Labelled measurements performed on ultrasound machines are exported in a DICOM Structured Report for further processing like reporting. However, there is no uniform naming of measurements. Names and codes for measurements are proprietary and varies between vendors and models. Often measurements are added or changed by vendors with every new software update according to new guidelines. If you would like to collect all measurements from different studies, made on various ultrasound machines, in one common mask or worksheet, measurement codes need to be interpreted and mapped accordingly.

It is one of TOMTEC´s core businesses to map cardiac and vascular ultrasound measurements from all common vendors like Philips, GE, Toshiba, Siemens, etc. to TOMTEC standard and export the uniformed measurements as SR, XML, PDF or CSV to reporting systems, HIS, CVIS or EMR.

TOMTEC maintains a large pool of measurement mappings which is permanently extended with every new ultrasound model update or release on the market. However, a 100% completeness is not feasible, especially when user-defined measurements are involved. Consequence for the customer might be, that performed measurements are missing in the worksheet and in the report.

To prevent this, we ask our customers during project implementation to provide a reference study from every ultrasound cart in use. The reference study should contain all measurements which are needed for clinical routine and documentation. On the basis of these reference studies TOMTEC can verify the measurements and complete corresponding mapping files if needed. Due to the complexity and required care this process is done manually by our specialists in house and takes time.

For our maintenance contract customers, regular updates with the latest measurement mappings are part of the service. Please inform us if you plan to get a new ultrasound cart or a software update. 

Refer to article above.

All measurements performed as labelled measurements on the ultrasound machine can be exported in a DICOM Structured Report and sent to the TOMTEC server. The TOMTEC measurement service translates and interprets all proprietary measurements and lists them in the TOMTEC worksheet. Additional measurements can be performed offline with the adequate measurements module, which offers a comprehensive list of cardiac and vascular measurements. Multiple measurements are supported and the user can choose which value will be published in the report. If TOMTEC´s own Reporting is used, all pre-defined measurements are automatically published in the report.

If any 3^rd party reporting software is used, TOMTEC can export the standardized measurements in either TOMTEC DICOM SR, XML, csv or PDF on a defined trigger (e.g. on study finalize). Within the reporting software, the TOMTEC standardized measurements need to be mapped once into the corresponding fields in the report mask. From that moment, all imported measurements values will automatically be published in the report.

TOMTEC supports various interfaces. Reports can be exported as PDF or DICOM PDF to a HIS, CVIS or EMR, via an exchange directory or the standard DICOM interface. The trigger event to exports the report is configurable (e.g. on report finalization).

If several hospital locations are connected together with one central long-term archive, TOMTEC solution can serve as the local archive for each location. The TOMTEC server holds image data in direct access for a performant review and analysis on the clients.

From the local TOMTEC servers the image data, findings and results are transferred to the central long-term archive (PACS, NAS, SAN).

*of course those products are just examples and can be exchanged by any other vendor’s products

Option 1
All modalities are connected to the TOMTEC server which serves as the local archive with direct access for the clients. Image review, offline measurements, 3D/4D analysis and reporting is performed on the TOMTEC clients. Scheduled background services on the server trigger the archiving of the data to the long-term archive (PACS, NAS, SAN) and the delivery of the report to the HIS/EMR/CVIS.

Optionally TOMTEC can be integrated into the HIS and/or PACS via a call-up interface (command line interface). That means the TOMTEC modules can be opened study-based directly out of the HIS/PACS applications.

The TOMTEC server offers DICOM and HL7 connectivity services as well as scheduled background processes. It can connect to different modalities (US, XA, NM), Information systems (HIS, CVIS, EMR) and long-term archive solutions (PACS, NAS, SAN).

Option 2
All modalities are connected to the PACS which auto-forwards all relevant studies to the TOMTEC server. The TOMTEC server holds a copy of the studies in a temporal cache. Image review, offline measurements, 3D/4D analysis and reporting is performed on the TOMTEC clients. Scheduled background services on the server trigger the archiving of the additionally created objects (SR, SC, Bookmarks) to the long-term archive (PACS, NAS, SAN) and the delivery of the report to the HIS/EMR/CVIS.

Optionally TOMTEC can be integrated into the HIS and/or PACS via a call-up interface (command line interface). That means the TOMTEC modules can be opened study-based directly out of the HIS/PACS applications.

The TOMTEC Server offers DICOM and HL7 connectivity services as well as scheduled background processes. It can connect to different modalities (US, XA, NM), Information systems (HIS, CVIS, EMR) and long-term archive solutions (PACS, NAS, SAN).

Option 3
With many of our HIS and PACS partners we have fully integrated client-only solutions of our TOMTEC software. See link …for more information. 

Licensing models
Concurrent user A Concurrent User license allows you to install the software on as many PCs as you like, provided that only the licensed number of people use the software at the same time. For example, if you purchase 10 Concurrent User licenses, you may install the software on as many computers as you want but only 10 users can access the licensed software at the same time.

Study volume-based
In the study volume-based model the price for the TOMTEC solution depends on the amount of performed studies per year. The software can be installed on as many PCs as you like with an unlimited concurrent usage on a previously agreed amount of performed studies per year. Additional studies will be charged separately.

Site license
A site license allows you to install the software on as many PCs as you like with an unlimited concurrent usage.

You can keep your existing licenses from previous TOMTEC direct installations if you switch to a deep client-only integration on your PACS or HIS. Please get in contact with your responsible sales representative for more details.

Your TOMTEC solution is easily scalable. If you currently have a Single-Seat solution running and would like to extend it to more workstations, we can switch your fixed license for Single-Seats to a concurrent user license for server/client and transfer your installation and image data to the new hardware. Once on a concurrent user license, you can install your TOMTEC software on as many PCs as you like.

Our support team will help to transfer your existing TOMTEC installation and image data to the new hardware and reactivate your licenses accordingly. For our maintenance contract customers this service is free of charge.

Description of a typical customer project: (Individual services depend on the order)

Consultation: Our service team is already involved during quotation phase to technically advise on the final workflow design and to guarantee a smooth integration of TOMTEC products into the existing hospital IT environment.

Project Kick Off: Upon purchase a project manager is assigned to the project as the single contact person for our customer. In a kick off meeting with all parties involved, the project scope is confirmed, responsibilities are clarified and the time schedule is agreed and documented.

Installation: As soon as the required hardware is provided by the customer and remotely accessible for the TOMTEC service team, installations on server and clients are performed.

Configuration: Depending on project scope, all required interfaces are configured, measurement mappings are verified and report templates are designed.

Testing: As soon as the whole setup is ready a complete functional and workflow test is performed.

Application training: All key users are trained on TOMTEC modules and workflow. The application training is tailored to our customer´s individual needs and knowledge and will be organized and performed by our clinical application specialists.

Go live support: Even if all scenarios and workflows were successfully tested and all users are trained, there might be technical problems or uncertainties on user side when the system starts to be used in clinical routine. In our experience it is well-proven to have an application specialist onsite when the system goes live to take immediate action.

Follow Up: After a certain time in production we assure, that everything is in working order and there are no open issues. We determine customer satisfaction with the product and also our service by means of surveys, analyses and customer evaluations.

Hand over to Support: After project closing our support team takes over responsibility if a maintenance agreement is active.

We offer various training concepts according to your individual needs: Refer to Services->Education and TOMTEC Academy.