Clinical & Imaging Centers FAQs

QLuminate™ is MINDSET's cloud-based quantitative post-processing engine for DTI and volumetric MRI sequences. It takes raw DICOM data from advanced brain MRI studies your facility acquires, processes it through our proprietary pipeline, and returns a structured quantitative report, in both PDF and DICOM formats, directly to your PACS. The report provides objective, statistically grounded measurements of white matter microstructure and regional brain volumes, each benchmarked against our normative database of 1,000+ age- and sex-matched controls.

Each report includes color-coded graphs for each of 48 major white matter tracts and 90 volumetric regions. In addition to the z-score comparisons against our normative database, there is also color-coded region and tract placement maps, hemispheric asymmetry analysis for both FA and volumetric metrics, and a findings summary formatted for radiologist review. Reports are delivered in both PDF and DICOM formats and appear in your PACS alongside the source images within 48 hours of submission.

FA is the primary quantitative metric derived from DTI. It measures the directional organization of water diffusion within white matter fiber tracts. The findings are indicative of structural integrity at the microstructural level. QLuminate calculates FA across 48 major white matter tracts and expresses each finding as a z-score relative to our age- and sex-matched normative database, giving the interpreting radiologist an objective statistical reference point alongside their visual read.

We report on specific Regions of Interest (ROIs) across the 48 major white matter tracts, providing granular data on individual structures. This ensures the report is both comprehensive and specific enough to be meaningful to the interpreting radiologist.

We require a minimum of 30 diffusion directions, collected with a b-value of 800. We provide your MRI technologists with a detailed, scanner-specific protocol setup document at onboarding, and our technical team is available to work through setup directly with your technical staff. The protocol is designed to integrate into your existing brain MRI workflow.

Yes. Our QLuminate engine is calibrated to account for scanner-specific protocols, so studies acquired on both 1.5T and 3 T Siemens, GE, Philips, and Canon scanners can all be processed reliably against the same normative database. Scanner compatibility is addressed during onboarding to confirm protocol alignment and validate data quality before your first live submission.

No. DTI is a non-contrast sequence that relies entirely on the diffusion properties of water molecules within tissue. No contrast agent is involved at any stage of the acquisition or post-processing workflow.

Susceptibility artifacts, particularly in the orbitofrontal cortex and anterior temporal poles, are a well-known technical challenge in DTI acquisition. Our post-processing pipeline applies advanced eddy current correction and distortion correction algorithms to minimize their impact. Each submission is reviewed for artifact-related data quality issues before a report is finalized, and we flag any regions where artifact levels may affect the reliability of specific findings rather than reporting through compromised data.

QLuminate runs an automated pre-processing quality check on every submission, evaluating signal-to-noise ratio, motion artifact, and protocol compliance before analysis begins. Studies that do not meet our quality thresholds are flagged and returned to your team with specific, actionable feedback rather than processed through to a report. This quality gate is a core part of what makes our output reproducible and operationally dependable.

No. QLuminate is a zero-footprint cloud service. There is nothing to install at your facility, no new servers, no local software, no hardware purchases. You push raw DICOM data to our secure cloud gateway and receive the processed report back in your PACS automatically. The only setup required is the DICOM send configuration, which our team handles at onboarding.

We integrate via standard bidirectional PACS connectivity. Your facility pushes raw study data to our secure gateway. Processed reports in both DICOM-wrapped and PDF formats are returned automatically to your local PACS without any manual retrieval or follow-up action required on your end.

After onboarding, the workflow is simple: your technologists follow MINDSET's provided scanning protocol and send the completed study to our PACS gateway the same way they would send any DICOM study to an outside reader. Our team handles all post-processing on our end. The processed report arrives in your PACS automatically within 48 hours and can be routed to your neuroradiologist with no additional steps required from your staff.

At onboarding, we provide a scanner-specific protocol document, walk your technical staff through setup, configure the PACS connection, and run validation studies to confirm data quality. We then collect a human phantom scan at your facility to harmonize data from that machine back to our database. Once that is in place, you are ready to begin collecting data. Our team is available for technical support, before, during, and after the harmonization processes and will alert you when any data quality issues arise, as well as for any periodic protocol reviews as scanner firmware or staffing changes.

