Which of the following is an accepted standard for networking medical devices to exchange images and information regardless of the brand of equipment?

The correct choice is DICOM, which stands for Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine. DICOM is a widely accepted standard used for transmitting, storing, and sharing medical images and related information. It facilitates interoperability between different medical imaging devices, such as CT scanners, MRI machines, and ultrasound devices, regardless of their manufacturer. This standardization is crucial in clinical settings, as it allows different brands of equipment to communicate effectively, ensuring that healthcare professionals can access and utilize patient imaging data seamlessly.

HL7 (Health Level Seven) is primarily concerned with the exchange of administrative and clinical data between healthcare systems rather than specifically focused on imaging. IHE (Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise) provides frameworks and profiles for integrating various healthcare systems, which can include DICOM but does not stand alone as a standard for image exchange. ISO 13485 is related to quality management systems for medical devices and does not pertain to the standardization of medical image communication. Thus, DICOM remains the central standard for networking medical devices to exchange images and related information across different manufacturers and systems.