Medical Image Distribution, Storage, And Retrieval Network: The M/NET

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Abstract
The M/NET is a local area network designed for diagnostic image distribution, storage & retrieval. The M/NET uses a broadband coaxial cable (CATV) to connect multiple remote user stations and various imaging devices. The M/NET allows instant retrieval of images and information by any of the user stations. The traditional film file room is replaced by electronic archiving center(s) thus eliminating the bottleneck of manual image handling. The M/NET standard image format is 512 x 512 pixels by 8 bits (256 levels of grey). This number of pixels per image is expandable to higher resolutions. The above format provides an economical means of electronic storage on an erasable magnetic disk. Archival storage is done on a read-after-write-once optical laser disk. With either medium, the retrieval time is minimized by computer controlled search and access. On-line image retrieval takes less than one second per image. Due to economical reasons the on-line storage does not exceed the equivalent of one week's work, or about 5,000 images. Retrieval times from the archival storage are under 10 seconds per image. The M/NET system is currently designed to handle a library of 150,000 images. Its modular design allows easy expansion to a volume of over 1.5 million. At the time of this writing, the first installation is underway in a major hospital center.

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