Introduction

The Annotation and Image Markup (AIM) project defines an information model and software tools to capture and create image annotations and markups using well-defined common data elements and controlled terminologies.

The AIM Toolkit includes the AIM Model, documentation, and examples. The AIM Model captures the descriptive information for an image with user-generated graphical symbols placed on the image into a single common information source. The AIM Model enhances interoperability and information exchange between imaging and health information systems. You can query AIM annotations to find images containing similar image content and correlate human image observations with other biomedical data.

The C++ library is a reusable component that implements the AIM Model.

Features in the AIM 4.0 Toolkit

The Annotation and Image Markup (AIM) information model version 4.0 has evolved in response to the feedback and changing requirements from the imaging community. The model has become more flexible and expressive. It defines AIM statements that describe a finding found on an image or series of images. These statements represent a relationship between the subject and object entities in the AIM foundation model. A class name that ends with “entity” can be used to create an AIM statement.

AIM 4.0 has two models, AIM Foundation and AIM 4.0. The AIM Foundation model can be extended by imaging experts in a domain area such as molecular imaging and optical imaging. These experts can add additional classes to capture information currently not available in the AIM Foundation model. The AIM 4.0 model includes classes that are required to capture lesion tracking in the domains of radiology and oncology.

The AIM Foundation ModelAIM_Foundation_Information_Model.png is available.

The AIM 4.0 Radiology and Oncology Information ModelAIM_4.0_Radiology_Oncology_Information_Model.png is also available.

The AIM 4.0 Toolkit has the following new features:

• Fully supports the ISO 21090 data type
• Collects a question as a coded term for an annotation role entity, imaging physical entity (formerly known as anatomic entity), imaging physical entity characteristic, imaging observation entity, imaging observation entity characteristic, inference entity, calculation entity, task context entity, text annotation entity, DICOM segmentation entity, markup entity, URI image reference entity, or DICOM image reference entity
• Explicitly captures relationships between entity classes in the AIM model via an AIM statement
• Has the ability to store a three-dimensional graphical markup
• Has the ability to store a lesion observation with or without a time point
• Allows the storage of calculation results in a compressed format
• Allows a workflow or task context assignment
• Allows more than one AIM instance in one AIM file or collection
• Supports post-coordinate terms (combines existing terms to create a new concept)

Features in the AIM 3.0.2 Toolkit

The release is composed of the following four folders: doc, examples, lib and source.

The doc folder includes AIM related document and XML schemas.

The examples folder includes examples of DICOM images, AIM DICOM SR, AIM XML documents, and the ANIVATR tool, which converts between DICOM SR and XML document formats.

The lib folder contains binaries for AIM XML library and the ANIVATR tool.
The AIM Toolkit version 3.0.2 changes are as follows:

• Added Linux (Ubuntu x86) make files.
• Modified code to build on Linux platform.
• Updated DCMTK to version 3.6.0 4. Update xerces-c to version 3.1.

Features in the AIM 3.0.1 Toolkit

The AIM 3.0.1 Toolkit changes are as follows:

• Added AIM Model Version property to the API (BaseModel class).
• Used AIM Model Version in the Series Description of new AIM DICOM objects.
• Fixed parsing of attribute values with namespaces.
• Updated source code and precompiled binaries to include the latest changes.

Support

If you need help, email Application Support.

Technical support requests may be sent to AIMTeam@northwestern.edu.

Documentation

• AIM on ClearCanvas Workstation Documentation
• AIM Template Service Documentation
• AIM Template Builder Documentation
• AIM Template Manager Documentation

Web Sites

• caBIG Tools Page for AIM