User Guide
Version 1.1(WIP)

Contents

1.      Introduction to Trial Wire

2.      Overview of Functionality

3.      Step one - Setting up Trial Wire

4.      Step two - Loading the Java Applet

5.      Step three - DICOM Directory selection

6.      Step four - DICOM File selection

7.      Step five - Generating the audit trail report

8.      Step six -Transferring the files

9.      Glossary of terms

10.  About IXICO

1.  Introduction to Trial Wire

Trial Wire is a simple and easy to use web-based tool that can be used to transfer, de-identify and organize DICOM files whilst keeping an audit trail. Use Trial Wire to transfer files to any web enabled machine in the world.

2.  An overview of the Trial Wire functionality

Different functions can be performed depending on how Trial Wire is configured.

2.1  Transfer DICOM files: Transfer files from your computer to a destination directory on an FTP server. If you only require de-identifying or organizing the data a Local Directory on your computer can be set as a destination directory.

2.2  De-identify DICOM files: Automatically or manually de-identify/re-label specific fields in the DICOM files. The following fields can be modified

• Patient’s name
• Patient ID
• Patient’s Birth Date
• Bulk de-identification to a number of fields that may contain identifying information
  

2.3  Organize DICOM files: Copy DICOM files to your computer or to a chosen directory, reflect the structure of source directory

• Impose a flat structure and create a DICOMDIR file
• Impose a subject/study/series hierarchy

3.  Step one, setting up Trial Wire

Configuration Options

Prior to using Trial Wire there are a number of settings that need to be entered depending on what function you wish to perform on the data. The configuration file can be saved for future use and edited prior to performing each transfer only if required.  

3.1 Select Upload Type

• Local: Files can be moved to another directory on the same computer
• FTP: Files are transferred to the specified FTP server (sFTP, FTP, and FTPS protocols are available)

3.2  FTP Server Configuration

If the FTP transfer type has been selected, enter the host and port details and the destination directory on the server side. Please contact your IT administrator to obtain host and port details.

Username and password information is required to connect to the FTP site. These details are not stored and needs to be entered prior to the actual transfer taking place. The access details will need to be re-entered prior to each transfer session.

3.3 Local Configuration

If you are organizing or de-identifying files that you want to keep on the same computer, a local destination directory can be selected, e.g. c:\data for Windows users.

3.4 DICOM Header Anonymisation

Select the options you want to be reflected in the transferred DICOM data. The following fields in the DICOM header can be automatically set to “de-identified” or manually edited to take any value, i.e.

• Patient’s Name 0010,0010
• Patient ID 0010,0020
• The Patient’s Birth Date (0010,0030) can be set to
• Remove all day/month/year information by changing to a fixed value, e.g.  01011901
• Remove day/month information but retain year, e.g. 0101YYYY

As an option you can also choose to bulk de-identify a number of other fields that may contain identifying information. A list of modified fields will be displayed prior to transfer.

3.5 Select File Structure in Destination Directory

There are three file structure options. Choose one option to proceed.

Option one - Impose structure Subject/Study/Series: The directory structure is derived from file headers such that the directory structure below the target location is -/-/-

Option two - Flat directory with DICOMDIR: All files are written to the target location, without any directory structure being created; the files are renamed such that they have unique 8-character filenames (A-Z, a-z, 0-9 and _ are acceptable characters) and a DICOMDIR file is created to describe them

Option three - Mirror the original structure: The directory structure below the target location will be the same as the directory structure below the source location (directory trees that do not contain any DICOM files will not be replicated)

3.6  Configuration Complete 

To save these configurations click on the save button bellow. These settings are now saved and you will be able to retrieve them later.

4.  Step two – Loading the Java Applet

Click on the Trial Wire link in the main menu. The Trial Wire applet will now load into the right side of the screen.  You will see the Java applet loading. If at this point you see a blank screen your browser may not be Java enabled. Refer to the Java Test or troubleshooting FAQ.

5.  Step three - DICOM directory selection

5. 1  Find the data you want to transfer.  The default directory is your CD/DVD drive. You can select a directory at any level and Trial Wire will detect all DICOM files in that directory. For example selecting your C drive on a Windows machine will search the entire hard disk for DICOM files and will take a considerable time to complete the search. If you know where your data is, the most efficient option is to select only that folder.

5.2  Click “continue” to start the search

6.  Step four – DICOM file selection

Trial Wire will display all DICOM files found in your selected directory. You can click cancel at any time to stop the search. Files are displayed in a subject/study/series hierarchy and you have the option here to select anything from multiple examinations to a single series.

Trial Wire will automatically change the DICOM fields to de-identify if this is the option chosen on the configuration page. If a manual change was specified the field is highlighted in RED. Click on the red text to edit the field. You have the option of adding a comment here if you wish. This comment is stored in the Audit Trail but not in the DICOM file itself.

7.  Step five - Audit Trail report

If you would like to print a record of the transfer and the de-identified fields with their original values for your records you can do that here. 

Alternatively, review the files to transfer and any modification to be made prior to transfer. Clicking ‘Transfer’ will start the transfer process. If you have selected an FTP transfer you will be prompted for the username and password at this stage. All changes to the DICOM files will only be made at this time.

 8.  Step 6 - Transferring the files

The progress of the transfer is shown in this, the final step. This step may take some time and is dependent on the size of file and quality of connection. Upon completion you will be able to go back to the start to transfer more files or logout. Any errors in connection will be displayed in this window.

A copy of your files will now appear in the destination directory you selected earlier.

To transfer more files click on "Return to Configuration".  

9.  Glossary of terms

Audit Trail – a record of the transfer and the de-identified fields with their original values. 

De-identify (or Anonymize) is the process of removing specific fields within the DICOM files that contain private information. 

DICOM is the industry standard for transferring radiological images between computers.  It enables diagnostic and therapeutic equipment (such as CT, PET, MRI...) and systems (PACS) from various manufacturers to communicate digitally with each other.

Flat directory is a system of files in which every file in the directory has a different name with no sub-directories.  Often, files are managed in a hierarchical system with a hierarchy of directories and subdirectories, each containing a number of files (or subdirectories).

FTP Transfer is a standard Internet protocol and is the simplest way to exchange files between computers on the internet. 

Java Applet is necessary to run Trial Wire.  It provides the interactivity with the user that HTML does not.  Another advantage is that Java applets can executed by browsers on many platforms, including Windows and Linux.

Local Directory, folder, CD/DVD, USB memory stick, etc is a virtual container within a digital file system in which groups of files, folders and other sub-directories can be stored and organized.

Local Transfer is desirable when the user uses Trial Wire only to de-identify and organize the DICOM data.  In which case, there is no need to transfer the files over the internet to another computer.  Instead, the DICOM data in the selected directory is anonymized and organized into a desired structure and then transferred onto the users’ computer. 

10.  About IXICO

IXICO offers a full range of imaging CRO services:
IXICO, Ltd. is a full-service Imaging CRO that provides comprehensive, technology-based solutions for the pharmaceutical and biotech industries across all therapeutic areas and clinical trials phases. IXICO works within an ISO9001:2000 certified Quality Management System, with the provenance of the data analysis results stored to provide a complete electronic audit trail.

For more information please contact: Kranti Parekh, Marketing Manager at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phone 0044 207 6913564

Company address: The London Bioscience Innovation Centre, 2 Royal College Street,
London NW1 0NH England - www.ixico.com

© 2009 IXICO LTD. All rights reserved