Within the field of health informatics this ISO 12052:2006 addresses the exchange of digital images, and information related to the production and management of those images, between both medical imaging equipment and systems concerned with the management and communication of that information.

ISO 12052:2006 is intended to facilitate interoperability of medical imaging equipment and information systems by specifying:

• a set of protocols to be followed by systems claiming conformance to this International Standard.
• the syntax and semantics of commands and associated information data models that ensure effective communication between implementations of this International Standard;
• information that shall be supplied with an implementation for which conformance to this International Standard is claimed.