Designation: E2738 − 13´1

Standard Practice for

Digital Imaging and Communication Nondestructive
Evaluation (DICONDE) for Computed Radiography (CR) Test
Methods1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2738; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

ε1 NOTE—Table 4 was corrected editorially in January 2014.

1. Scope* 1.3.1 A testing or validation procedure to assess an imple-

mentation’s conformance to the standard.
1.1 This practice facilitates the interoperability of computed
1.3.2 The implementation details of any features of the
radiography (CR) imaging and data acquisition equipment by
standard on a device claiming conformance.
specifying image data transfer and archival storage methods in
1.3.3 The overall set of features and functions to be ex-
commonly accepted terms. This practice is intended to be used
pected from a system implemented by integrating a group of
in conjunction with Practice E2339 on Digital Imaging and
devices each claiming DICONDE conformance.
Communication in Nondestructive Evaluation (DICONDE).
Practice E2339 defines an industrial adaptation of the NEMA 1.4 Although this practice contains no values that require
Standards Publication titled Digital Imaging and Communica- units, it does describe methods to store and communicate data
tions in Medicine (DICOM, see http://medical.nema.org), an that do require units to be properly interpreted. The SI units
international standard for image data acquisition, review, required by this practice are to be regarded as standard. No
storage and archival storage. The goal of Practice E2339, other units of measurement are included in this practice.
commonly referred to as DICONDE, is to provide a standard 1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
that facilitates the display and analysis of NDE results on any safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
system conforming to the DICONDE standard. Toward that responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
end, Practice E2339 provides a data dictionary and a set of priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
information modules that are applicable to all NDE modalities. bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
This practice supplements Practice E2339 by providing infor-
mation object definitions, information modules and a data 2. Referenced Documents
dictionary that are specific to computed radiography test 2.1 ASTM Standards:2
methods. E1316 Terminology for Nondestructive Examinations
1.2 This practice has been developed to overcome the issues E2339 Practice for Digital Imaging and Communication in
that arise when analyzing or archiving data from CR test Nondestructive Evaluation (DICONDE)
equipment using proprietary data transfer and storage methods. 2.2 Other Documentation:
As digital technologies evolve, data must remain decipherable National Electrical Manufacturers Association Standard for
through the use of open, industry-wide methods for data Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine
transfer and archival storage. This practice defines a method (DICOM), 2011.
where all standard CR technique parameters and test results are
3. Terminology
communicated and stored in a standard manner regardless of
changes in digital technology. 3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 Nondestructive evaluation terms used in this practice
1.3 This practice does not specify: can be found in Terminology E1316.
3.1.2 DICONDE terms used in this practice are defined in
Practice E2339.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E07 on Nonde-
structive Testing and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E07.11 on Digital
2
Imaging and Communication in Nondestructive Evaluation (DICONDE). For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Dec. 15, 2013. Published January 2014. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 2010. Last previous edition approved in 2011 as E2738 - 11. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/E2738-13E01 the ASTM website.

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States

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 E2738 − 13´1
TABLE 1 NDE CR Image Information Object Definition
DICOM Module DICONDE Module Reference Usage
Patient Component E2339, Section 7 M
Clinical Trial Subject Not Applicable
General Study Component Study E2339, Section 7 M
Patient Study Not Applicable
Clinical Trial Study Not Applicable
General Series Component Series E2339, Section 7 M
CR Series NDE CR Series Section 7.1 M
Clinical Trial Series Not Applicable U
General Equipment NDE Equipment E2339, Section 7 M
Contrast/bolous Not Applicable U
CR image NDE CR image Section 7.3 M
NDE Indication E2339, Section 7 U
NDE Geometry E2339, Section 7 U
NDE Source Radiography Section 7.2 U

