Workstation for computerized analysis in mammography

A method for separating and collating mammogram records, said method including the steps of:

• scanning a set of film mammograms relating to a patient thereby to obtain at least one digitized image of the set of film mammograms;
• moving the scanned set of mammograms to a collating station;
• providing and scanning a separator film, including positioning said separator film immediately after the set of film mammograms of a patient;
• positioning the separator film so that it functions as the last film of the scanned set of film mammograms located at the collating station;
• and
• repeating said scanning, moving, providing and positioning steps for all N sets of film mammograms in a film mammogram queue, where N≧1;
• and
• transferring each of the N sets of film mammograms positioned between separator films to its own individual storage container for storage.

A workstation system for collating radiological film mammograms and other physical records, said system including:

• a scanner operative to receive and digitize radiological film mammograms from a patient and a separator film carrying identifiable features for identifying the film as a separator film;
• a collating station for receiving the scanned films from said scanner;
• processing means for receiving digitized images from said scanner operative to evaluate the digitized images of the film mammograms so as to detect suspicious lesions therein, further operative to generate output data indicative thereof and to store the data in association with the digitized images;
• wherein said processing means is further operative to detect said scanned separator film and to assign all subsequent scanned radiographic film mammograms to other patients;
• a printer in communication with said processing means for producing a printout of the digitized images identifying data and output data relating to the patient, said printer including a conveyor for conveying the printout to said collating station;
• and
• means for synchronizing said scanner and said printer such that the printout is laid on the scanned films prior to the delivery to said collating station of the separator film.