Understanding the features

DICOM IMAGE STORAGE CAPACITY

The MetaStore A3211 starts with 3TB of disk space available to store DICOM images & medical information.

INTERNAL REDUNDANCY INDEX

This index represents the degree of internal redundancy of a MetaStore. An index value of 1 means that the system will be impaired or will stop functioning if any of its key parts fail If key parts are replicated, or if other methods of achieving redundancy are implemented (e.g. RAID), then the index value increases by a fraction of 1. If every single functional piece is replicated and the system can immediately switch in the spare if the primary functional piece fails, then an index value of 2 is achieved.

EXTERNAL REDUNDANCY INDEX

This index represents the degree of external redundancy of a MetaStore. This index value changes in increments of 1 (no fractions), and correlates with the number of "hot standby" MetaStores that are replicating the primary MetaStore, and will automatically take over operation in the event of a primary mis-function.

AUTONOMOUS SERVICE COUNT

This value represents the number of DICOM storage services that are run when the MetaStore comes on line. This number is configured as a factory default value only, and does not represents the actual capabilities of a MetaStore under heavy loads.

DICOM STORAGE & RETRIEVAL

The MetaStore A3211 has the ability to accept DICOM images for storage, and to transmit DICOM images located in its storage. The specific DICOM 'commands' that are supported by the device are described in the device Conformance Statement.

PATIENT, STUDY & IMAGE-LEVEL ACCESS

When using the MetaStore A3211, a requestor of DICOM images can request that the MetaStore identify the individual images that it has in storage, and send individual images. Alternately, a requestor of DICOM images can request that the MetaStore identify and transmit the studies that it has in storage, where each study consists of a grouping of images for a particular patient. Alternately, a requestor of DICOM images can request that the MetaStore identify and transmit the patients for which it has studies in storage, where each patient can have a grouping of studies in the store.

AUTO-PULL CAPABILITY FROM MODALITIES

The MetaStore A3211 can be configured to automatically request and pull images from your modalities for storage & distribution.

IMAGE QA AND DICOM EDITOR

The MetaStore allows the modality technician to accept or reject images according to their quality to control their availability to end users via the MetaStore. Additionally, the technician can use the DICOM editor to modify header information that is missing or erroneously populated prior to publication.

SECURE CONNECTIVITY WITH VPN

The MetaStore has Virtual Private Network (VPN) capability built into it. To protect against hostile or unauthorized access to protected information, and in order to provide security and privacy of medical information under HIPAA, as a standard rule, the MetaStore A3211 operates in a mode where data is encapsulated & passed over encrypted channels. VPN secure tunnels are typically used with those networks that have endpoints that require transmission over non-secure or public networks, such as the internet. Non-encrypted traffic typically is used on networks secured by Meta Fusion.

WIRE-SPEED VPN CONNECTIVITY

Meta Fusion typically combines the MetaStore with external VPN hardware to add more value to customer networks. Meta Fusion tunes the VPN performance to match the network peformance and the performance of the communicating devices. In a tuned system, the data stream entering a VPN exits the VPN at the same rate as the input in order to ensure that the flow of information is not slowed down by the VPN. This approach provides a considerable performance benefit under load as compared to a software VPN implementation.

EMBEDDED FIREWALL

Meta Fusion treats healthcare facilities and their networks as inherently non-secure hostile environments. The firewall built into each Meta Fusion storage product is configured by Meta Fusion to provide attack hardiness and response, and prevent the loss or unauthorized access to the information that we store. In the event that the facility's network is compromised, Meta Fusion relies on its own defenses to protect private valuable medical information. Where appropriate, Meta Fusion promotes the use of its networks and its network services to healthcare customers for implementation of networks according to best practices and highest standards of security.

WEB ACCESS WITH SSL SECURITY

The MetaStore comes with a built-in secure web server. This web server is configurable, and can be made compatible with internal firewalls. The web server allows authorized users to connect remotely to the MetaStore and request DICOM images in storage. Secure Socket Layer (SSL) security provides the standard degree of security in common use today.

SSL OFF-LOAD ENGINE

Server-side software SSL encryption uses up processor cycles and time. With a 1000 users accessing images remotely, SSL encryption can take up a lot of time, and slow things down. Meta Fusion provides hardware SSL implementations as the remote user numbers grow to maintain a high-level of system performance and a rapid rate of image delivery.

MULTIPLE PROCESSOR ARCHITECTURE

Having multiple processors brings a number of advantages to our designs, including performance benefits and added fault-tolerance.

META FUSION FAULT-TOLERANT KERNEL

The Meta Fusion fault-tolerant kernel ensures that in the event of a diaster, such as the total loss of a susbsystem, the system will continue to operate, without interruption, and that it will be able to maintain this operation as long as necessary to repair or replace the destroyed subsystem. No human intervention is necesary and the Meta Fusion fault-tolerant kernel detects and compensates for faults and failures automatically. The Meta Fusion fault-tolerant kernel provides unique reliability benefits for multi-hospital groups whose member hoispitals are separated by (large) geographic distances.

MULTI-ELEMENT REDUNDANCY

Meta Fusion products are designed so that critical systems, subsystems and functions have redundancy. Extensive fault and failure analysis, including ISO 14971 Fault-tree, FMEA and other methods, are applied early on to create enduring and highly-reliable products.

