Select hanging protocols

The purpose of a hanging protocol is to display the images in a study in a consistent manner. While the term originally referred to the arrangement of physical films in a film box, it now refers to the display of images on a computer monitor. When properly setup, the use of hanging protocols significantly improves reading quality and efficiency.

When opening a study, NilRead analyzes the DICOM attributes of the study and identifies matching hanging protocols. If any candidates are found, the best one is selected and applied automatically.

You can manually select a hanging protocol from the list of matched protocols. You can also create a new hanging protocol based on the current image viewing area.

Note
See the Hanging Protocols Handbook for more information about using hanging protocols.

Apply a hanging protocol

1. Select Hang. Prot. (toolbar). Available hanging protocols and the stages within each protocol are shown.
2. Select a stage within a hanging protocol. The image viewing area is updated.
3. Select Prev H.P. and Next H.P. (toolbar) to move through the stages in the hanging protocol.

Create a new hanging protocol

You can customize the study layout and presentation state (window level, zoom, etc.) while viewing a hanging protocol, then create a new hanging protocol using these settings. Presentation state is not captured for clinical hanging protocols.

1. Select Hang. Prot. (toolbar), then select Capture. The Hanging Protocol Editor appears.
2. Change the protocol name and any other customizable information. Customizable areas are underlined and are also highlighted when you hover over them. For details, see Set up hanging protocols.
3. Select Save.

Edit a hanging protocol

You can edit the hanging protocol currently applied to the image viewing area. (You must have the appropriate user privileges to edit hanging protocols.)

1. Select Hang. Prot. (toolbar), then select Edit. The Hanging Protocol Editor appears.
2. Customizable areas are underlined and are highlighted when you hover over them. Click (or tap) a customizable area to edit it. For details, see Set up hanging protocols.
3. Select Save.

Add a stage to a hanging protocol

While viewing a hanging protocol, you can add more stages. You can create a stage based on the current image viewing area or add a blank stage.

1. If desired, customize the image viewing area to use the settings you want for the new stage. For example, select a study layout and view, select the series to be viewed, and adjust the presentation state (window level, zoom, etc.). All of these settings will be automatically entered in the corresponding sections of the hanging protocol. Presentation state is not captured for clinical hanging protocols.
2. Select Hang. Prot. (toolbar), then select Add Stage. The Hanging Protocol Editor appears. A new stage is added, based on the current settings in the image viewing area.

   Note
   You can also select <add stage> to add a blank stage you can customize.
   

3. Customizable areas are underlined and are highlighted when you hover over them. Click (or tap) a customizable area to edit it. For details, see Set up hanging protocols.
4. Select Save.