Software Improving Diagnostic Potential of Chest X-Ray is Increasingly Adopted Globally

 

The sophisticated yet simple-to-use software suppresses the clavicle and ribs that often obscure lung nodules on a conventional X-ray image. Unlike other suppression technology, ClearRead is a software-only solution. There is no additional radiation exposure for patients and no additional equipment, space or staff requirements for the healthcare facility.

 

“Radiologists are recognizing ClearRead as a readily accessible technology and an instantaneous, cost-effective tool to immediately improve the chest X-ray, one of the most common imaging exams,” said Steve Worrell, CEO of Riverain Technologies. “The software is approved in several countries, and leading healthcare companies are now offering ClearRead products to further enhance their digital radiography systems.”  

  

All four ClearRead software products are approved and in use in the US and Europe, and ClearRead Bone Suppression™ (formerly SoftView) and +Detect™ (formerly OnGuard) were approved in September 2013 for use in China. The four products are:

 

ClearRead Bone Suppression software has been shown to improve the detection of actionable lung nodules on chest X-ray images by nearly 17 percent, and was found in a 2012 study to be as good as dual-energy subtraction imaging at aiding in the detecting of lung nodules while producing superior image quality according to study participants. This proprietary bone suppression technology is the foundation for all of the ClearRead applications.

ClearRead +Detect computer-aided detection (CAD) software marks suspicious regions on a bone-suppressed image for radiologist evaluation, detecting up to 1 in 2 previously missed nodules.

 

ClearRead +Compare™ software highlights changes in the lungs over time, including emerging lung nodules, by showing the differences between two chest X-ray images. 

 

ClearRead +Confirm™ software identifies and highlights lines and tubes on portable chest X-ray images, reducing the need for image adjustments and decreasing radiologists’ reading time by approximately 19 percent without comprising accuracy or confidence.

 

"I believe anyone reading chest films needs some type of bone suppression support these days,” said Peter B. Sachs, M.D., Section Chief of Thoracic Imaging and Vice Chair of Informatics, University of Colorado Hospital (UCH) and Anschutz Medical Campus, who has been using ClearRead software since 2011 and sees it as an essential part of his daily workflow.  

 

Because it makes lung nodules more conspicuous, ClearRead Bone Suppression also is reducing the time it takes to read and interpret some X-ray images, he added.

 

“I can actually spend a little less time looking at the conventional image, or trying to reason through difficult areas on the conventional image,” Dr. Sachs said.  “If I think there might be a lesion hiding behind a rib I can go to the bone suppression and, most of the time, feel comfortable that I have an answer.”

 

Philips, Siemens Offering ClearRead Software

 

ClearRead software is being offered by leading global healthcare companies as an enhancement to their digital X-ray technology. As of May of this year, Philips Healthcare began offering Riverain Technologies ClearRead applications to its customers with its existing X-ray product line. The relationship expands Riverain’s existing distribution channels, which include Siemens Healthcare, Toyo International and select U.S. distributors.

 

”Philips offers Riverain products as third party optional items to Philips X-ray solutions,” said Georg Kornweibel, Marketing Diagnostic X-ray, Philips.  “Riverain’s ClearRead technology with advanced bone suppression algorithms is a perfect complement to Philips leading digital X-ray systems.  Together we offer solutions that contribute to earlier detection of lung nodules and help improve patients’ lives.”

Source Riverain Technologies.

19 November 2013