4. Summary of Practice E2339 may use this practice to help them decode and display
4.1 A fundamental principle of DICONDE is the use of the data contained in the DICONDE compliant inspection
standard definitions and attribute formats for data communica- record.
tion and storage. This means all systems that are DICONDE 6. Information Object Definitions
compliant use a common data dictionary and common com-
6.1 NDE Computed Radiography Image IOD Description:
munication protocols. To further standardization, the elements
6.1.1 The NDE Computed Radiography (CR) Image Infor-
in the data dictionary are organized into common groups
mation Object Definition specifies an image that has been
referred to as information modules. The data dictionary and
created by a computed radiography imaging device for NDE
information modules common to all NDE modalities are
purposes. The IOD definition will follow that for CR Images
defined in Practice E2339.
found in Part 3, Section A.2 of the DICOM standard except as
4.2 The data dictionary and information modules specified noted in Table 1. Table 1 is not stand-alone and must be used
in Practice E2339 do not cover the information storage in conjunction with Part 3, Section A.2 of the DICOM standard
requirements for each individual modality (CT, DR, CR, UT, to have a complete definition of the NDE CR information
etc.). Additions to the data dictionary and information modules object.
are required to support the individual modalities. This practice 6.1.2 This IOD will use the Service-Object Pair (SOP) class
contains the additions to the DICONDE data dictionary and for the CR IOD as defined in Part 4, Section B.5 of the DICOM
information modules necessary for CR inspection. standard.
4.3 The highest organizational level in the DICONDE 7. Information Modules
information model is the information object definition (IOD).
An information object definition is a collection of the infor- 7.1 NDE CR Series Module:
mation modules necessary to represent a set of test results from 7.1.1 Table 2 specifies the attributes that describe NDE
a specific modality. This practice contains information object Computed Radiography images.
definitions for CR inspection. 7.2 NDE Source Radiography Module:
7.2.1 Table 3 specifies the attributes that describe NDE
5. Significance and Use Source Radiography Module.
5.1 Personnel that are responsible for the creation, transfer, 7.3 NDE CR Image Module:
and storage of computed radiography NDE data will use this 7.3.1 Table 4 specifies the attributes that describe NDE CR
practice. This practice will define a set of information modules Image Module.
that along with the Practice E2339 and the DICOM standard
will provide a standard means to organize CR inspection data. 8. Keywords
The CR inspection data may be displayed and analyzed on any 8.1 Computed Radiography; CR; database; DICOM; DI-
device that conforms to the standard. Personnel wishing to CONDE; digital data storage; digital data transmission; file
view any CR inspection data stored in accordance with Practice format

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 E2738 − 13´1
TABLE 2 NDE CR Series Module Attributes
Attribute Name Tag VR VM Type Description
Part Examined (0018,0015) CS 1 2 Text description of the part examined

View Position (0018,5101) CS 1 2 Radiographic view. Defined Terms:

FA = Forward/Aft
AF = Aft/Forward
LL = Left Lateral
RL = Right Lateral
RLD = Right Lateral Decubitus
LLD = Left Lateral Decubitus

Filter Type (0018,1160) SH 1 3 Label for the type of filter inserted into the x-ray
beam

Collimator/grid Name (0018,1180) SH 1 3 Label describing any grid inserted.

Focal Spot (0018,1190) DS 1-n 3 Size of the focal spot in mm. For devices with
variable focal spot or multiple focal spots, small
dimension followed by large dimension.

Plate Type (0018,1260) SH 1 3 Label of the type of storage phosphor plates

used in this series

Phosphor Type (0018,1261) LO 1 3 Label of type of phosphor on the plates

TABLE 3 NDE Source Radiography Module Attributes

Attribute Name Tag VR VM Type Description
Source Type (300A,0214) CS 1 1 Type of Source: Defined Terms:
POINT
LINE
CYLINDER
SPHERE
Source Manufacturer (300A,0216) LO 1 3 Manufacturer of Source
Active Source Diameter (300A,0218) DS 1 3 Diameter of active Source (mm)
Active Source Length (300A,0220) DS 1 3 Length of active Source (mm)
Material ID (300A,00E1) DS 1 3 User-supplied identifier for encapsulation material of
active Source
Source Encapsulation (300A,0222) DS 1 3 Nominal thickness of wall of encapsulation (mm)
Nominal Thickness
Source Encapsulation (300A,0224) DS 1 3 Nominal transmission through wall of encapsulation
Nominal Transmission (between 0 and 1)
Source Isotope Name (300A,0226) LO 1 1 Name of Isotope
Source Isotope Half-Life (300A,0228) DS 1 1 Half-life of Isotope (days)
Source Strength Units (300A,0229) CS 1 1C Measurement of Source Strength
Required if the source is not a gamma-emitting (photon)
source. May be present otherwise.
Enumerate values:
AIR Kerma Rate = Air Kerma Rate if Source is Gamma-
emitting Isotope
Reference Air Kerma Rate (300A,022A) 1 1 Air Kerma Rate in air of Isotope specified at Source
Strenth Reference Date (300A,022C) and Source
Strength Reference Time (300A,022E) (in µGy h-1 at 1
m). Values shall be zero for non-gamma sources.
Source Strength (300A,022B) 1 1C Source Strength of Isotope at Source Strength Reference
Date (300A,022C) and Source Strength Reference Time
(300A,022E), in units specified in Source Strength Units
(300A,0229).
Required if the source is not a gamma-emitting (photon)
source.
Source Strength Reference (300A,022C) DT 1 1 Reference date for Reference Air Kerma Rate
Date (300A,022A) or Source Strength (300A,022B) of Isotope.
Source Strength Reference (300A,022E) TM 1 1 Reference time for Reference Air Kerma Rate
Time (300A,022A) or Source Strength (300A,022B) of Isotope.

