Imaging Science and Informatics Lecture

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the Imaging Science and Informatics lecture.

Imaging Science

Multidisciplinary field concerned with generating, collecting, analyzing, and visualizing detectable or undetectable objects by human eye.

Informatics

Study of acquisition, storage, retrieval, and use of information combining technology, people, and processes.

Computer Science

Discipline providing algorithms and computational techniques that convert raw image data into usable medical images.

Information Technology (IT)

Application of computer and telecom systems for storing, retrieving, and sending information.

Medical Imaging Informatics

Subfield of biomedical informatics addressing common issues of all image modalities after digitization, covering generation, manipulation, management, and integration.

Image Generation

Process of creating images and converting them to digital form if not originally digital.

Image Manipulation

Pre-processing or post-processing methods used to enhance, visualize, or analyze images.

Image Management

Storing, transmitting, displaying, retrieving, and organizing medical images.

Image Integration

Combining images with other data (e.g., patient record) for interpretation and management.

Medical Informatics

Focuses on cognitive, information-processing, and communication tasks in medical practice supported by technology.

Imaging Chain

Sequence from subject → capture device → processor → display → human visual system.

Imaging Modality

Specific imaging technique such as X-ray, CT, MRI, US, PET, etc.

PACS

Picture Archiving and Communication System; centralized system for storing, distributing, and displaying digital medical images.

RIS

Radiology Information System; manages scheduling, reporting, and workflow in radiology.

HIS

Hospital Information System; overarching system managing clinical and administrative hospital data.

DICOM

Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine; standard for handling, storing, and transmitting medical images.

HL7

Health Level 7; standard for exchanging clinical and administrative data between healthcare applications.

IHE

Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise; initiative to improve health information sharing using existing standards.

CAD

Computer-Aided Diagnosis; software that assists radiologists in detecting abnormalities.

Digital Biomedicine

Use of digital technologies to acquire, store, and analyze biomedical data, especially images.

Computer

Any machine capable of computation, information manipulation, decision-making, and interaction.

Hardware

Physical components of a computer like keyboard, CPU, monitor.

Software

Programs/instructions telling hardware what to do.

Input Device

Hardware used to enter data, e.g., keyboard, scanner.

Output Device

Hardware that presents results, e.g., monitor, printer.

CPU

Central Processing Unit; interprets and executes instructions; heart of the computer.

Control Unit

CPU component directing operations and data flow.

ALU

Arithmetic/Logic Unit; part of CPU performing calculations and logic operations.

System Clock

Electronic timer that sets processing speed, measured in MHz or GHz.

MIPS

Million Instructions Per Second; performance metric for CPUs.

Bit

Binary digit 0 or 1, smallest unit of data.

Byte

Group of 8 bits, typically encodes one character.

Kilobyte (KB)

1,024 bytes (2^10).

Megabyte (MB)

1,024 KB (2^20).

Gigabyte (GB)

1,024 MB (2^30).

Binary System

Base-2 numeral system used by computers, digits 0 and 1.

Assembler

Program translating symbolic assembly code into machine code.

Compiler

Program translating entire high-level source code into machine code before execution.

Interpreter

Program executing high-level code line-by-line, translating on the fly.

High-Level Language

Programming language closer to human language, e.g., Python, Java.

FORTRAN

1956 high-level language for scientific and engineering applications.

BASIC

1964 easy-to-learn language for teaching programming.

COBOL

Business-oriented language with strong file handling and report generation.

Pascal

Structured language developed in 1971 for teaching programming concepts.

C

General-purpose language combining low-level power with high-level syntax.

C++

Object-oriented extension of C introduced in 1980.

Java

1995 language for web and general applications, platform independent.

HTML

HyperText Markup Language; standard for web page formatting.

Algorithm

Step-by-step procedure for solving a problem.

Vacuum Tube

Electron device used for logic circuits in first-generation computers.

Transistor

Semiconductor switch invented 1948; key to second-generation computers.

Integrated Circuit

Miniaturized electronic circuit on silicon chip; third-generation component.

Microprocessor

CPU on a single chip, enabling personal computers.

Mainframe

Large powerful computer supporting thousands of users simultaneously.

Minicomputer

Mid-sized computer with multiple processors; e.g., CT/MRI controllers.

Supercomputer

Extremely fast computer with hundreds to thousands of processors for complex calculations.

Modem

Device that modulates/demodulates signals to transmit digital data over analog channels.

Broadband

High-speed internet access always on; includes DSL, cable, fiber, wireless.

DSL

Digital Subscriber Line; high-speed data over phone lines.

Cable Modem

Internet access via cable TV infrastructure.

Fiber Optic Line

Glass strands transmitting digital signals as light at very high speeds.

ISDN

Integrated Services Digital Network; faster digital data over phone lines.

Teleradiology

Transmission of medical images to remote sites for interpretation.

Health Informatics

Study of acquisition, storage, retrieval, and use of healthcare information to optimize patient care.

Biomedical Informatics

Interdisciplinary science dealing with biological and medical information's structure, acquisition, and use.

Electronic Health Record (EHR)

Provider-controlled digital collection of comprehensive patient data for clinical care.

Personal Health Record (PHR)

Patient-controlled collection of personal health information, digital or paper.

Electronic Prescribing

Digital transmission of prescriptions from provider to pharmacy.

Health Information Technology (HIT)

Area overseeing technological systems used to manage healthcare data.

Imaging Informatics

Branch of informatics focusing on managing and processing medical imaging data.

Spatial Resolution

Measure of image sharpness; number of pixels per area.

Contrast Resolution

Ability to distinguish small intensity differences; bits per pixel.

Temporal Resolution

Time required to create an image; impacts motion depiction.

Workflow in Radiology

Series of steps from image ordering to reporting, optimized by PACS/RIS.

Primary Memory

Essential volatile memory (e.g., RAM) needed for boot and active processes.

Secondary Memory

Non-volatile storage like HDD or SSD for programs and large files.

Volatile Memory

Memory losing data when power is off, e.g., RAM.

Non-Volatile Memory

Memory retaining data without power, e.g., ROM, SSD.

RAM

Random Access Memory; fast, volatile storage for active tasks.

DRAM

Dynamic RAM; slower but dense form of RAM requiring refresh cycles.

SRAM

Static RAM; faster, retains data without refresh but more expensive.

ROM

Read-Only Memory; permanent firmware like BIOS, non-rewritable.

Register

Small, fast storage inside CPU for immediate data.

CMOS

Semiconductor technology used to build RAM chips and store BIOS settings.

Bootstrap Program

Firmware stored in ROM that loads the operating system at startup.

GUI

Graphical User Interface enabling visual interaction with software.

Pixel

Smallest picture element in a 2-D digital image.

Voxel

Volume element; 3-D counterpart of a pixel.

Subject (Imaging Chain)

Object or patient being imaged.

Capture Device

Hardware (detector, scanner, modality) that collects raw image data.

Display (Imaging Chain)

Monitor or medium presenting processed image to viewer.

Human Visual System

Observer’s eyes and brain interpreting displayed images.