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This study presents a new approach to improve the echocardiogram transmissions overWiMAX networks. Using a compression method based on visualization modes and a reliable method that adapts to the channel conditions, overall performance results are improved compared to classical approaches. The echocardiogram transmission using a compression method based on visualization modes requires lower bandwidth than without considering visualization modes. Furthermore, if the proposed reliability method is also used, the echocardiogram is more often visualized with adequate clinical quality than compressing the echocardiogram without distinguishing the visualization modes and without using a reliability method for the available dataset. The reduction in the bandwidth ranges from 29 kbps to 166 kbps for the simulated scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper proposes a watermarking method that can be applied to DICOM images to strengthen its security and privacy. A robust watermark is used to improve the identification/authentication of the image, even if it has been seriously modified, semifragile watermarks are used to embed information intended to vanish if the image losses its clinical/research value, and fragile watermarks are used to detect and locate tampering. The watermarks embed selected DICOM fields, replacing the original values with the corresponding access keys, conveniently protected with Cryptographic Message Syntax. This watermarking does not distort the image, presents a good robustness-capacity tradeoff, operates fast and is highly compatible with the JPEG2000 compressor. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study presents a methodology to transmit 2D echocardiogram video over WiMAX networks in real-time. Before transmission the echocardiogram has to be compressed. In order to compress the echocardiogram the 3D SPIHT algorithm was used. To guarantee the clinical quality of the compressed echocardiogram a clinical evaluation of the compressed echocardiogram was carried out. The evaluation yielded the minimum transmission rate necessary for an accurate diagnosis, 200 kbps. However, the channel produces errors and distorts the video, so in order to reduce these errors a reliable application protocol was proposed using a hybrid solution in which retransmission was combined with Forward Error Correction (FEC) techniques. The transmission was simulated in WiMAX networks. The proposed protocol achieved 100 % of time with guaranteed clinical quality (200 kbps) for bit error rate up to 0.254, being this value lower than for the retransmissions and FEC working separately. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Cardiac signals must be efficiently coded (in order to save channel bandwidth) and packetized using adapted application-level protocols (to guaranty monitoring quality) when transmitted in real-time operation. This paper shows an overview of different approaches for electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiogram (ECHO) coding and transmission over 3G networks. The described proposals permit the transmission of ECG and ECHO at rates of, respectively, 0.5 kbps per lead and 320 kbps for a medium-speed vehicle. The use of these methods enables to significantly reduce the demanded bandwidth guaranteeing signal quality in the receiver. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper analyzes the structure and content of the SCP-ECG standard to further design a tailor-made security extension. It is proposed to limit the access privileges of the users by means of role-based profiles (teaching/research, examination, diagnosis, storage) which are implemented with cryptographic elements (ciphering, digital certificates and signatures). A new security section is added to extend the SCP-ECG and the remaining sections are ciphered. The application implemented to test this proposal showed its ability to authenticate users, protect the integrity of the files and the privacy of the confidential information, with a low impact on the file size and access time. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]