title: Unique identification code for medical fundus images using blood vessel pattern for tele-ophthalmology applications.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Identification of fundus images during transmission and storage in database for tele-ophthalmology applications is an important issue in modern era. The proposed work presents a novel accurate method for generation of unique identification code for identification of fundus images for tele-ophthalmology applications and storage in databases. Unlike existing methods of steganography and watermarking, this method does not tamper the medical image as nothing is embedded in this approach and there is no loss of medical information.
  
  
  METHODS
  Strategic combination of unique blood vessel pattern and patient ID is considered for generation of unique identification code for the digital fundus images. Segmented blood vessel pattern near the optic disc is strategically combined with patient ID for generation of a unique identification code for the image.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proposed method of medical image identification is tested on the publically available DRIVE and MESSIDOR database of fundus image and results are encouraging.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Experimental results indicate the uniqueness of identification code and lossless recovery of patient identity from unique identification code for integrity verification of fundus images.
authors: Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering, Amity University, Noida, India.
authors: Anushikha
authors: A
authors: Singh
authors: Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering, Amity University, Noida, India. Electronic address: malaykishoredutta@gmail.com.
authors: Malay Kishore
authors: MK
authors: Dutta
authors: Department of Computer Engineering & Applications, GLA University, Mathura, India.
authors: Dilip Kumar
authors: DK
authors: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017216:Telemedicine
keywords: Blood vessels; Fundus image processing; Identification code; Medical image security; Patient identification; Tele-opthalmology