The Key Objects concept is used to mark the most interesting instances and save them for later review. Images, or frames of multi-frame images, marked as Key Objects, are stored in DICOM file of KO modality. Instances from different series of the same study can be stored in one Key Object selection. All instances marked as key objects are annotated with small star symbols.
To create key object:
- Open the image or frame that you want to include in the key object.
- Expand the Key objects menu and select “Mark image as KO” from the list.
- The image marking as key object window will appear:
Figure 140. Mark image as key object window
- Enter the key object title or select the one from dropdown list of not saved key objects in the Title field and click the Mark button.
- System adds the active image into selected key object. The unsaved key object (star filled with grey background) button is displayed on the active image in viewport and thumbnail. The key object title is displayed in the extendable menu of Key Objects tool.
Figure 141. Not saved Key Object
NOTE! You can have several unsaved key objects at a time.
To save created (marked) key object:
- Expand the Key objects menu and select “Save study key objects” from the list. The key object saving window with all unsaved key objects listed will appear:
Figure 142. Save study key object window
- You can do the following actions in the window:
- change the name of Key object by clicking the entry field and editing text in it,
- delete the not needed Key object clicking Delete button on the right of the key object title,
- After making the desired changes, save the Key objects by clicking the Save button.
- The system saves the key objects with all the marked images and frames in it. The saved key object icon (star filled with white background) is displayed on the image in viewport and thumbnail. The key object title is displayed in the Saved key objects group of extendable Key Objects button’s menu.
Figure 143. Saved Key Object
NOTE! Key object saving is implemented according to DICOM standard. The DICOM storage must accept C-STORE operations from AlemHealth. Alternatively, when using the DICOMweb integration, the STOW-RS method can be used.
You can use Quick save KO, PR button at the bottom right of the image to save the current image or frame as key object. In this case, the current date and time are used as the title of a key object.
NOTE! Please note, that Quick save KO, PR button initiates double action: saves the presentation state and saves key objects.
NOTE! Quick save can be used only one time per image or frame and saves key object only if the image or frame is not included in any other saved or unsaved key object.
NOTE! To prevent repeated clicks, the system deactivates the Quick save KO, PR button and displays the notification about ongoing saving process on top of the button
. Saving success notification
is displayed on successful saving process completion. The number in parentheses is the serial number of the image in the series.
To view not saved key object or saved key object:
- Open the key object’s image in viewport. You can do this either by selecting the title of the Key object from the drop-down menu of the Key Objects tool, or by dragging a key object image, that is marked with star icon, from thumbnail bar to viewport, or with quick access controls (see section Viewport toolbar).
NOTE! Use the drop-down menu of the Key Objects tool, to see the key object’s images from several series of the study. If Key object, that contains images from several series, is opened from menu, each series is opened in a separate viewport, starting from the first viewport. Key object filter is automatically activated in each viewport. If the number of series exceeds the maximum possible number of viewports, the warning is displayed.
NOTE! If the Key object image is opened from thumbnail or with quick access controls, the Key object filter is not activated. To activate the filter, expand the key objects filter menu by clicking the key object icon on the right of the image, and click the Key object title in filter menu.
- Scroll through the images of the activated key object with mouse as described in section Scroll.
NOTE! The scroll is performed only in one series.
Figure 144. Selection of Key object filter in context menu
NOTE! Key object filter displays all key objects that contain the active image. The star with transparent background indicates that image is included in both, saved and unsaved, key objects. If a filter is applied, the title of active key object and the star icon are highlighted.