Using digital watermarking to enhance security in wireless medical image transmission.
OBJECTIVE
During the last few years, wireless networks have been increasingly used both inside hospitals and in patients' homes to transmit medical information. In general, wireless networks suffer from decreased security. However, digital watermarking can be used to secure medical information. In this study, we focused on combining wireless transmission and digital watermarking technologies to better secure the transmission of medical images within and outside the hospital.


METHODS
We utilized an integrated system comprising the wireless network and the digital watermarking module to conduct a series of tests.


RESULTS
The test results were evaluated by medical consultants. They concluded that the images suffered no visible quality degradation and maintained their diagnostic integrity.


CONCLUSIONS
The proposed integrated system presented reasonable stability, and its performance was comparable to that of a fixed network. This system can enhance security during the transmission of medical images through a wireless channel.
Giakoumaki
Aggeliki
A
Biomedical Engineering Laboratory, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 9 Heroon Polytechniou Str., Athens, Greece. agiakoum@biomed.ntua.gr
Perakis
Konstantinos
K
Banitsas
Konstantinos
K
Giokas
Konstantinos
K
Tachakra
Sapal
S
Koutsouris
Dimitris
D
D016494:Computer Security; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D013685:Telecommunications