MOCAS: a multimedia object-oriented database system for cardiology

Cardiology data consists of structured and unstructured reports, static and dynamic images, and signals that need to be adequately represented stored, visualized, and related. Carefully designed cross-relations have indeed to be maintained allowing effective data retrieval. To solve these problems the software prototype MOCAS (Multimedia Object-oriented CArdiology System) has been developed in the context of a real cardiology environment. The proposed approach is based on a conceptual multimedia data model, which we mapped on a object-oriented data model. MOCAS received positive reviews from clinicians in terms of effective data retrieval and browsing easiness.