MULTI-NETWORK CAPABILITY

Every MetaStore has the capability of simultaneously receiving and serving images on multiple independent networks. The MetaStore A3211 is able to provide DICOM storage & retrieval services on twelve directly connected independent 10/100/1000 Mbit/sec Ethernet netwokrs at one time. Meta Fusion configures and monitors the MetaStore device to ensure that its presence on one or more networks does not create security vulnerabilities on each network.

TRANSPORT OFF-LOAD ENGINE

The MetaStore comes equipped with multiple 10.100 or Gigabit ethernet interfaces. It is able to provide DICOM storage & retrieval services on multiple directly connected independent 10/100/1000 Mbit/sec Ethernet netwokrs at one time. With the Transport Offload Engine (TOE), the TCP/IP protocol is implemented in firmware, freeing up processor capacity so that the MetaStore can provide a high-performance service on all of its connected networks.

MULTI-BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY

Meta Fusion provides the means to use DSL instead of T1 lines and achieve equal or higher reliability and equal or superior bandwidth for a lower price.

DISK REDUNDANCY

As a component of multi-element redundancy, Meta Fusion provides disk redundancy, including "RAID" as a component of our fault-tolernce designs.

DVD ARCHIVE CAPABILITY

The MetaStore comes fitted as standard with multiple DVD writers. This is provided for the purposes of archiving images to a media that can be removed to another location for further disaster resilience. For greater convenience and better disaster planning, Meta Fusion recommends the use of a MetaArchive in conjunction with your MetaStore.

DVD JUKEBOX

A DVD jukebox typically consists of a robot that loads and unloads DVDs from a large stack into one or more DVD recorders, and is controlled by a server to record information on the DVDs. Meta Fusion provides DVD jukeboxes integrated with some MetaStores. Integration of a DVD jukebox adds value to customer instances where substantial amounts of image recording to DVDs are desirable. These recordings may be for purposes of archiving medical information to removable media for redundant or off-site storage, or to provide a means of inexpensive distribution to patients or referrers who prefer physical media over electronic access to images..

STORAGE EXPANSION

A large amount of additional storage capacity may be added to a MetaStore. Our filesystem is well suited to storing and retrieving numerous images. Meta Fusion recommends the use of a MetaArchive in conjunction with your MetaStore. As most return visits occur within 18 months, a MetaStore can be sized to your facility to provide an 18 month store, and studies may be archived to your MetaArchive for persistence and rapid acces over 7+ years.

ROUTING ENGINE

A powerful rules engine is embedded into the MetaStore. The routing engine assures delivery of images to where they are needed. According to configuration of a rich set of rules, each image that is received or transmitted by the MetaStore can be handled according to programmed rules. The MetaStore routing engine can support a large number of end users simultanously, and it allows for customization of rules to suit individual users' requirements.

INTEGRATED WORKFLOW ENGINE

Meta Fusion provides a rule-based configurable mechanism to assist in managing your imaging department workflow, including communications and prompts to ensure that members of your team respond timely and keep close track of patients and their tasks.

REMOTE MANAGEMENT

From an end-user point of view, each MetaStore is intended to be operated as a zero-maintenance appliance. The management of the device is performed remotely in most cases.

SELF-DIAGNOSIS & CERTIFICATION

The MetaStore continuously performs self-checks to ensure correct operation & reports anticipated and actual problems. Each MetaStore can also be tied to Meta Fusion's operations infrastructure whereby it is continuously monitored by external agents that report on its health, correct function, regulatory compliance and raise alarms to initiate rapid response in the event of actual or anticipated non-conformant behavior.

HIPAA AUDITOR

The MetaStore supports a 'transparent mode' that allows an auditor process to evaluate the HIPAA compliance of the device as it operates, and according to the device operation logs. The verified HIPAA audit report is securely archived.

HIPAA LOGGING

As standard, the MetaStore keeps detailed logs of its operation, including tracking every image access and attempts to access images. These logs are saved, and offloaded for signing by Meta Fusion.

STORAGE MANAGEMENT

Each MetaStore provides built-in storage management rules that may be activated or de-activated under suthorized user control. These storage rules provide for immediate or delayed storage ageing, clean-up and optimization. When automatic ageing criteria are configured, the MetaStore can perform its functions for extended periods of time without requiring any administration.

ACCESS CONTROL LISTS

MetaStore strictly controls access by users according to a list of authorized entities. Users that are not on the access control list are denied access to the MetaStore.

SWITCHABLE COMPRESSION

Meta Fusion provides a mechanism to add compression to your image transfer and storage in a MetaStore. The compression may be switched on and off. Reversible and irreversible compression are possible.

COMPRESSION OFF-LOAD ENGINE

By allocating separate resources to performing compression and de-compression tasks, the system performance can be maintained at a high-level under load.

METERING OF STUDIES

The MetaStore can track the number of individual accesses by end users to patient studies, and provide a verified report of these accesses upon demand. This feature is very useful for usage-based billing.

DICTATION & TRANSCRIPT STORE

The MetaStore provides a dictation & transcript store with association to the patient study that is the subject of the diagnosis. Dictation files and diagnosis transcripts can be uploaded to the MetaStore automatically by means of a secure web interface.

HL-7 INTERFACE

The MetaStore provides an HL-7 interface capability by means of which a RIS or a HIS or other information system may be integrated with the MetaStore.

METAFUSION MCDP PROTOCOL

Meta Fusion Collaborative Diagnosis Protocol (MCDP)

METAFUSION MDSIP PROTOCOL

Meta Fusion Server Interaction Protocol (MDSIP) is used to provide seamless integration when many hospitals each with one or more MetaStores combine to provide continuity of care and access to patient historical records independently of geographic location.