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 E2738 − 13´1
TABLE 4 NDE CR Image Module Attributes
Attribute Name Tag VR VM Type Description
Photometric Interpretation (0028,0004) CS 1 1 Specifies the intended interpretation of the pixel data.
Shall have one of the following enumerated values:
MONOCHROME 1
MONOCHROME 2
KVP (0018,0060) DS 1 3 Peak kilo voltage output of the x-ray generator used.
Plate ID (0018,1004) LO 1 3 The ID or serial number of the sensing plate upon which
the image was acquired.
Distance Source to Detector (0018,1110) DS 1 3 Distance in mm from source to detector center
Distance Source to Part (0018,1111) DS 1 3 Distance in mm from the source to isocenter (center of
field of view).
Exposure Time (0018,1150) IS 1 3 Time of X-ray exposure in msec
X-ray Tube Current (0018,1151) IS 1 3 X-ray Tube Current in mA
Exposure (0018,1152) IS 1 3 The exposure expressed in mAs, for example calculated
from Exposure Time and X-ray Tube Current.
Exposure in µAs (0018,1153) IS 1 3 The exposure expressed in µAs, for example calculated
from Exposure Time and X-ray Tube Current.
Image Pixel Spacing (0018,1164) DS 2 3 Physical distance measured at the front plane of the
Image Receptor housing between the center of each
pixel. Specified by a numeric pair – row spacing value
(delimiter) column spacing value – in mm.
In the case of CR, the front plane is defined to be the
external surface of the CR plate closest to the part and
radiation source.
Generator Power (0018,1170) IS 1 3 Power in kW to the X-ray generator.
Acquisition Device (0018,1400) LO 1 3 Describes device-specific processing associated with the
Processing Description image.
Acquisition Device (0018,1401) LO 1 3 Code representing the device-specific processing
Processing Code associated with the image.
Cassette Orientation (0018,1402) CS 1 3 Orientation of the cassette used to properly position the
image for display. Enumerated Values:
LANDSCAPE
PORTRAIT
Cassette Size (0018,1403) CS 1 3 Size of the cassette. Defined terms
18 cm × 24 cm
8 in × 10 in
24 cm × 30 cm
10 in × 12 in
30 cm × 35 cm
30 cm × 40 cm
11 in × 14 in
35 cm × 35 cm
14 in × 14 in
35 cm × 43 cm
14 in × 17 in
Exposures on Plate (0018,1404) US 1 3 Total number of X-ray exposures that have been made
on the plate identified in Plate ID. (0018,1004)
Relative X-ray Exposure (0018,1405) IS 1 3 Relative X-ray exposure on the plate. Meaning of values
is implementation specific.
Sensitivity (0018,6000) 1 3 Read out sensitivity.
X-ray Tube Current in µA (0018,8151) DS 1 3 X-ray Tube Current in µA.
Image Quality Indicator Type (0014,40A0) LO 1-n 3 Description of the type of Image Quality Indicator used.
Image Quality Indicator (0014,40A1) LO 1-n 3 Description of the material used to manufacture the
Material Image Quality Indicator.
Image Quality Indicator Size (0014,40A2) LO 1-n 3 Designation for the size of the Image Quality Indicator
used. A typical size designation is ‘2-2T’ where the first
number indicates that the IQI thickness is two percent of
the test material thickness and second number defines
the hole diameter as twice the IQI thickness.

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 E2738 − 13´1
SUMMARY OF CHANGES

Committee E07 has identified the location of selected changes to this standard since the last issue (E2738 - 11)
that may impact the use of this standard. (December 15, 2013)

(1) Added Section 7.2 to describe the NDE Source Radiogra- (3) Updated Table 1 to reflect the addition of Section 7.2 and
phy module. 7.3.
(2) Added 7.3 to add NDE-specific attributes to the CR Image
module. The attributes added were for X-ray Current in µA and
IQI description.

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