging Informatics and Therapeutic Applications
KEYWORDS: Human-machine interfaces, Data modeling, Databases, Data archive systems, Molecular imaging, Data backup, Data centers, Information science, Preclinical imaging, Picture Archiving and Communication System
The animal-to-researcher workflow in many of today's small animal imaging center is burdened with proprietary data
limitations, inaccessible back-up methods, and imaging results that are not easily viewable across campus. Such
challenges decrease the amount of scans performed per day at the center and requires researchers to wait longer for their
images and quantified results. Furthermore, data mining at the small animal imaging center is often limited to researcher
names and date-labelled archiving hard-drives. To gain efficiency and reliable access to small animal imaging data, such
a center needs to move towards an integrated workflow with file format normalization services, metadata databases,
expandable archiving infrastructure, and comprehensive user interfaces for query / retrieval tools - achieving all in a
cost-effective manner.
This poster presentation demonstrates how grid technology can support such a molecular imaging and small animal
imaging research community to bridge the needs between imaging modalities and clinical researchers. Existing projects
have utilized the Data Grid in PACS tier 2 backup solutions, where fault-tolerance is a high priority, as well as imagingbased
clinical trials where data security and auditing are primary concerns. Issues to be addressed include, but are not
limited to, novel database designs, file format standards, virtual archiving and distribution workflows, and potential grid
computing for 3-D reconstructions, co-registration, and post-processing analysis.
