System and method for producing medical image data onto portable digital recording media

Abstract

This application discloses a system for recording medical image data for production on a portable digital recording medium such as CDs and DVDs. Aspects of this disclosure include a robotic disc burning system that can receive a request for medical imaging data generated by an imaging modality and record all of the following onto an optical disc that is removable from the robotic disc burning system: the medical imaging data, data that is related to the medical imaging data, and a viewing program configured to allow viewing by a general purpose computer of the medical imaging data that is recorded on the disc. The system includes, among other components, a labeling module configured to produce a label on the optical disc without manual application of the label onto the optical disc. Additional aspects of this disclosure include an associated method for recording medical image data.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A robotic disc burning system comprising:
 a user selection module configured to receive a request for medical imaging data generated by an imaging modality;   a medical imaging data interface configured to receive from a first storage module the medical imaging data formatted in a standard medical imaging format;   a search module configured to send a search request, based on the received request, to a second storage module for data that is related to the medical imaging data;   a recording module configured to record all of the following items onto an optical disc that is removable from the robotic disc burning system:
 the medical imaging data in the standard medical imaging format, 
 the related data, and 
 a viewing program that is configured to allow viewing of the medical imaging data that is recorded onto the optical disc by a general purpose computer that is not specifically configured with medical imaging software for viewing of medical imaging; and 
   a labeling module of the robotic disc burning system, the labeling module configured to produce a label on the optical disc without manual application of the label onto the optical disc.   
     
     
         2 . The robotic disc burning system of  claim 1 , wherein the first storage module and the second storage module are distinct. 
     
     
         3 . The robotic disc burning system of  claim 1 , wherein the first storage module and the second storage module are the same. 
     
     
         4 . The robotic disc burning system of  claim 1 , wherein the related data comprises medical exam data. 
     
     
         5 . The robotic disc burning system of  claim 1 , wherein the related data comprises images. 
     
     
         6 . The robotic disc burning system of  claim 1 , wherein the related data comprises one or more medical reports. 
     
     
         7 . The robotic disc burning system of  claim 1 , wherein the first storage module is a Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS). 
     
     
         8 . The robotic disc burning system of  claim 1 , wherein the robotic disc burning system further comprises the second storage module. 
     
     
         9 . The robotic disc burning system of  claim 1 , wherein the standard medical imaging format is DICOM. 
     
     
         10 . The robotic disc burning system of  claim 1 , wherein the user selection module is accessible by a web browser. 
     
     
         11 . The robotic disc burning system of  claim 1 , further comprising an auditing component configured to transmit to an audit module audit data that comprises an identifier associated with the optical disc, an identifier associated with a requester of the recording request, and an identifier associated with a patient associated with the medical imaging data. 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising:
 receiving a request to record medical imaging data on an optical disc that is removable from a robotic disc burning system;   receiving over a network from a first storage module the medical imaging data formatted in a standard medical imaging format;   sending a search request, by the robotic disc burning system, to a second storage module for data that is related to the medical imaging data;   recording all of the following items onto the optical disc:
 the medical imaging data; 
 the related data; and 
 a viewing program that is configured to allow viewing of the medical imaging data that is recorded onto the optical disc by a general purpose computer that is not specifically configured with medical imaging software for viewing of medical imaging; and 
   producing a label on the optical disc without manual application of the label onto the optical disc.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first storage module and the second storage module are distinct. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first storage module and the second storage module are the same. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the related data comprises medical exam data. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the related data comprises images. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first storage module is a Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS). 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the robotic disc burning system further comprises the second storage module. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the standard medical imaging format is DICOM. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising transmitting to an audit module audit data that comprises an identifier associated with the optical disc, an identifier associated with a requester of the recording request, and an identifier associated with a patient associated with the medical imaging data.