Design and implementation of a biomedical image database (BDIM)
Florent Aubry, Saloua Badaoui, Halil Mahir Kaplan, R. Di Paola · Medical Informatics · 1988
We developed a biomedical image database (BDIM) which proposes a standardized representation of value arrays such as images and curves, and of their associated parameters, independently of their acquisition mode to make their transmission and processing easier. It includes three kinds of interactions, oriented to the users. The network concept was kept as a constraint to incorporate the BDIM in a distributed structure and we maintained compatibility with the ACR/NEMA communication protocol. The management of arrays and their associated parameters includes two distinct bases of objects, linked together via a gateway. The first one manages arrays according to their storage mode: long term storage on optionally on-line mass storage devices, and, for consultations, partial copies of long term stored arrays on hard disk. The second one manages the associated parameters and the gateway by means of the relational DBMS ORACLE. Parameters are grouped into relations. Some of them are in agreement with groups defined by the ACR/NEMA. The other relations describe objects resulting from processed initial objects. These new objects are not described by the ACR/NEMA but they can be inserted as shadow groups of ACR/NEMA description. The relations describing the storage and their pathname constitute the gateway. ORACLE distributed tools and the two-level storage technique will allow the integration of the BDIM into a distributed structure, Queries and array (alone or in sequences) retrieval module has access to the relations via a level in which a dictionary managed by ORACLE is included. This dictionary translates ACR/NEMA objects into objects that can be handled by the DBMS. It contains information about the base structure and about links between objects. Its aim is to help the user to construct his request. The ACR/NEMA scheme only allows hierarchical dependencies and the navigation inside the base to retrieve objects. Our BDIM, which does not demand a priori knowledge about the base and which uses non-procedural consultation technique, can be considered as an extension of this scheme. In addition, the dictionary helps to enlarge the BDIM, especially by the creation of new objects and processing, which remains transparent to the user. It offers also access, in agreement with the ACR/NEMA protocol, to the integration of the BDIM into a larger area network. Interface with the application process allows the selection of objects inside the BDIM and the insertion of results using the dictionary. A prototype of the BDIM is installed on a Data General MV4000 at the CIERM in Bicetre Hospital.