Radiology Information System for Non Destructive Evaluation

Introduction

Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) is a collection of techniques and tools that can be used to detect defects and measure physical or mechanic characteristics of a material or component. The testing or assessment is made without affecting the usefulness of the item. Radiology information system (RIS) focuses on the workflow to process NDE of an item or catalogued part. The Information system to manage NDE consists of three applications – RIS, Picture Archival and Communication System (PACS) and Image processing & reporting system (IPRS).

Overview

RIS deals with tracking Non Destructive Testing (NDT) and associated digital image management. The idea is to provide a platform for evaluators and provide decision support - consistent interpretation of results in X-Ray studies of joints, welding, etc.

System Context

NDE methods are used by a variety of manufacturers to evaluate their processes and products. NDE evolved from the need to find critical defects in components used in high risk industries, such as aerospace and nuclear, where failure of a component could have very serious consequences. NDE methods are commonly used currently in a variety of industries to improve product quality, reduce waste, and improve productivity through reduced rework, and the applications are nearly endless. NDE tools are becoming increasingly important as companies, large and small, strive to improve product quality and performance. Thus there is the need to automate evaluation studies to track item testing and also report on the evaluation of images using computer aided detection tools built around digital imaging.

System Functions

RIS processes X-Ray images acquired from film X-Ray equipment & film digitizer or computed radiograph or digital radiograph sources during evaluation of an item in an industrial environment. The product enables generation of a transcript after the evaluator analyses the image to enable the engineers to do meaningful interpretation of the results. The system also stores and maintains the images appropriately in a relational database management system.

System Architecture

RIS architecture is detailed into four broad categories.

• Information architecture
• Technology architecture
• Security architecture
• Support architecture

Information architecture:

Information architecture deals with data entities and their relationships –Data entities shall include NDT inspection techniques and test profiles, item profile (test target item), equipment profile, resource profile, etc. Application system caters to queries, reports and statistics from the database and maintains reports repertoire of the evaluations.

Technology Architecture:

Technology architecture deals with production (run time) environment, server operating system, work station operating system, database management system, communication protocols, middleware, image archival media and management, image transport, etc. RIS is based on Microsoft windows platform based operating environment for the system - (detailed configuration for the system is available on request).

Security Architecture:

Application security dwells with access control, database security, system administration, data encryption, image security, audit trail, etc. All system events such as creation of a new evaluation report, markings done on an image, etc will be recorded with time stamp and user ID.

Support architecture:

The system provides help function similar to on-line HTML book, tool tips, information messages, FAQ, error messages, alerts, etc. User guide, user training and technical support form Cynaptix provide comprehensive support architecture.

Image handling

1. Image acquisition
2. Image processing and review
3. Image markings & annotations
4. Image storage and retrieval
5. Image archival

Image acquisition, some times (when film X-Ray equipment is used) may involve the film to be digitized with the help of radiographic film digitizer to transfer the image in digital form to the system.

In the registration of the item may involve scanning item documents and adding them to a scheduled study. Documents could be engineering drawings, item specs or confidential data or vendor information

Evaluation (results reporting) reporting provides time-saving automated functions and templates - create, review and approve reports online, authenticate reports electronically, distribute results electronically (to referring scientists may be with auto faxing facility), and store data in report repository.

Query and Reviews

Query to retrieve the item from the database and also view the image and its transcript (assessment report) as appropriate - for retrieving all previous or the current one.

Back to Products