PACS

A Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) is a computer technology used to store, retrieve, and manage medical images and associated data, such as x-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, and ultrasound images.

In diagnostic ultrasound, a PACS is used to store and manage the ultrasound images and the data that are generated during an ultrasound examination. The images and data acquired during the scan are transmitted to the PACS system via a network connection.  The images are saved in the DICOM format.

The PACS system stores the images and data in a centralized, digital database, allowing them to be easily accessed and shared by radiologists and sonographers. This enables rapid access, as well as the ability to review and compare images over time.

PACS systems can also be integrated with other healthcare information systems, such as electronic medical records (EMR) systems and/or radiology information systems (RIS), to provide a comprehensive view of a patient's medical history and help support coordinated patient-centered care.

The data in a PACS system is typically stored in a RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks).  A RAID is a data storage technology that combines multiple physical disk drive components into a single unit for data redundancy and performance improvement. RAID allows the same data to be stored in different places on multiple hard drives so that if one drive fails, the data can be accessed from another drive. 

RAID is often used in servers and other high-performance computing systems such as PACS to improve performance, ensure data availability, and protect against data loss due to hard drive failure.