About DICOM

The DICOM standard is a specification for packet structure, as well as a communication definition for exchanging data between medical equipment. DICOM relies on industry standard network connections (TCP/IP) and, because of this reliance, is an efficient method for communicating digital images from diagnostic devices to display systems. DICOM is used for CT and MR, including nuclear medicine, ultrasound, computed radiography, digitized film, video, capture, HIS/RIS information, and connections between networked hardcopy output devices.

Observer’s Role

The development of a decoder module for a protocol analyzer based on a standard Microsoft platform (PC or notebook) addresses the need technicians have to carry an affordable, portable DICOM diagnostic tool. Observer’s easy to use interface combined with added DICOM decoding capabilities provides a quick and efficient troubleshooting tool, which technicians can utilize to pinpoint malfunctions in networked medical environments.

Networks commonly have problems and/or configuration issues that can cause downtime, some of which may be DICOM-related problems. For example, new network installations or network additions in such environments often produce system malfunctions and hardware mismatches. These malfunctions can be due to ongoing network traffic problems or even incompatible systems from different vendors causing communication failures. Observer DICOM provides the technician or administrator with visibility into both general (network) and specific (DICOM) communications to quickly identify problems and speed troubleshooting–maximizing network performance.

Functionality

Display
Observer’s DICOM protocol decode and packet view is shown in three ways:

1. PDUs of DICOM Upper Layer Protocol: Observer’s packet summary window shows
captured PDUs of DICOM Upper Layer Protocol in order of appearance. Selected
PDUs can then be decoded and displayed.
2. DICOM Messages: Command and data messages are sorted, and selected
messages are decoded and displayed. Because the raw data and decodes are
displayed simultaneously, they can be compared line-by-line.
3. Raw Data TCP Packets: The DICOM data within the TCP packets is displayed in
Hexadecimal.

The following chart displays recommended DICOM minimum and optimal hardware requirements. As with any high-performance network analysis product, the more RAM, and the faster the processor, the better.

DICOM may run on systems with less power and RAM than those listed above, but Network Instruments does not support configurations with less than the minimum stated requirements.