Your facility is assigned a dedicated point of contact at MINDSET for both technical and operational questions. Our team is reachable by phone and email and is available to address protocol questions, data quality issues, report delivery questions, and any workflow needs that arise after you go live.

Yes. QLuminate quantitative post-processing is available as a standalone service for imaging centers whose own licensed radiologists will perform the final interpretation. In this model, your radiologist receives the QLuminate quantitative report alongside the source images in your PACS and incorporates the findings into their own read.

This service pairs QLuminate quantitative post-processing with a complete interpretation by a fellowship-trained, board-certified neuroradiologist MINDSET brings in for the visual review. This service is designed for imaging centers that do not have dedicated neuroradiology subspecialty coverage on staff and need both the quantitative analysis and a final signed read delivered together.

All interpretations are performed by fellowship-trained, board-certified neuroradiologists with subspecialty expertise in advanced neuroimaging. These physicians maintain active clinical practices, which is relevant both to the quality of their interpretations, and MINDSET passes their costs forward to you.

Yes. Studies interpreted through our Licensed Neuroradiological Review service receive a signed report from the interpreting neuroradiologist of record. This allows imaging centers to offer advanced neuroimaging with complete subspecialty interpretation without maintaining an in-house neuroradiology subspecialist.

Our interpreting neuroradiologists hold licensure across multiple states. State-specific licensure is confirmed during onboarding before any studies from your facility are processed through the review service.

Before we collect any live data, MINDSET sends a human phantom out to every scanner for harmonization. And for every submission we receive after that, the data goes through an automated pre-processing quality check for protocol compliance, signal quality, and motion artifact before analysis begins. Post-processing results are reviewed against our internal quality thresholds before delivery. Studies that do not meet our standards are returned with specific feedback rather than delivered as a completed report. This end-to-end quality process is designed to ensure that every report your radiologists receive is reliable and reproducible with quality control data published on every report for their review.

Our normative database and processing pipeline are calibrated at the scanner level during onboarding, so each facility's data is processed against scanner-specific baselines rather than a one-size-fits-all standard. This means results are statistically comparable across your patient population regardless of scanner model or upgrade, and consistent across facilities if your organization operates multiple sites.

Our normative database is age- and sex-stratified for males and females ranging from 14 to 83 years of age. Z-scores in the QLuminate report are calculated against controls who match the study subject by age range and sex, so the statistical comparison reflects what is expected for that individual's demographic group rather than a generalized population average. This is a critical part of what makes the output meaningful to the interpreting radiologist rather than producing spurious findings driven by demographic mismatch.

Adding QLuminate post-processing allows your center to expand its billable service line using your existing MRI scanner and technical staff, without capital equipment investment. Facilities offering advanced quantitative neuroimaging are able to serve referring sources, including legal cases and specialized medical providers, who actively seek imaging centers with this capability. For centers in markets where this referral demand is present, QLuminate represents a meaningful revenue expansion opportunity with low incremental overhead.

Standard radiology reimbursement rates, particularly under Medicare, have faced sustained pressure over the past two decades. Against that backdrop, adding advanced quantitative neuroimaging represents one of the more viable strategies for independent imaging centers to diversify their service line and improve per-study economics, particularly because quantitative DTI studies attract non-Medicare payers and referral sources that standard imaging centers without this capability cannot serve.

This depends on your existing payer agreements and the specific CPT codes involved. We recommend reviewing your current contracts for any modality-specific or advanced imaging provisions before initiating billing for new service lines.

Pricing is structured on a per-study basis, allowing your center to scale with volume rather than committing to fixed overhead. Contact our team for a pricing overview tailored to your facility's expected volume and service mix.

Onboarding includes scanner protocol setup with your technical staff, PACS integration configuration and testing, portal access setup, and a walkthrough of submission and report delivery workflows. Our team handles all setup on our end and works directly with your staff to make the process straightforward from day one. Contact us to schedule an initial consultation and receive our free information package.

All imaging files and patient data are transmitted through our HIPAA-compliant, encrypted portal and handled in accordance with applicable federal privacy standards throughout the submission, processing, and report delivery process.