Connecting to a PACS Server

Kantrad can connect to your hospital or clinic’s PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) to search for and download patient studies directly into the application.

Adding a PACS Server

  1. Open Settings, then go to PACS / DICOMweb.
  2. Click Add Server.
  3. Fill in the following details:
    • Name — Give it a friendly name, like “Hospital PACS” or “Clinic Archive”.
    • URL — The server address. Your IT department can provide this.
    • Authentication — Choose how the server verifies your identity: no authentication, username and password, or a security token. Your IT department will tell you which one to use.
  4. Click Test Connection to make sure Kantrad can reach the server.
  5. Click Save.

Tip: If the connection test fails, double-check the URL with your IT department. The address usually needs to include a specific path at the end.

Searching for Studies

  1. In the study browser (the panel on the left side of the screen), click on the PACS tab.
  2. Select which server to search from the dropdown menu.
  3. Type the patient’s name in the search box.
  4. Press Enter or click Query.
  5. Matching studies appear in a list showing the patient name, imaging type, date, and number of series.

Downloading a Study

  1. Find the study you want in the PACS search results.
  2. Hover over it and click the download icon.
  3. Kantrad downloads all the images from the server. You can see the progress percentage as it downloads.
  4. Once the download is complete, the study appears in your Local tab and is ready to view.

Compatible Servers

Kantrad works with any standard DICOMweb server, including:

  • Orthanc
  • DCM4CHEE
  • Google Cloud Healthcare
  • Azure Health Data Services
  • AWS HealthImaging

If you are unsure whether your PACS server is compatible, ask your IT department if it supports DICOMweb (WADO-RS / QIDO-RS).

Security and Privacy

Kantrad takes security seriously when connecting to PACS servers:

  • Passwords are stored in encrypted form on your computer.
  • Secure connections (HTTPS) are fully supported.
  • The connection is validated to prevent access to unintended servers.