Merge’s Cedara XPipe Automates Image Processing Tasks

Merge Healthcare’s Cedara xPipe version 3.0 is a software toolkit that fully automates the image processing tasks performed by CR and DR X-ray consoles. These consoles reportedly ensure that X-ray images are of good quality before the patient leaves the room. Cedara xPipe eliminates many of the manual tasks typically performed to do this, so it helps improve patient throughput. Cedara xPipe is the first and only software to automate the full set of tasks into one flexible toolkit for faster and more efficient application development.

Cedara xPipe was designed in modules that automate either individual tasks or multiple tasks in a sequence. These individual modules include capabilities such as: detecting and editing a collimator, image stitching/fusion and window width/level. At the heart of xPipe is the Cedara Image Enhancement module, which targets specific noise patterns introduced by the imaging device. The reported result is superior image quality with reduced noise, sharpened anatomical boundaries and improved contrast. Also included is the novel Cedara Exposure Index, which provides automated quality control of radiation dose and image quality. This measurement is compliant with the recent International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard. Each module is packaged as a Microsoft Windows 32 dynamic link library (.dll) without any user interface, which gives software developers flexibility in their approach.